Tsubakimoto Chain Company

Tsubasa Sugiya

Yuji Kurematsu

Eiichi Nakagawa

Akihiro Fukuda

Hiroyuki Kamihigashi

Providing a cam clutch that has a torque limiter function adaptable to high torque with a simple structure, excellent accuracy, stability, and durability, and can be downsized and have an increased service life. The cam clutch includes: a plurality of cams disposed in a circumferential direction between at least one pair of an inner ring and an outer ring that are coaxial with each other and rotatable relative to each other; and biasing means for biasing the plurality of cams so as to come into contact with the inner ring and the outer ring. Each of the cams includes an inclination restricting portion that restricts inclination of the cam in an engaging direction by coming into contact with a locking portion that is provided in a portion of the cam clutch other than cam receiving surfaces of the inner ring and the outer ring.

Cam clutch

To provide a simple-structured cam clutch that does not require precise control and is operable with a smaller drive force and less prone to damage on cam surfaces or inner and outer raceways. The cam clutch includes a plurality of cams circumferentially arranged between an inner race and an outer race and supported by a cage member, and a selector capable of changing an orientation of the cams. The selector includes a driven part allowing a rotation angle thereof to be controlled relative to the inner race or outer race to which the cage member is fixedly attached, and a selector body circumferentially displaceable relative to the driven part in a resilient manner by a spring-loaded mechanism. The selector body includes a cam orientation control protrusion capable of changing the orientation of the cams by making contact with the cams.

To provide a simple-structured cam clutch that does not require precise control, uses a smaller drive force, provides improved clutch operation stability and high responsiveness, and offers more mode switch options. The cam clutch includes a plurality of cams circumferentially arranged between an inner race and an outer race. The cams are arranged in a plurality of rows adjacent each other in a direction of rotation axis. The cam clutch has a selector that allows a rotation angle thereof to be controlled relative to the inner race or the outer race. The selector has a cam orientation control surface capable of changing the orientation of at least one row of cams by making contact with a cam surface. The cam orientation control surface includes a cam release portion radially protruded toward the cams more than a cam actuator portion and moving the cams to a non-operating orientation.

To provide a simple-structured cam clutch that does not require precise control, uses a smaller drive force for forcibly changing cam postures, and provides improved clutch operation stability and high responsiveness. The cam clutch includes a plurality of cams circumferentially arranged between an inner race and an outer race and supported by a cage member, and a selector allowing a rotation angle thereof to be controlled relatively to the inner race or the outer race to which the cage member is fixed. The selector has a cam posture control surface in contact with cam surfaces of the cams and capable of causing the cams to change posture thereof. The cam posture control surface includes a cam release portion radially protruded toward the cams more than a cam actuator portion and causing the cams to change posture thereof to a non-operating posture.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Tsubasa Sugiya