Power generation device and one-way clutch structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10077815-B2
Application number	US-201414774346-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2014
Priority date	Mar 12, 2013
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A one-way clutch structure includes: a pair of clutch members disposed between an output shaft and a drive shaft so as to oppose each other in an axial direction; and an engagement element interposed between these clutch members. When a rotation speed of the output shaft exceeds a rotation speed of the drive shaft, the engagement element engages with the clutch portion to connect the output shaft and the drive shaft so as to be integrally rotatable. When the rotation speed of the output shaft becomes lower than the rotation speed of the drive shaft, the engagement of the engagement elements is released to cut off connection between the output shaft and the drive shaft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A one-way clutch structure disposed between an output shaft contained in a speed-up gear which increases a rotation speed of a main shaft rotated by an external force and supported by a rolling bearing, and a drive shaft of a power generator, the one-way clutch structure comprising:
a first clutch portion which rotates integrally with the output shaft, and a second clutch portion which rotates integrally with the drive shaft, the first and second clutch portions being disposed between the output shaft and the drive shaft so as to oppose each other in an axial direction;
a plurality of wedge-shaped space portions formed along a circumferential direction between the first and second clutch portions, such that the plurality of wedge-shaped space portions have axial dimensions gradually increasing from one side in the circumferential direction toward an other side, and each of the plurality of wedge-shaped space portions terminate at a step portion;
at least one engagement element disposed in each of the plurality of wedge-shaped space portions; and
at least one elastic member interposed between the at least one engagement element and the step portion of an adjacent wedge-shaped portion, the at least one elastic member biasing the at least one engagement element in the axial direction and between the first clutch portion and the second clutch portion, wherein:
when the main shaft rotates in a normal direction and a rotation speed of the output shaft exceeds a rotation speed of the drive shaft, the at least one engagement element engages with the first and second clutch portions in the axial direction to connect the output shaft and the drive shaft so as to be integrally rotatable, and
when the rotation speed of the output shaft becomes lower than the rotation speed of the drive shaft, the engagement of the at least one engagement element is released to cut off connection between the output shaft and the drive shaft.

2. The one-way clutch structure according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one engagement element moves in the circumferential direction toward a narrow side of the plurality of wedge-shaped space portions thereby engaging with the first and second clutch portions to connect the output shaft and the drive shaft so as to be integrally rotatable, and the at least one engagement element moves in the circumferential direction toward a wide side of the plurality of wedge-shaped space portions thereby releasing the engagement of the engagement element to cut off the connection between the output shaft and the drive shaft.

3. The one-way clutch structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first fixing member which attaches and fixes the first clutch portion to the output shaft; and
a second fixing member which attaches and fixes the second clutch portion to the drive shaft.

4. The one-way clutch structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an adjustment member which adjusts at least one of an axial distance between the output shaft and the first clutch portion, and an axial distance between the drive shaft and the second clutch portion.

5. A power generation device comprising:
a main shaft rotated by an external force;
a speed-up gear including: (i) a rotation transmission mechanism which increases a rotation speed of the main shaft, (ii) an output shaft which outputs the rotation increased in speed by the rotation transmission mechanism, and (iii) a rolling bearing which rotatably supports the output shaft;
a power generator including a drive shaft rotating with rotation of the output shaft as an input and a rotor rotating integrally with the drive shaft, the power generator generating power as the rotor rotates; and
a one-way clutch including:
a first clutch portion rotating integrally with the output shaft and a second clutch portion rotating integrally with the drive shaft, the first and second clutch portions being disposed between the output shaft and the drive shaft so as to oppose each other in an axial direction;
a plurality of wedge-shaped space portions formed along a circumferential direction between the first and second clutch portions, such that the plurality of wedge-shaped space portions have axial dimensions gradually increasing from one side in the circumferential direction toward an other side, and each of the plurality of wedge-shaped space portions terminate at a step portion;
at least one engagement element disposed in each of the plurality of wedge-shaped space portions; and
at least one elastic member interposed between the at least one engagement element and the step portion of an adjacent wedge-shaped portion, the at least one elastic member biasing the at least one engagement element in the axial direction and between the first clutch portion and the second clutch portion, wherein:
when the main shaft rotates in a normal direction and a rotation speed of the output shaft exceeds a rotation speed of the drive shaft, the at least one engagement element engages with the first and second clutch portions in the axial direction to connect the output shaft and the drive shaft so as to be integrally rotatable, and
when the rotation speed of the output shaft becomes lower than the rotation speed of the drive shaft, the engagement of the at least one engagement element is released to cut off connection between the output shaft and the drive shaft.

6. The power generation device according to claim 5 , wherein:
the power generator includes a brake which brakes the drive shaft, and
the one-way clutch is provided between the brake and the speed-up gear.

7. The one-way clutch structure according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a first fixing member which attaches and fixes the first clutch portion to the output shaft; and
a second fixing member which attaches and fixes the second clutch portion to the drive shaft.

8. The one-way clutch structure according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an adjustment member which adjusts at least one of an axial distance between the output shaft and the first clutch portion, and an axial distance between the drive shaft and the second clutch portion.

9. The one-way clutch structure according to claim 3 , further comprising:
an adjustment member which adjusts at least one of an axial distance between the output shaft and the first clutch portion, and an axial distance between the drive shaft and the second clutch portion.

10. The one-way clutch structure according to claim 7 , further comprising:
an adjustment member which adjusts at least one of an axial distance between the output shaft and the first clutch portion, and an axial distance between the drive shaft and the second clutch portion.

Assignees

• Jtekt Corp

Inventors

• Fujiwara Hideki
• Takaki Takeshi

Classifications

• F03D80/70

  Bearing or lubricating arrangements · CPC title

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title

• F05B2260/403

  through the shape of the drive components · CPC title

• F16D41/00 Primary

  Freewheels or freewheel clutches (cycle brakes controlled by back-pedalling B62L5/00 {; one-way linear clutches F16B7/16}) · CPC title

• H02K7/116

  with gears · CPC title