JPH06221351A - Roller clutch unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To solve the problem of bearing clearance management and eliminate an adverse effect caused by inclination of a rotary shaft. CONSTITUTION:A radial through hole 5c1 is formed on the bending portion 5c of a clutch housing 5. One end of a bearing outer race 3a of a roller bearing 3 extends in the axial direction, where the bending portion 5c is incorporated in the inner diameter of the extending portion 3a1 with a radial clearance S3. A pin 6 fixed to the extending portion 3a1 by a suitable means is radially inserted into the through hole 5c1 of the bending portion 5c with clearances S1, S2 in the axial direction and clearances S4, S5 in the rotating direction. Consequently, the bending portion 5c can be engaged with the pin 6 in the axial and rotating directions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a roller clutch unit in which a roller clutch and a rolling bearing are integrated into a unit, and can be used as a device for controlling the rotation of a washing / dehydrating tub in a fully automatic washing machine, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a fully automatic washing machine, washing, rinsing and dehydration of laundry are performed in one washing / dehydrating tub, so that the washing / dehydrating tub is stopped during washing / rinsing and is rotated only during dewatering. Has become. The rotation control of the washing / dehydrating tub is performed by controlling the rotation of the tubular tub shaft extending downward from the center of the bottom surface. In other words, a fan shaft that is connected to the rotation source so that it can rotate forward / reversely is inserted into the cylindrical tank shaft, and when washing / rinsing, the forward / reverse rotation of the cylindrical tank shaft is locked with a one-way clutch and brake belt. On the other hand, only the fan shaft is rotated forward / reversely, at the time of dehydration, the brake belt is unlocked, and the fan shaft is rotated in the free direction of the one-way clutch to rotate the tank shaft together with the fan shaft. Then, when the dehydration is completed, the brake belt is operated to stop the rotation of the tubular tank shaft.

By the way, in general, a roller clutch is often used as the one-way clutch.
The roller clutch has, for example, a plurality of cam surfaces on its inner peripheral surface, and an outer ring that forms a wedge space in the forward rotation direction between each cam surface and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft to be controlled, and the outer peripheral surface of this wedge space. It is composed of a plurality of needle rollers arranged so that they can be engaged / disengaged, a retainer having a plurality of pockets for accommodating the needle rollers, and spring means for pressing the needle rollers toward the wedge space side. With respect to the reverse rotation of the rotary shaft, the needle roller receives a frictional force between the rotary shaft and the rotary shaft, moves in the reverse rotary direction, and separates from the wedge space to interrupt the torque transmission. On the contrary, with respect to the forward rotation of the rotary shaft, the needle roller moves in the forward rotation direction and engages with the wedge space to transmit torque. The spring means promptly shifts the needle roller from the disengaged state to the engaged state to enhance the responsiveness of the clutch.

[0004]

The roller clutch originally transmits and blocks torque, and does not itself have a function of rotatably supporting the rotary shaft. For this reason, conventionally, a support structure has been adopted in which a roller clutch and a rolling bearing are used together, the supporting function of the rotating shaft is borne by the rolling bearing, and the roller clutch performs only the original torque transmission / interruption function. It was In particular,
A so-called separate type in which a separate roller clutch and rolling bearing are supported by the mounting frame, and a unit type in which a roller clutch and rolling bearing are integrally fitted and fixed in a press-made tubular housing and supported by the mounting frame. Is known. The latter unit type has the advantages that it is easier to assemble than the separation type and that the coaxiality (parallelism) between the roller clutch and the rolling bearing can be easily secured. On the other hand, since the dimensional tolerance of the cylindrical housing, which is a press-molded product, is inevitable, there is a problem that it is difficult to manage the bearing clearance of the rolling bearing fitted to this. Of course, such a problem can be addressed by improving the accuracy of the cylindrical housing or by using a special rolling bearing (for example, the bearing clearance is set outside the standard value range). However, on the contrary, it causes an increase in cost.

Further, in a fully-automatic washing machine or the like, the rotation shaft may be tilted due to a mounting error or the like. If the inclination of the rotating shaft is large, it is expected that the torque will not be evenly transmitted to each cam surface due to an eccentric load acting on the outer ring of the roller clutch during torque transmission, affecting the durability of the cam surface. It There is also concern about the durability of the spring means that presses the needle roller toward the wedge space.

An object of the present invention is to avoid the problems in bearing clearance management in the unit type described above, and
By eliminating the adverse effects caused by the inclination of the rotating shaft, it is intended to stabilize the function of the clutch, improve the durability, and reduce the cost.

[0007]

The roller clutch unit of the present invention has a plurality of cam surfaces on its inner peripheral surface, and each cam surface forms a wedge space between the cam surface and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member to be controlled. A roller clutch having an outer ring, a roller arranged to be engageable with and disengageable from the wedge space, and a retainer for accommodating the roller, and an axial center of the roller clutch are arranged to rotatably support the rotating member. Rolling bearings,
A cylindrical clutch housing that houses and holds a roller clutch, in which the clutch housing and the bearing outer ring of the rolling bearing are engaged and integrated.

[0008]

The roller clutch and the rolling bearing are integrated as a unit through the engagement structure of the clutch housing and the bearing outer ring. Since such an engagement structure is adopted when unitized, fluctuations in the bearing clearance due to unitization can be avoided.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the roller clutch unit of this embodiment is arranged with a roller clutch 2 for controlling the rotation of a rotary shaft 1 and a roller clutch 2 with their axes aligned. A rolling bearing 3 (for example, a sealed deep groove ball bearing) for rotatably supporting the roller clutch 2 and a tubular clutch housing 5 for accommodating and holding the roller clutch 2 are mainly configured.

The roller clutch 2 has a plurality of cam surfaces on its inner peripheral surface, and a shell type outer ring 2 that forms a wedge space in the forward rotation direction between each cam surface and the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 1, for example.
a, a plurality of needle rollers 2b arranged to be engageable with and disengageable from the wedge space, and a plurality of pockets for accommodating and holding the needle rollers 2b.
And the side wall of the pocket of the cage 2c and the needle roller 2b.
And a spring means 2d which is interposed between the needle roller 2b and the outer peripheral surface thereof and presses the needle roller 2b toward the wedge space side. The function of the roller clutch 2 is the same as that of the conventional one described above, and the description thereof is omitted here.

The clutch housing 5 has a cylindrical portion 5a to which the outer ring 2a of the roller clutch 2 is fitted and fixed, and a cylindrical portion 5a.
An outer diameter flange portion 5b extending from one end surface to the outer diameter side,
A bent portion 5 that extends in an axial direction from the outer diameter flange portion 5b.
c and an inner diameter flange portion 5d extending from the other end surface of the cylindrical portion 5a toward the inner diameter side. The bent portion 5c is provided with a through hole 5c1 in the radial direction. Further, one end surface of the bearing outer ring 3a of the rolling bearing 3 extends in the axial direction, and the bent portion 5c of the clutch housing 5 is incorporated in the inner diameter of the extending portion 3a1 with a radial clearance S3. The pin 6 fixed to the extending portion 3a1 by an appropriate means penetrates the through hole 5c1 of the bent portion 5c in the radial direction with axial clearances S1 and S2 and rotational clearances S4 and S5. Therefore, the bent portion 5c and the pin 6 can be engaged with each other in the axial direction and the rotation direction. still,
These clearances are small, for example, about 0.5 mm. In this way, the clutch housing 5 and the bearing outer ring 3a are engaged and integrated.

The roller clutch unit of this embodiment is
Since the roller clutch 2 and the rolling bearing 3 are integrally unitized through the engagement structure of the clutch housing 5 and the bearing outer ring 3a, there is no fluctuation in the bearing clearance due to unitization, and the bearing clearance can be managed. It's easy. Further, due to the existence of the axial clearances S1 and S2, the radial clearance S3, and the rotational clearances S4 and S5, the clutch housing 5 and the roller clutch 2 accommodated and held in the clutch housing 5 are
It is possible to swing and move in the axial direction with respect to the rolling bearing 3. Therefore, when the rotary shaft 1 is tilted due to, for example, a mounting error, the roller clutch 2 swings in these clearances (alignment clearances) in accordance with the tilt of the rotary shaft 1, and the roller clutch 2 and the rotary shaft 1 are separated from each other. Aligns the misalignment of the axis of automatically.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the extending portion 3a1 of the bearing outer ring 3a is provided with a notch portion 3a2 formed by notching in the radial direction, and a claw portion 5b1 protruding from the outer diameter flange portion 5b of the clutch housing 5 to the outer diameter side. The clutch housing 5 is incorporated into the inner diameter of the extending portion 3a1, the claw portion 5b1 is fitted to the cutout portion 3a2, and the C ring-shaped retaining ring 7 is fitted and fixed to the inner diameter of the extending portion 3a1. is there. The claw portion 5b1 and the notch portion 3a2 are engageable in the rotational direction, and the claw portion 5b1
Also, the outer diameter flange portion 5b and the retaining ring 7 can be engaged in the axial direction. Further, the claw portion 5b1 (outer diameter flange portion 5b)
And the retaining ring 7, and between the claw portion 5b1 and the bottom wall of the cutout portion 3a2, axial clearances S1 and S2 are provided, respectively.
A radial clearance S3 is provided between the outer diameter of the outer diameter flange portion 5b and the inner diameter of the extending portion 3a1. Also, the claw portion 5b1
And a clearance S in the rotational direction between the notch 3a2 and both side walls of the notch 3a2.
4 and S5, respectively.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the engagement portion between the clutch housing 5 and the bearing outer ring 3a is provided at two locations equidistantly arranged around the circumference. It may be provided at least at one place.

Although not shown, the above clearances S1 to S5
When an elastic member made of resin or rubber is interposed in (in this case, a clearance is ensured),
It is possible to absorb shocks and vibrations when the clutch is turned on and off, which is particularly effective as a countermeasure against rattling noise. Also,
The outer ring 2a of the roller clutch 2 may be directly engaged with and integrated with the extending portion 3a1 of the bearing outer ring 3a according to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 without using the clutch housing 5. It is possible. Furthermore, the extension 3a
1 is not provided, for example, a recess is provided from the end surface side on a part of the outer diameter surface of the bearing outer ring 3a, and an axial projection is provided on one end surface side of the clutch housing 5 or the outer ring 2a. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a directional clearance, a radial clearance, and a rotational clearance are adapted to this recess (in this case, a suitable engaging means for axially engaging the projection and the recess is provided. ).

The present invention is not limited to the above-exemplified ones. For example, a two-way type roller clutch is used as the roller clutch, an inner ring is provided in the roller clutch, and an angular ball bearing is used as the rolling bearing. Can be modified.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the roller clutch and the rolling bearing are integrated into a unit through the engagement structure of the clutch housing and the bearing outer ring, there is no variation in the bearing clearance due to unitization and the bearing clearance can be easily managed. Therefore, the rolling bearing unitized can be made compatible with the standard product, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, by providing a clearance that allows the rotating member of the roller clutch to move in accordance with the inclination of the rotating member, even if the rotating member is inclined due to an attachment error or the like, this inclination is automatically generated by the movement of the roller clutch. Since the centering is performed, an unbalanced load during torque transmission can be prevented, a stable clutch function can be ensured, and the durability of the roller clutch can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of the present invention (view a: view in the direction a in FIG. B) and a cross-sectional view (view b: b in FIG.
-B section).

FIG. 2 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention (FIG. A: a view in the direction of arrow a in FIG. B) and a cross-sectional view (FIG. B: bb cross section in FIG. 2a).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 rotary shaft 2 roller clutch 2a outer ring 2b roller 2c retainer 2d spring means 3 rolling bearing 3a outer ring 5 clutch housing

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An outer ring having a plurality of cam surfaces on its inner peripheral surface, each cam surface forming a wedge space between the cam surface and the outer peripheral surface of a rotating member to be controlled, and being engageable with and disengageable from the wedge space. A roller clutch having disposed rollers and a retainer for accommodating the rollers, a rolling bearing arranged to align the shaft center with the roller clutch and rotatably supporting the rotating member, and accommodating and retaining the roller clutch. A roller clutch unit, wherein the clutch housing and the bearing outer ring of the rolling bearing are engaged and integrated with each other.