Ntn Corporation

Isao Hori

Kenichiro Itoh

Ken Yamamoto

Koji Akiyoshi

Takayuki Norimatsu

Kenro Adachi

Katsuhisa Suzuki

Tatsuya Yamasaki

Koichi Okada

Yoshitaka Nagano

Kenichiro Ito

Kazuki Kawashima

Tomoyoshi Izutsu

Kazufumi Nakagawa

Kohji Akiyoshi

A rotation transmission device has a two-way clutch prevented from engaging while the inner member is rotating unengaged with the outer member. The clutch includes an outer member, a cam ring mounted in the outer member, rollers each mounted between a cylindrical surface of the outer member and a cam surface of the cam ring, and a roller retainer. The device further comprises a rotor mounted between the solenoid and retainer so as to be nonrotatable relative to the outer ring, an armature nonrotatable relative to the retainer and axially movable, a spring axially biasing the armature away from the rotor, and an engaging plate nonrotatable relative to the inner member and axially immovable. The armature and engaging plate engage together when the armature rotates in one direction by a predetermined angle relative to the engaging plate. A high-strength clutch outer ring is mounted in the outer ring.

Rotation transmission device

A full type one-way clutch includes rollers arranged in a full type state between an outer ring having inclined cam surfaces on the inner peripheral surface thereof and a rotary shaft. A spring biases the rollers in such a direction as to engage the cam surfaces, and the spring is arranged in a groove formed in the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring. By keeping all the rollers in abutment with one another, it is possible to reliably and instantly transmit the biasing force of the spring to all the rollers without reducing the torque-transmitting ability while improving the responsiveness of the clutch.

One-way clutch

A two-way clutch is provided which comprises an inner member formed with a plurality of pockets opening toward its outer peripheral surface, an outer member mounted on the inner member and formed with a plurality of pockets opening toward its inner peripheral surface, a cam ring formed with a cam surface on its inner peripheral surface, a plurality of block members received in the pockets of the inner member so as to protrude in a diametric direction, a plurality of resilient members received in the pockets of the inner member for biasing the block members radially outwardly, and a switch spring mounted to the inner member for maintaining a predetermined phase of the cam ring relative to the inner ring. With this construction, the inner and outer members can be engaged through the block members to transmit power by aligning the pockets of the inner and outer members with each other and by controlling the phase of the cam ring. Also, a rotation transmission device is provided which includes a first rotary member, a second rotary member, the above-described two-way clutch, and an electromagnetic clutch.

Two-way clutch and rotation transmission device

A power transmission changeover device for an automatic-transmission, four-wheel drive vehicle which can prevent rattling of gears while the gear position of the sub-transmission is being changed over. Air pipes extending from a negative pressure source for actuating an actuator for changing over gears of a sub-transmission, and electromagnetic valves have inner diameters of 4 mm or over. An accumulator is provided between the electromagnetic valves in the air pipes and the negative pressure source. This makes it possible to increase the operating speed and operating force of the actuator and, to shorten the duration of the neutral position when gears are changed over, and to increase the meshing force with new gears. It is thus possible to prevent rattling of gears due to improper meshing of gears.

Power transmission changeover devices for four-wheel drive vehicles

A hub clutch assembly is designed so that fluid pressure is used only while the driving mode is being changed over between a four-wheel drive position and a two-wheel drive position, while eliminating the necessity of holding a coupling member in position once the driving mode has been changed over. A driven member and a driving member are coupled together and uncoupled from each other by a slider which is moved under a negative or positive air pressure. A spring is used to maintain the slider in the two-wheel drive position, while a magnet is used to maintain the slider in the four-wheel drive position.

Hub clutch assembly

A hub clutch assembly is designed so that fluid pressure is used only while the driving mode is being changed over between a four-wheel position and a two-wheel drive positions, while eliminating the necessity of holding a coupling member in position once the driving mode has been changed over. A driven member and a driving member are coupled together and uncoupled from each other by a slider which is moved under a negative or positive air pressure. A spring is used to maintain the slider in the drive position, while a magnet is used to maintain the slider in the four-wheel drive position.

A rotation transmission device has a driving member and a driven member rotatably mounted one inside the other. A plurality of engaging elements are mounted between the driving member and the driven member so as to engage with the driving member and the driven member when the driving member and the driven member rotate relative to each other in either direction. A cage is mounted between the driving member and the driven member for keeping the engaging elements apart from one another by a predetermined distance. A turning force imparting mechanism is coupled to the cage for moving the engaging elements to an engageable position by turning the cage in one direction relative to the driving member, and a locking mechanism is provided between the cage and the driven member for detachably coupling the cage to the driven member and remote-controlled through a cable connected to the locking mechanism and extending out of the rotation transmission device.

Rotation transmission device for connecting and disconnecting the

An automotive power transmission device which can change over the driving mode between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive mode. The device when combined with a differential as an integral unit can be assembled easily. This device includes an axle made up of axially separated first and second portions, a differential coupled to one end of the first portion of the axle and having a differential cover, and a clutch device coupled to the other end of the first portion of the axle which is enclosed in the differential cover. The clutch includes an inner ring connected to the differential, an outer ring connected to a vehicle wheel and rotatably mounted around the inner ring, sprags and cages mounted between the inner and outer rings, a biasing member for biasing and rotating the cages relative to the inner ring, and a locking system for detachably coupling the cage and the outer ring together. While the transfer is set in the two-wheel drive mode, the outer ring is allowed to free-run. During the four-wheel drive mode, the rotation of the axle is transmitted to the wheels through the inner ring, sprags and outer ring.

Power transmission device

A hub clutch capable of automatically engaging and disengaging the front wheel axle to and from the wheel hubs according to the difference in rotational speeds therebetween. It has an inner ring coupled to the front wheel axle, an outer ring coupled to the wheel hub, a first retainer and a second retainer provided between the inner and outer rings, and sprags held by the first and second retainers. To one end of the first retainer is coupled a switch spring for producing a turning effort. A turning effort imparting device is coupled to its other end through a one-way clutch. While the vehicle is moving forward, the sprags are kept in a forward-travel ready-to-engage position, with the one-way clutch idling. When the vehicle begins to move backward, the one-way clutch locks, so that the sprags are inclined in the opposite direction to assume a backward-travel ready-to-engage position. When the wheel hub begins to rotate faster than the front wheel axle, the outer ring will overrun the sprags, disengaging the front wheels.

Hub clutch device

A belt tension adjusting device having a pulley arm having a bore formed with threads, a fixed member and a support shaft extending upwardly from the fixed member into the bore in the pulley arm. A bolt made of a synthetic resin is axially movably mounted on the support shaft and held in thread engagement with the threads formed on the bore. An elastic member is mounted in the bore between the bolt and the support shaft or a member integrally mounted on the support shaft for biasing the bolt in an axial direction. A coil spring is mounted on the pulley arm and having one end thereof in engagement with the pulley arm and the other end with the fixed member.

Belt tension adjusting device

An autotensioner for a belt has a pulley support shaft secured to a base and an eccentric ring rotatably supported by the pulley support shaft with the center of its outer peripheral surface offset from the center of the pulley support shaft. A pulley is rotatably supported around the eccentric shaft through a rolling bearing. A spring for biasing the eccentric ring is provided to press the pulley against the belt. A damper for imparting resistance to rotation to the eccentric ring is provided to restrain the pivoting motion of the pulley. The resistance to rotation is imparted to the eccentric ring by the damper at the side of the rolling bearing opposite to the base.

Growing community of inventors

Iwata, Japan

Isao Hori