JPH0660661B2 - Torque fluctuation absorption clutch - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a torque fluctuation absorbing clutch that absorbs torque fluctuations of an input shaft and transmits torque of the input shaft to an output shaft.

[Prior Art] As a device of this type, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a flywheel 10 is divided into a drive side 12 and a driven side 14, and a structure in which both are connected by a torsion spring 16 is devised. (Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-43176).

In the flywheel 10, the torque on the drive side 12 is transmitted via the torsion spring 16, so that the transmission of torque fluctuation is reduced.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, due to the presence of the torsion spring 16, a resonance state occurs at the vibration frequency of torque fluctuation near idle rotation (see FIG. 5). For this reason, noise is increased near idle rotation, and excessive stress is applied to deteriorate durability.

In view of the above facts, the present invention has an object to obtain a torque fluctuation absorbing clutch in which transmission of torque fluctuation is sufficiently reduced and a resonance state due to the presence of a torsion spring can be avoided.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The torque fluctuation absorbing clutch according to the present invention is an electrorheological fluid clutch in which an input shaft and an output shaft are connected via an electrorheological fluid, a voltage is applied to the electrorheological fluid, and torque of the input shaft is transmitted to the output shaft. , A friction clutch provided with a clutch disc attached to an input shaft or an output shaft via a torsion spring and arranged in parallel and coaxially with the electrorheological fluid clutch, and releases the friction clutch near the resonance speed. Then, the electro-rheological fluid clutch can be switched between the first state and the second state in which both the friction clutch and the electro-rheological fluid clutch are engaged, and the friction clutch is engaged except near the resonance speed. The feature is that the electrorheological fluid clutch can be opened.

[Action]

In the torque fluctuation absorbing clutch according to the present invention, the electro-rheological fluid clutch and the friction clutch are arranged in parallel and coaxially, and the electro-rheological fluid clutch connects the input shaft and the output shaft via the electro-rheological fluid. It is supposed to do. When a voltage is applied to the electrorheological fluid, the viscosity of the fluid increases, and the torque of the input shaft is transmitted to the output shaft.

Further, the friction clutch has a clutch disc attached to the input shaft or the output shaft via a torsion spring, and the torque of the input shaft is transmitted to the output shaft via the torsion spring.

Therefore, in the vicinity of the resonance rotational speed, the friction clutch is opened and the electrorheological fluid clutch is engaged, whereby the resonance state caused by the interposition of the torsion spring can be avoided, or the first state can be obtained. By engaging both the friction clutch and the electrorheological fluid clutch, it is possible to set the second state in which the influence of resonance can be reduced and the transmission torque can be increased. Further, during normal traveling, transmission of torque fluctuation is sufficiently reduced by engaging the friction clutch.

Embodiments of the Invention Embodiments of a torque fluctuation absorbing clutch according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the torque of the input shaft 12, which is the engine crankshaft, is transmitted to the output shaft 14 via the torque fluctuation absorbing clutch 10. The torque fluctuation absorbing clutch 10 includes an electrorheological fluid clutch 16 and a wet friction clutch 18, which are arranged in parallel and coaxially.

A clutch case 20 is fixed to the front end surface of the input shaft 12. A clutch case 24 is fixed to the front end surface of the clutch case 20 via an insulating ring 22. A partition plate 26 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the clutch case 24, and a chamber 28 and a chamber 30 are formed. The chamber 28 is filled with hydraulic oil 32.

The chamber 30 is filled with the electrorheological fluid 34.

The electrorheological fluid 34 is a solid particle dispersion solution in which a dispersion layer such as Al (OH) ₃ coated aluminum particles is dispersed in a dispersion medium such as water or spindle oil. As shown in FIG. 2, the electrorheological fluid 34 has a characteristic of showing an electrorheological effect known as a so-called Winslow effect in which the viscous resistance increases with the strength of the electric field under a DC external electric field. . The electrorheological fluid 34 is also called an electrorheological fluid, and is issued on January 16, 1984 in "NIKKEI MECHANICAL".
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A partition board 36 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the clutch case 24 in parallel with the partition board 26. The partition board 36 divides the chamber 30 into two chambers that communicate with each other on the axial center side.

A base ring 4 is attached to the output shaft 14 via an insulating ring 38.
0 is stuck. Clutch disks 42 and 44 are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the base ring 40. The clutch disc 42 and the clutch torque 44 are provided in each of the divided two chambers. Clutch case 2
The end surface of No. 4, the clutch disc 44, the partition disc 36, the clutch disc 42, and the partition disc 26 are arranged at equal intervals in parallel with each other. A seal ring 46 and a seal ring 48 are respectively interposed between the end faces of the partition plate 26 and the clutch case 24 on the axial center side and the base ring 40 to seal the electrorheological fluid 34 into the chamber 30. Slip rings 50 and 52 are pressed against the clutch case 24 and the base ring 40, respectively.
4. A DC voltage is applied between the partition board 26 and the clutch disks 42 and 44. When this voltage is applied, when the clutch case 24 is rotating, the clutch discs 42 and 44 are connected to the electrorheological fluid 3
4 receives a large viscous force. Therefore, the torque of the input shaft 12 is transmitted to the output shaft 14 via the electrorheological fluid clutch 16.

An outer spline 53A is engraved on the tip end of the output shaft 14, and a base ring 54 engraved with an inner spline 53B is externally fitted. Therefore, the base ring 54 is movable in the axial direction. Driven plates 56 and 57 are erected in parallel on the outer peripheral surface of the base ring 54. A plurality of holes (not shown) are bored at equal intervals at the tip ends of the driven plates 56, 57, and a torsion spring 58 has its axial center aligned with the tangential direction of the driven plates 56, 57. It is fitted and locked. A flat plate member 60 is attached between the driven plates 56 and 57 via a torsion spring 58. The tip of the flat plate member 60 is fixed to the clutch disc 64 via a bracket 62. A seal ring 66 is interposed between the shaft center side end surface of the clutch disc 64 and the outer peripheral surface of the base ring 54 to prevent the hydraulic oil 32 from passing through this portion. A clutch lining 68 is attached to the inner surface of the clutch case 20 so as to face the tip of the clutch disc 64.

A conduit 70 is engraved on the output shaft 14 from the outside to the partition plate 26 side of the chamber 28. Further, the output shaft 14 is provided with a conduit 72 that is electrically connected to the input shaft 12 side of the chamber 28 from the outside. Therefore, when the hydraulic oil 32 flows into the chamber 28 via the conduit 70, the pressure causes the clutch disc 64 to move to the input shaft 12 side, the clutch disc 64 contacts the clutch lining 68, and the clutch lining 68 is opened. Press. Therefore, when the clutch case 20 is rotated, the friction force acting between the clutch lining 68 and the clutch disc 64 causes the input shaft 1 to move.
The torque of 2 is transmitted to the output shaft 14. In this state, the chamber 28 has the clutch disc 64.
It is divided into two by. Next, when the hydraulic oil 32 is caused to flow into the chamber 28 via the conduit 72, the pressure causes the clutch disk 64 to move toward the output shaft 14. As a result, the clutch disc 64 is separated from the clutch lining 68, and the torque transmission from the input shaft 12 to the output shaft 14 is cut off.

Next, a method of using the torque fluctuation absorbing clutch configured as described above will be described together with its operation. Slip ring 50 and slip ring 5 near the engine idle speed
A voltage is applied between the electro-rheological fluid clutch 16 and the wet friction clutch 18 in a first state in which the torque of the input shaft 12 is transmitted to the output shaft 14 only by the electro-rheological fluid clutch 16. It is possible to switch to a second state that matches.

In the first state, the resonance state of the wet friction clutch 18 due to the intervention of the torsion spring 58 can be avoided. Further, in the second state, the electrorheological fluid clutch 16
Since the torque of the input shaft 12 is transmitted to the output shaft 14 via the, the torque transmitted via the wet friction clutch 18 is small, and therefore the influence of resonance of the wet friction clutch 18 can be reduced.

If the idle speed is exceeded, slip ring 50,
The voltage applied to the slip ring 52 is turned off and the conduit 7
The hydraulic oil 32 is caused to flow into the chamber 28 via 0. As a result, the torque of the input shaft 12 can be transmitted to the output shaft 14 by the wet friction clutch 18 as in the conventional example. Therefore, due to the interposition of the torsion spring 58, the torque fluctuation of the input shaft 12 is reduced and transmitted to the output shaft 14.

That is, near the resonance speed of the wet friction clutch 18, by opening the wet friction clutch 18 and engaging the electrorheological fluid clutch 16, it is possible to avoid the resonance state caused by the interposition of the torsion spring. The second state in which it is possible to reduce the influence of resonance and increase the transmission torque by setting the state 1 or engaging both the wet friction clutch 18 and the electrorheological fluid clutch 16. And Further, by using only the wet friction clutch 18 at other rotation speeds, it is possible to reduce noise generated near the idle rotation speed and prevent excessive stress from being applied to the torsion spring 58 and the like. Has become.

[Advantages of the Invention] Since the torque fluctuation absorbing clutch according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, the friction clutch is opened and the electrorheological fluid clutch is engaged in the vicinity of the resonance rotational speed, which results from the intervention of the torsion spring. To reduce the influence of resonance and increase the transmission torque by setting the first state in which it is possible to avoid the resonance state that occurs, or by engaging both the friction clutch and the electrorheological fluid clutch. It has an excellent effect that it can be brought into the second state in which it is possible. Further, during normal traveling, engaging the friction clutch has an excellent effect that transmission of torque fluctuation is sufficiently reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a torque fluctuation absorbing clutch according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a characteristic view of an electrorheological fluid, FIG. 3 is a partial sectional front view showing a conventional example, and FIG. IV- in Figure 3
A sectional view taken along line IV and FIG. 5 are diagrams showing vibration characteristics of the friction clutch. 10 ... Torque fluctuation absorbing clutch, 12 ... Input shaft, 14 ... Output shaft, 16 ... Torque fluctuation absorbing clutch, 18 ... Wet friction clutch, 20, 24 ... Clutch case, 26, 36 ... Divider , 34 ... Electro-rheological fluid, 42, 44 ... Clutch disc, 50, 52 ... Slip ring, 56, 57 ... Driven plate, 58 ... Torsion spring, 60 ... Flat plate member, 64 ... Clutch disc, 68 …… Clutch lining.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electrorheological fluid clutch, in which an input shaft and an output shaft are connected via an electrorheological fluid, a voltage is applied to the electrorheological fluid, and torque of the input shaft is transmitted to the output shaft, and a torsion spring. And a friction clutch disposed in parallel and coaxially with the electrorheological fluid clutch, the clutch being attached to the input shaft or the output shaft. It is possible to switch between a first state in which the clutch is engaged and a second state in which both the friction clutch and the electrorheological fluid clutch are engaged, and the friction clutch is engaged and the electrorheological fluid clutch is engaged except near the resonance speed. The torque fluctuation absorbing clutch is characterized in that it can be opened.