Torque transmission mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10006494-B2
Application number	US-201415307696-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2014
Priority date	Apr 28, 2014
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

This torque transmission mechanism ( 1 ) includes a transmission mechanism portion ( 2 ) that includes an input shaft ( 21 ), an output shaft ( 22 ), and an intermediate portion ( 23 ) including a connection portion ( 23 b ). The torque transmission mechanism includes a limiting mechanism portion ( 3 ) that is capable of switching between a connection state where the limiting mechanism portion is connected to the connection portion and limits rotation of the intermediate portion and a disconnection state where the limiting mechanism portion is disconnected from the connection portion and allows the rotation of the intermediate portion, and switches to the disconnection state when torque of at least a predetermined value acts in the connection state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A torque transmission mechanism comprising:
a transmission mechanism portion that includes an input shaft, an output shaft, and an intermediate portion including a connection portion and transmits input torque input into the input shaft to the output shaft through the intermediate portion;
a limiting mechanism portion that is capable of switching between a connection state where the limiting mechanism portion is connected to the connection portion and limits rotation of the intermediate portion and a disconnection state where the limiting mechanism portion is disconnected from the connection portion and allows the rotation of the intermediate portion, and switches to the disconnection state when torque of at least a predetermined value acts in the connection state; and
a housing that stores the limiting mechanism portion,
wherein the limiting mechanism portion includes:
a switching portion that is movable to a connection position where the switching portion engages with the connection portion in the connection state and a disconnection position where the switching portion disengages from the connection portion in the disconnection state, and
a torque limiting portion that supports the switching portion and allows movement of the switching portion toward the disconnection position when the torque of at least the predetermined value acts on the switching portion at the connection position, wherein the torque limiting portion includes an urging member disposed within the housing, and
wherein the connection portion is provided on an outer periphery of the intermediate portion.

2. The torque transmission mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the urging member urges the
switching portion toward the disconnection position when the torque of at least the predetermined value acts on the switching portion at the connection position.

3. The torque transmission mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein
the limiting mechanism portion further includes a recovery input portion that moves the switching portion to the connection position.

4. The torque transmission mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein
the recovery input portion is provided such that one end side thereof is fixed to the switching portion and the other end side thereof is exposed to an outside of the housing, and is configured to move the switching portion to the connection position on the basis of operation from the outside of the housing.

5. The torque transmission mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein
the connection portion is a connection gear provided in the intermediate portion, and the switching portion is a sector gear, a portion of which is a gear section that meshes with the connection gear.

6. The torque transmission mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein
the transmission mechanism portion is a planetary gear mechanism that includes the input shaft including a sun gear, the output shaft including a planetary gear, and the intermediate portion including an internal ring gear.

7. The torque transmission mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein
the torque limiting portion is configured to move the switching portion to an evacuation position where the switching portion is separate from the connection portion when the switching portion reaches the disconnection position where the switching portion comes into contact with the connection portion.

8. The torque transmission mechanism according to claim 7 , wherein
the torque limiting portion is a ball ramp mechanism including a pair of cam portions that includes ball ramp portions, a ball arranged between the pair of cam portions, and the urging member, which urges the pair of cam portions in a direction toward each other,
one of the pair of cam portions is connected to the switching portion, and is relatively movable with respect to the other of the pair of cam portions, and
the pair of cam portions includes slope paths sloped such that the ball is guided from a first portion corresponding to the disconnection position of the switching portion toward a second portion corresponding to the evacuation position in a state where an urging force of the urging member acts.

9. A torque transmission mechanism comprising:
a transmission mechanism portion that includes an input shaft, an output shaft, and an intermediate portion including a connection portion and transmits input torque input into the input shaft to the output shaft through the intermediate portion;
a limiting mechanism portion that is capable of switching between a connection state where the limiting mechanism portion is connected to the connection portion and limits rotation of the intermediate portion and a disconnection state where the limiting mechanism portion is disconnected from the connection portion and allows the rotation of the intermediate portion, and switches to the disconnection state when torque of at least a predetermined value acts in the connection state; and
a housing that stores the limiting mechanism portion,
wherein the limiting mechanism portion includes:
a switching portion that is movable to a connection position where the switching portion engages with the connection portion in the connection state and a disconnection position where the switching portion disengages from the connection portion in the disconnection state, and
a torque limiting portion that supports the switching portion and allows movement of the switching portion toward the disconnection position when the torque of at least the predetermined value acts on the switching portion at the connection position, wherein
the limiting mechanism portion further includes a recovery input portion that moves the switching portion to the connection position, and
the recovery input portion is provided such that one end side thereof is fixed to the switching portion and the other end side thereof is exposed to an outside of the housing, and is configured to move the switching portion to the connection position on the basis of operation from the outside of the housing.

10. The torque transmission mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein
the connection portion is a connection gear provided in the intermediate portion, and
the switching portion is a sector gear, a portion of which is a gear section that meshes with the connection gear.

11. The torque transmission mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein
the transmission mechanism portion is a planetary gear mechanism that includes the input shaft including a sun gear, the output shaft including a planetary gear, and the intermediate portion including an internal ring gear, and
the connection portion is provided in an outer periphery of the intermediate portion.

12. The torque transmission mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein
the torque limiting portion is configured to move the switching portion to an evacuation position where the switching portion is separate from the connection portion when the switching portion reaches the disconnection position where the switching portion comes into contact with the connection portion.

13. The torque transmission mechanism according to claim 12 , wherein
the torque limiting portion is a ball lamp mechanism including a pair of cam portions that includes ball lamp portions, a ball arranged between the pair of cam portions, and an urging member that urges the pair of cam portions in a direction toward each other,
one of the pair of cam portions is connected to the switching portion, and is relatively movable with respect to the other of the pair of cam portions, and
the pair of cam portions includes slope paths sloped such that the ball is guided from a first por

Assignees

• Shimadzu Corp

Inventors

• Otozai Keitaro

Classifications

• F16D43/20 Primary

  controlled by torque, e.g. overload-release clutches, slip-clutches with means by which torque varies the clutching pressure · CPC title

• F16H35/10

  Arrangements or devices for absorbing overload or preventing damage by overload · CPC title

• F16D7/06 Primary

  with intermediate balls or rollers · CPC title

• F16D43/204

  with intermediate balls or rollers · CPC title

• F16H1/28

  with gears having orbital motion · CPC title