阅读说明：本技术 用于离合器分离机构的润滑装置 (Lubricating device for clutch release mechanism ) 是由 竹中徹宏 于 2019-06-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于离合器分离机构的润滑装置,该润滑装置被构造为将润滑脂供给到离合器分离机构中的分离轴承和离合器分离叉的按压部之间的接触部,所述离合器分离机构被构造为使得所述按压部按压所述分离轴承。所述润滑装置包括：润滑管,其构造为从离合器壳体的外部通过设置在所述离合器壳体中的通孔朝向所述接触部延伸,并且将所述润滑脂供给到所述接触部,所述离合器壳体容纳包括所述分离轴承的离合器主体；以及定位部,其被构造为通过与所述通孔的内表面和所述离合器分离叉的平坦表面中的每一个接触来定位所述润滑管。(A lubricating device for a clutch release mechanism configured to supply grease to a contact portion between a release bearing and a pressing portion of a clutch release fork in the clutch release mechanism, the clutch release mechanism being configured such that the pressing portion presses the release bearing. The lubricating device includes: a lubrication pipe configured to extend from an outside of a clutch housing, which accommodates a clutch main body including the release bearing, toward the contact portion through a through hole provided in the clutch housing, and to supply the grease to the contact portion; and a positioning portion configured to position the lubrication pipe by contacting each of an inner surface of the through hole and a flat surface of the clutch release fork.)

1. A lubricating device configured to supply grease to a contact portion between a release bearing and a pressing portion of a clutch release fork in a clutch release mechanism configured such that the pressing portion presses the release bearing, characterized by comprising:

a lubrication pipe configured to extend from an outside of a clutch housing, which accommodates a clutch main body including the release bearing, toward the contact portion through a through hole provided in the clutch housing, and to supply the grease to the contact portion; and

a positioning portion configured to position the lubrication tube by contacting each of an inner surface of the through hole and a flat surface of the clutch release fork.

2. The lubrication device of claim 1, wherein:

the positioning portion includes a first jig provided with two or more positioning holes for positioning the lubrication pipe, and a second jig including an insertion portion inserted into the positioning holes and configured such that the lubrication pipe is positioned when the insertion portion is in contact with an inner surface of the positioning holes; and is

The lubrication tube is secured to the second clamp and extends along the insertion portion.

3. The lubrication device of claim 2, wherein:

the pressing part is of a double-fork structure; and

the positioning hole includes a first hole into which the insertion portion is inserted to lubricate one branch of the pressing portion of the double-pronged type, and a second hole into which the insertion portion is inserted to lubricate the other branch of the pressing portion of the double-pronged type.

4. The lubrication device of claim 2 or 3, wherein the inner surface of the locating hole comprises a guide surface configured to locate the lubrication tube at a location that is: the lubrication tube is not in contact with a component of the release bearing.

5. The lubrication device of claim 1, wherein:

the lubrication pipe is integrated with the positioning part;

the pressing part is of a double-fork structure; and is

The positioning part includes a first contact surface that is in contact with the flat surface of the clutch release fork in a first state in which the positioning part is installed in the through-hole to lubricate one of the bifurcate pressing parts, and a second contact surface that is in contact with the flat surface of the clutch release fork in a second state in which the positioning part is installed in the through-hole to lubricate the other of the bifurcate pressing parts.

6. The lubrication device as recited in claim 5, wherein the second state is a state in which the integrated lubrication pipe and the positioning portion are rotated 180 degrees from the first state.

7. The lubrication device as recited in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the front end portion of the lubrication tube has an opening shaped to taper towards the front end.

8. Lubricating apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the lubricating tube is made of metal.

9. The lubrication device as recited in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the lubrication tube is made of an elastic material.

10. The lubrication device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the lubrication device includes an imaging device configured to take an image of an internal structure of the clutch housing at a front end side of the lubrication pipe.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a lubricating device for a clutch release mechanism.

Background

Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2008-151185 (JP2008-151185a) discloses a structure as a clutch release mechanism in which one end of a clutch release fork is used as a pressing portion that presses a release bearing, and the other end of the clutch release fork protrudes to the outside of a clutch housing.

Disclosure of Invention

In the clutch release mechanism, when the pressing portion of the clutch release fork presses the release bearing, the clutch release fork and the release bearing slide with each other at the contact portion, which makes it necessary to lubricate the contact portion with a lubricant. For example, in a vehicle equipped with a clutch device which includes a clutch release mechanism in a configuration, a hole for releasing heat generated by a semi-engaged state and an opening for draining water are provided in a clutch housing. When the vehicle is used in an environment where sand, muddy water, or the like exists, foreign substances such as sand and muddy water may enter the clutch housing and damage the pressing portion of the clutch release fork, thereby causing deterioration in sliding performance. Therefore, it is desirable that lubrication maintenance for additionally supplying grease on the contact portion between the release bearing and the clutch release fork be performed as maintenance work of the clutch release mechanism.

However, in the configuration described in JP2008-151185a, grease is additionally supplied to the pressing portion of the clutch release fork, which is a portion requiring lubrication, requiring the clutch housing to be detached and attached during lubrication maintenance. Therefore, for each lubrication maintenance, the clutch housing needs to be removed from the vehicle, which provides room for improvement in terms of work efficiency.

The invention provides a lubricating device for a clutch release mechanism, which can improve the working efficiency of lubrication maintenance.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lubricating device that supplies grease to a contact portion between a release bearing in a clutch release mechanism and a pressing portion of a clutch release fork, wherein the pressing portion presses the release bearing. The lubricating device includes a lubricating tube and a positioning portion. The lubrication pipe is configured to extend from an outside of a clutch housing that accommodates a clutch main body including the release bearing toward the contact portion through a through hole provided in the clutch housing, and to supply the grease to the contact portion. The positioning portion is configured to position the lubrication pipe by contacting each of an inner surface of the through hole and a flat surface of the clutch release fork.

This configuration of the lubricating device allows grease to be supplied from the lubricating tube to the contact portion between the pressing portion of the clutch release fork and the release bearing through the through hole of the clutch housing. Therefore, during the lubrication maintenance, the lubrication work can be performed without removing the clutch housing, which improves the work efficiency of the lubrication maintenance.

In the lubricating device described above, the positioning portion may include a first jig and a second jig, and the first jig may be provided with two or more positioning holes for positioning the lubricating tube. The second jig may include an insertion portion inserted into the positioning hole, and may be configured such that the lubrication pipe is positioned when the insertion portion is in contact with an inner surface of the positioning hole. The lubrication tube may be secured to the second clamp and extend along the insertion portion.

In this configuration of the lubricating device, the insertion portion of the second jig is in contact with the inner surface of the positioning hole of the first jig, so that the lubricating tube can be positioned at the contact portion between the pressing portion of the clutch release fork and the release bearing, which is the portion requiring lubrication. Therefore, the working efficiency of lubrication maintenance is improved.

In the above lubricating device, the pressing portion may have a double-forked structure. The positioning hole may include a first hole and a second hole. The insertion portion may be inserted into the first hole to lubricate one branch of the double-branch type pressing portion. The insertion portion may be inserted into the second hole to lubricate the other branch of the pressing portion of the double-branch type.

In such a configuration of the lubricating device, the insertion portion of the second jig is inserted into the first hole or the second hole of the first jig, so that the lubricating tube can be positioned at the contact portion between the pressing portion of the clutch release fork and the release bearing, which is the portion requiring lubrication. Therefore, the working efficiency of lubrication maintenance is improved.

In the above lubricating device, the inner surface of the positioning hole may include a guide surface. The guide surface may be configured to position the lubrication tube at a location that is: the lubrication tube is not in contact with a component of the release bearing.

In this configuration of the lubricating device, the insertion portion of the second jig is brought into contact with the guide surface of the positioning hole of the first jig, enabling the lubricating tube to avoid contact with the member of the release bearing before reaching the portion requiring lubrication.

In the above lubricating device, the lubricating tube may be integrated with the positioning portion. The pressing part may have a double-forked structure. The positioning portion may include a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The first contact surface may be in contact with a flat surface of the clutch release fork in a first state in which the positioning portion is mounted in the through hole to lubricate one branch of the pressing portion of the double-branch type. The second contact surface may be in contact with the flat surface of the clutch release fork in a second state in which the positioning portion is mounted in the through hole to lubricate the other branch of the pressing portion of the double-branch type. Here, the second state may be a state in which the integrated lubrication pipe and the positioning portion are rotated 180 degrees from the first state.

In this configuration of the lubrication device, the lubrication tube may be positioned in the first state when the first contact surface of the positioning portion is in contact with the flat surface of the clutch release fork, and the lubrication tube may be positioned in the second state when the second contact surface of the positioning portion is in contact with the flat surface of the clutch release fork. Further, since the lubrication pipe is integrated with the positioning portion, when the lubrication pipe is pulled out from the through hole of the clutch housing, the positioning portion and the lubrication pipe can be removed from the through hole of the clutch housing.

In the above lubricating device, the front end portion of the lubricating tube may have an opening, and the opening may be shaped to taper toward the front end.

In this configuration of the lubricating device, the lubricating tube including the tapered leading end portion allows lubrication of the portion requiring lubrication through a narrow space.

In the above lubricating device, the lubricating tube may be made of metal. Here, the metal lubricating pipe may have a straight line or a curved line shape.

Such a configuration of the lubricating device can reduce deformation of the lubricating tube during lubrication maintenance due to interference with a member inside the clutch housing or the like.

In the above lubricating device, the lubricating tube may be made of an elastic material. Here, the lubrication tube made of an elastic material may have a straight or curved shape.

This configuration of the lubrication device allows the lubrication tube to deform along the shape of a confined space during lubrication of such space. Therefore, the front end portion of the lubrication pipe can easily access the portion requiring lubrication, which improves the working efficiency of lubrication maintenance.

The above lubricating device may further include an imaging device that takes an image of the internal structure of the clutch housing on the front end side of the lubricating tube.

This configuration of the lubricating device allows the clutch member present on the front end side of the lubricating tube to be known from an image of the internal structure of the clutch housing taken by the imaging device. Therefore, the portion requiring lubrication can be reliably lubricated.

The present invention improves the working efficiency of lubrication maintenance by enabling grease to be supplied to the contact portion between the pressing portion of the clutch release fork and the release bearing without removing the clutch housing during the lubrication maintenance.

Drawings

Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements, and wherein:

fig. 1 is a view schematically showing a clutch release mechanism of a first embodiment of the invention;

fig. 2 is a view schematically showing a lubricating device of the clutch release mechanism of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a lubrication device;

fig. 4A is a view showing an example of an opening of a lubrication pipe of the lubrication device;

FIG. 4B is a view showing another example of the opening of the lubrication tube;

fig. 5 is a plan view of the base end side of the first jig of the lubricating device;

fig. 6A is a view seen from the direction of arrow a of fig. 5;

fig. 6B is a perspective view of the first clip when viewed from the rear surface side;

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIC-VIC in FIG. 5;

fig. 7 is a view showing a state in which a first jig is mounted in a through hole of the clutch housing shown in fig. 1;

fig. 8 is a view showing a state in which the second jig is inserted into the insertion hole of the first jig and the lubrication pipe is extended toward the pressing portion of the clutch release fork;

FIG. 9 is a view showing the height position of the front end of the lubrication tube;

fig. 10 is a view schematically showing a first modified example of the first jig;

fig. 11A is a view schematically showing a second modified example of the first jig;

fig. 11B is a view showing a shape of a second modified example of the first jig;

fig. 12 is a view schematically showing a third modified example of the first clamp;

fig. 13 is a view schematically showing a modified example of the step portion shown in fig. 12;

fig. 14 is a view schematically showing a lubricating device of a second embodiment of the invention;

fig. 15A is a view seen from the direction of arrow C of fig. 14;

fig. 15B is a view seen from the direction of arrow D of fig. 14;

fig. 16A is a view showing a first state in which the jig of the second embodiment is mounted in the through hole; and

fig. 16B is a view showing a second state in which the jig of the second embodiment is mounted in the through hole.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a lubricating device for a clutch release mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Fig. 1 is a view schematically showing a clutch release mechanism of the first embodiment. As shown in fig. 1, the clutch device 1 includes: a clutch body 10 that functions to continue or interrupt power transmission; a clutch release mechanism 20 that operates the clutch body 10; and a clutch housing 30 accommodating the clutch body 10. For example, the clutch device 1 is mounted in a manual transmission vehicle and disposed between an engine and a transmission.

The X direction and the Z direction indicated in fig. 1 respectively indicate an axial direction along the central axis and a direction orthogonal to the central axis (also referred to as a radial direction or a height direction). When the Z direction is the height direction, the upper side and the lower side may be written as the leading end side and the base end side, respectively. The Y direction, which will be described later, indicates a direction orthogonal to both the X direction and the Z direction. The Y direction can be written as the width direction.

The clutch body 10 includes a clutch disc 11, a clutch cover 12, a pressure plate 13, a diaphragm spring 14, and a release bearing 15.

The clutch disc 11 includes a friction surface (clutch lining) sandwiched between the pressure plate 13 and the flywheel 16, and is spline-fitted to the input shaft 3 of the transmission. The rotation of the flywheel 16 is transmitted to the input shaft 3 by the frictional force generated between the frictional surface of the clutch disc 11 and the flywheel 16. The flywheel 16 is bolted to the crankshaft 2 of the engine, and the flywheel 16 and the crankshaft 2 rotate integrally.

The clutch cover 12 is provided to cover the outer peripheral side of the clutch disc 11, and rotates integrally with the pressure plate 13 and the diaphragm spring 14. The pressure plate 13 is disposed between the friction surface of the clutch disc 11 and the diaphragm spring 14. The diaphragm spring 14 is a member that presses the friction surface of the clutch disc 11 against the flywheel 16 via the pressure plate 13. The diaphragm spring 14 is disposed on the opposite side of the pressure plate 13 from the friction surface of the clutch disc 11. The peripheral portion of the diaphragm spring 14 is connected to the pressure plate 13, and the central portion of the diaphragm spring 14 is connected to the release bearing 15. Thus, the diaphragm spring 14 can press the platen 13.

During engagement of the clutch body 10, the pressure plate 13 presses the friction surface of the clutch disc 11 against the flywheel 16 by the elastic force of the diaphragm spring 14. This results in a connected state in which a frictional force is generated between the frictional surface of the clutch disc 11 and the flywheel 16, and the rotation of the flywheel 16 is transmitted to the clutch disc 11.

During disengagement of the clutch main body 10, the release bearing 15 presses the central portion of the diaphragm spring 14, so that the peripheral portion of the diaphragm spring 14 is displaced in a direction away from the flywheel 16. At the same time, the pressure plate 13 is pulled in a direction away from the flywheel 16 together with the diaphragm spring 14. This results in a disconnected state in which the frictional force between the frictional surface of the clutch disc 11 and the flywheel 16 disappears, and the rotation of the flywheel 16 is not transmitted to the clutch disc 11.

The clutch release mechanism 20 includes a clutch release fork 21, a release fork support 22, and a release cylinder 23.

The clutch release fork 21 is a member that moves the release bearing 15 in the axial direction, and is configured to be swingable in a state of being supported by the release fork support 22. The clutch release fork 21 is an elongated metal member and has a double fork type front end structure.

As shown in fig. 1, one end of the clutch release fork 21 is formed by a pressing portion 21a that presses the release bearing 15 in the axial direction. The pressing portion 21a has a double-forked structure whose front end is bifurcated so as to hold the input shaft 3 therebetween in the clutch housing 30. A portion (contact portion) of the pressing portion 21a facing the release bearing 15 in the axial direction is in contact with the release bearing 15. The other end of the clutch release fork 21 is formed by a connecting portion 21b, and the connecting portion 21b protrudes to the outside of the clutch housing 30 through a through hole 31 of the clutch housing 30 and is connected to the release cylinder 23. The other end of the clutch release fork 21 is covered by a fork sheath 32 at a position: from this position, the clutch release fork 21 extends outside the clutch housing 30. The fork sheath 32 is mounted in the through hole 31. The fork sheath 32 may be provided with a hole (cooling hole) for releasing frictional heat generated by the half-engaged state of the clutch body 10 to the outside of the clutch housing 30.

The clutch release fork 21 further includes a fulcrum portion 21c between the pressing portion 21a and the connecting portion 21b, at which the clutch release fork 21 is supported by the release fork support 22. The release fork support 22 includes a main body fixed to the partition wall of the clutch housing 30 and a pivot shaft (not shown) including a spherical surface on the front end side of the main body. The partition wall of the clutch housing 30 is formed by a retainer on which a bearing (not shown) supporting the input shaft 3 is mounted. The retainer is a member fixed to the clutch housing 30. The release fork support 22 is fastened to the holder on the root side by bolts. Inside the clutch housing 30, a boss 30a of the retainer extends along the input shaft 3. The input shaft 3 passes through the inside of the boss 30 a.

The release bearing 15 is configured to be movable in the axial direction relative to the boss 30a in a state of being supported on the outer periphery of the boss 30a by the sleeve. The release bearing 15 is disposed in contact with a center portion of the diaphragm spring 14. The release bearing 15 includes an outer ring supported on the boss 30a by a sleeve and an inner ring in contact with the center portion of the diaphragm spring 14. In the release bearing 15, the inner ring in contact with the diaphragm spring 14 rotates, but the outer ring in contact with the clutch release fork 21 does not rotate.

The separation cylinder 23 operates when a driver steps on a clutch pedal (not shown). When the connecting portion 21b is manipulated by the release cylinder 23, the clutch release fork 21 swings about the fulcrum portion 21c as a fulcrum. This swinging causes the pressing portion 21a to press the release bearing 15, which in turn causes the release bearing 15 to move in the axial direction and presses the center portion of the diaphragm spring 14 toward the flywheel 16, so that the clutch body 10 is disengaged. When the clutch body 10 is disengaged, the path between the flywheel 16 and the clutch disc 11 is interrupted, so that power cannot be transmitted therebetween. When the operating force from the separation cylinder 23 disappears, the separation bearing 15 does not receive the pressing force exerted thereon by the pressing portion 21a, so that the clutch main body 10 is engaged. When the clutch body 10 is engaged, a path between the flywheel 16 and the clutch disc 11 is established so that power can be transmitted therebetween. Therefore, when the clutch release fork 21 swings, a power transmission path between the crankshaft 2 on the engine side and the input shaft 3 on the transmission side is established or interrupted.

Next, the lubricating device 100 of the first embodiment will be described. The lubricating device 100 is a device that supplies grease to the contact portion between the pressing portion 21a of the clutch release fork 21 and the release bearing 15. When the vehicle equipped with the clutch device 1 is used in an environment where sand, muddy water, or the like exists, foreign matter may enter the clutch housing 30 through the above-described cooling holes of the fork sheath 32, the cooling holes provided in the clutch housing 30, or the opening for discharging water (none of these holes are shown). Therefore, it is desirable to perform lubrication maintenance for additionally supplying grease to the contact portion between the clutch release fork 21 and the release bearing 15 as maintenance for the clutch release mechanism 20. The lubrication device 100 is configured to allow lubrication maintenance without requiring the clutch housing 30 to be detached from and attached to the vehicle. The lubricating device 100 supplies grease from the outside of the clutch housing 30 through the through hole 31 of the clutch housing 30 to the contact portion between the clutch release fork 21 and the release bearing 15, which is a portion requiring lubrication, through a lubricating tube 130 (shown in fig. 2 and the like).

As shown in fig. 2, the lubricating device 100 includes a first clamp 110, a second clamp 120, a lubricating tube 130, a flexible tube 140, and a lubricator 150. The first clamp 110 and the second clamp 120 are members that position the lubrication tube 130. The first clamp 110 is a member mounted in the through hole 31 of the clutch housing 30. The second jig 120 is a member inserted into the insertion hole of the first jig 110.

The first jig 110 includes a base 111, a protrusion 112, and a first hole 113 and a second hole 114 as positioning holes. The first clamp 110 is an integrally molded part made of metal. The base 111 has a flat plate shape capable of covering a part of the opening of the through hole 31. The width (length in the Y direction to be described later) of the base portion 111 is larger than the opening width of the through hole 31. The protruding portion 112 is a portion protruding from the base portion 111 and inserted into the through hole 31. The protruding portion 112 is in contact with the inner surface 31a of the through hole 31 and with the flat surface 21d of the clutch release fork 21. Therefore, the protruding portion 112 functions as a positioning portion for positioning the first jig 110.

The first hole 113 and the second hole 114 are insertion holes into which the lubrication pipe 130 and the insertion portion 121 of the second jig 120 are inserted, and are positioning holes for positioning the lubrication pipe 130. The first hole 113 and the second hole 114 are formed side by side in the width direction of the first jig 110, and both are through holes extending from the base portion 111 on the base end side through the first jig 110 toward the protruding portion 112 on the leading end side. When the first hole 113 and the second hole 114 are not particularly distinguished from each other, these holes will be written as "insertion holes" in this specification.

The second jig 120 includes an insertion portion 121 inserted into the first and second holes 113 and 114 of the first jig 110, and a stopper 122 contacting the front surface 111a of the first jig 110. The second clamp 120 is an integrally molded part made of metal. The lubrication tube 130 is integrated with the second clamp 120. The second jig 120 includes two through holes 123, 124 extending linearly along the insertion portion 121 from the base end side toward the leading end side. One through hole 123 is a hole for a lubrication pipe. The other through hole 124 is a hole for an endoscope. The lubrication pipe 130 is fixed in the through hole 123 in an inserted state. The endoscope 160 is fixed in the through hole 124 in an insertion state (see fig. 3). The stopper 122 includes a stopper surface 122a (shown in fig. 3) contacting the front surface 111a of the first jig 110.

Lubrication tube 130 is a tube that: grease is supplied to the contact portion between the pressing portion 21a of the clutch release fork 21 and the release bearing 15 in the clutch housing 30 through this tube. Lubrication tube 130 is made of metal. An opening 131a (shown in fig. 4A and 4B) is provided in the distal end portion 131 of the lubrication pipe 130, and grease is injected through the opening 131 a. The flexible tube 140 is connected to the base end of the lubrication tube 130. Lubrication tube 130 is connected to lubricator 150 by flexible tube 140.

As shown in fig. 3, the lubricating device 100 includes an endoscope 160 as an imaging device. The endoscope 160 is integrated with the second jig 120 and protrudes from the distal end side of the insertion portion 121. The front end of the endoscope 160 is a portion inserted into the clutch housing 30, and a lens is provided at the front end portion 160 a. The proximal end of the endoscope 160 is connected to a manipulation unit 162 by a cable 161. An image of the internal structure of the clutch housing 30 can be captured by the endoscope 160 by manipulation of the manipulation unit 162. An image taken by the endoscope 160 may be displayed on the display unit 163 mounted on the manipulation unit 162.

The lubricator 150 is constituted by a cylinder and a piston. The flexible tube 140 is connected to the cylinder of the lubricator 150. In the case where the cylinder is filled with grease, pressing the piston may supply grease from the lubricator 150 to the lubrication pipe 130. It is possible to smoothly supply the grease, for example, by filling the lubrication tube 130 and the flexible tube 140 with the grease in advance, and in this state, inserting the lubrication tube 130 into the clutch housing 30 through the through-hole 31, and operating the lubricator 150.

The front end portion 131 of the lubrication tube 130 includes an opening 131a, and the opening 131a has a tapered shape and through which grease is injected 131 a. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the opening 131a of lubrication tube 130 may be a circular opening 131 a. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 4B, the opening 131a may be a flat opening 131 a. The lubrication tube 130 including the tapered front end 131 allows lubrication of the portion requiring lubrication through a narrow space within the clutch housing 30.

Here, the first clamp 110 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 5 and 6A to 6C. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the base end side of the first clamp 110. Fig. 6A is a view seen from the direction of arrow a of fig. 5. Fig. 6B is a perspective view of the first clamp 110 when viewed from the rear surface side. Fig. 6C is a sectional view taken along the line VIC-VIC in fig. 5.

As shown in fig. 5, the first jig 110 includes a rectangular opening of a first hole 113 and a second hole 114 on the front surface 111a side of the base 111. The inner surface of the first bore 113 is a surface that serves as a guide surface with which the insertion portion 121 contacts to position the lubrication pipe 130, and the inner surface of the first bore 113 includes a first surface 113a, a second surface 113b, a third surface 113c, and a fourth surface 113 d. The first surface 113a and the second surface 113b are surfaces facing each other in the Y direction and form short sides of a rectangular shape. The third surface 113c and the fourth surface 113d are surfaces facing each other in the X direction and form long sides of a rectangular shape. The inner surface of the second bore 114 is a surface that serves as a guide surface for positioning the lubrication pipe 130, and the inner surface of the second bore 114 includes a first surface 114a, a second surface 114b, a third surface 114c, and a fourth surface 114 d. The first surface 114a and the second surface 114b are surfaces facing each other in the Y direction and form short sides of a rectangular shape. The third surface 114c and the fourth surface 114d are surfaces facing each other in the X direction and form long sides of a rectangular shape.

Further, the first clamp 110 includes a contact surface 115 that contacts the flat surface 21d of the clutch release fork 21. The contact surface 115 is a positioning surface, and the first clamp 110 can be positioned in the X direction by being in contact with the flat surface 21d of the clutch release fork 21. As shown in fig. 6A, the contact surface 115 has a predetermined width in the width direction (Y direction) of the base 111 and extends in the height direction (Z direction) of the protrusion 112.

As shown in fig. 6B, the key 116 is provided on the rear surface 111B side of the first jig 110. The key 116 is a portion that is caught on the clutch housing 30 when the protrusion 112 is inserted into the through hole 31. The key 116 serves as a portion for holding the first clamp 110 in the through hole 31. The openings of the first hole 113 and the second hole 114 that are opened in the protruding portion 112 also have a rectangular shape as on the base end side. As shown in fig. 6C, the first hole 113 extends straight through the inside of the protrusion 112.

Next, a method of lubrication by the lubrication device 100 will be described with reference to fig. 7 to 9. Fig. 7 is a view showing a state in which the first jig 110 is mounted in the through hole 31 of the clutch housing 30. Fig. 8 is a view showing a state in which the second jig 120 is inserted into the insertion hole of the first jig 110 and the lubricating tube 130 extends toward the pressing portion 21a of the clutch release fork 21. Fig. 9 is a view showing the height position of the distal end portion 131 of the lubricating tube 130. The Z direction shown in fig. 9 represents the height direction. During lubrication maintenance, the fork sheath 32 is removed so that the lubrication tube 130 is accessible through the through hole 31.

As a first step, the first jig 110 is mounted in the through-hole 31 of the clutch housing 30. As shown in fig. 7, in a state where the first jig 110 is mounted in the through hole 31, the contact surface 115 is in contact with the flat surface 21d of the clutch release fork 21, thereby positioning the first jig 110 in the X direction. Further, in this state, the side surfaces 112a, 112b of the protruding portion 112 of the first jig 110 are in contact with the inner surfaces 31a, 31b of the through-hole 31, thereby positioning the first jig 110 also in the width direction of the opening (i.e., the Y direction).

To describe the first step in detail, first, the side surfaces 112a, 112b are brought into contact with the inner surfaces 31a, 31b while the protrusion 112 is inserted into the through-hole 31, thereby positioning the first jig 110 in the Y direction. Then, with the protruding portion 112 remaining inserted in the through hole 31, the first jig 110 can be moved in the X direction to a position where the contact surface 115, which is not in contact with the clutch release fork 21, is in contact with the flat surface 21d of the clutch release fork 21.

As a step subsequent to the first step, an insertion step of inserting the lubrication pipe 130 and the second jig 120 into the insertion hole of the first jig 110 mounted on the clutch housing 30 is performed. In this insertion step, a step of inserting the second jig 120 in two stages is performed to insert the second jig 120 into the insertion hole of the first jig 110. The side surfaces 121a, 121b of the insertion portion 121 of the second jig 120 have a marking line (not shown) at a position a predetermined distance from the leading end side. The outer circumference of the insertion portion 121 has a rectangular shape. The side surfaces 121a, 121b form the short sides of the rectangular shape. The side surface 121a is one surface in the Y direction, and the side surface 121b is the other surface in the Y direction. The rectangular shape of the insertion portion 121 is smaller than the rectangular shape of the opening of the first hole 113 and the rectangular shape of the opening of the second hole 114.

As shown in fig. 8, when the insertion portion 121 of the second jig 120 is inserted into the first hole 113 of the first jig 110, the lubrication pipe 130 extends toward the pressing portion 21a of the clutch release fork 21, which is a portion requiring lubrication. Since the pressing portion 21a has a double-forked structure, the lubrication pipe 130 inserted into the first hole 113 extends toward one branch of the pressing portion 21 a. In some cases, the lubrication pipe 130 needs to bypass an obstacle inside the clutch housing 30 on a path leading to the vicinity of the pressing portion 21a of the clutch release fork 21. Examples of such obstacles include a clip as a component of the release bearing 15. The clip is provided near the double-pronged portion of the clutch release fork 21, and it is desirable to prevent the lubricating tube 130 from coming into contact with the clip on the way to the pressing portion 21 a.

In the second step, which is the first half of the insertion step, the insertion portion 121 of the second jig 120 is inserted into the insertion hole of the first jig 110 up to the position of the marking line. In the insertion state in the second step, the second jig 120 can move within the insertion hole, thereby changing the position of the second jig 120 relative to the first jig 110 so that the lubrication tube 130 and the endoscope 160 can bypass obstacles inside the clutch housing 30. Specifically, in the third step, which is a bypass moving step, the second clamp 120 is moved so as to bypass the internal components of the clutch housing 30.

In the third step, in a state where the insertion portion 121 is inserted into the first hole 113, there is a gap between the side surfaces 121a, 121b of the insertion portion 121 and the inner surface of the first hole 113. Similarly, in a state where the insertion portion 121 is inserted into the second hole 114, there is a gap between the side surfaces 121a, 121b of the insertion portion 121 and the inner surface of the second hole 114. Therefore, if the second jig 120 has been inserted into the insertion hole to the position of the marking line, the lubrication pipe 130 can be positioned at such a height position: the lubrication tube 130 is not brought into contact with the clip of the release bearing 15 and can bypass the internal components including the clip. In this case, on the stopper 122 side, it is possible to hold the second jig 120 in his or her hand and move the insertion part 121 so as to swing the front end of the insertion part 121 in the Y direction.

As shown in fig. 9, the height h1 is the height of the front end 131 of the lubrication tube 130 at which the clip of the release bearing 15 can be bypassed. When the front end portion 131 is at the height position, the insertion of the lubrication pipe 130 is stopped and the position of the front end portion 131 is controlled so as to bypass the clip of the release bearing 15. The height h1 also represents the insertion amount (stroke amount).

0061 for example, in the third step, from the state where the side surface 121b of the insertion portion 121 is in contact with the first surface 113a of the first hole 113, the side surface 121a of the insertion portion 121 is in contact with the second surface 113b of the first hole 113 that has not been in contact with the side surface 121a yet, as the movement of the lubrication pipe 130 bypassing the obstacle inside the clutch housing 30. In this case, the second jig 120 is moved to slide the insertion portion 121 on the third surface 113c of the first hole 113 until the side surface 121a comes into contact with the second surface 113 b. The sliding motion includes an action of moving the insertion portion 121 parallel to the Y direction and a swinging action of swinging the front end portion 131 in the left-right direction. As a result, the lubrication tube 130 is positioned so as not to contact the clip.

After the lubrication pipe 130 is thus positioned at a position where an obstacle inside the clutch housing 30 can be bypassed, the front end portion 131 of the lubrication pipe 130 approaches again toward the portion requiring lubrication. Specifically, the step of inserting the second jig 120 is continued, and the insertion portion 121 is inserted into the through hole 31 up to a position where the stopper 122 of the second jig 120 comes into contact with the base portion 111 of the first jig 110. The state where the stopper 122 of the second jig 120 is in contact with the first jig 110 means that the front end portion 131 of the lubrication pipe 130 has been inserted to a predetermined target position within the clutch housing 30. Therefore, in the fourth step, which is the latter half of the insertion step, the insertion portion 121 is inserted beyond the mark line, so that the front end portion 131 of the lubrication tube 130 is inserted into the portion requiring lubrication.

As shown in fig. 9, in the fourth step, the front end portion 131 of the lubrication pipe 130 reaches a height h2 at which one branch of the double-forked pressing portion 21a is located. Therefore, the front end portion 131 of the lubricating tube 130 can be positioned near the pressing portion 21a of the clutch release fork 21. Height h2 represents a greater amount of insertion than height h 1.

Then, in a fifth step as the grease supplying step, grease is supplied through the opening 131a of the lubrication pipe 130. In the fifth step, when an appropriate amount of grease is supplied from the lubricator 150 connected to the lubrication pipe 130, an appropriate amount of grease is sprayed through the leading end portion 131 of the lubrication pipe 130 and applied to the pressing portion 21 a. In this case, the lubrication tube 130 is filled with grease from the lubricator 150 in advance. Therefore, once the front end portion 131 of the lubrication tube 130 is positioned at a desired position, grease is smoothly supplied when the lubricator 150 is manipulated.

After the lubrication is completed in the fifth step, the lubrication pipe 130 is pulled out as a pull-out step in the sixth step. In the sixth step, the grease at the leading end portion 131 of the lubrication tube 130 is cut off while the first jig 110 remains mounted in the through hole 31. Thereafter, the second jig 120 is pulled out from the through hole 31, and the front end portion 131 of the lubricating tube 130 is also pulled out to the outside of the clutch housing 30 through the through hole 31.

For example, the second jig 120 is pulled out of the insertion hole of the first jig 110. In order to pull the second jig 120 out of the insertion hole of the first jig 110, the second jig 120 may rock in the left-right direction using a gap between the insertion hole and the insertion portion 121. Therefore, the grease can be prevented from adhering to parts or components other than the parts requiring lubrication.

When the above-described process from the first step to the fifth step is a process involving the first hole 113, the process from the second step to the fifth step for the second hole 114 will be performed with the first jig 110 kept in the mounted state. Therefore, both the branches of the double-branched pressing portion 21a can be lubricated.

When there is no obstacle on the path to the portion requiring lubrication inside the clutch housing 30, the above-described second and third steps may be omitted. In this case, the marking line of the second jig 120 is not required. The fourth step may be performed after the first step, and the insertion portion 121 of the second jig 120 may be continuously inserted into the insertion hole of the first jig 110 until the stopper 122 comes into contact with the first jig 110.

As described above, the lubricating device 100 of the first embodiment allows the pressing portion 21a of the clutch release fork 21 to be lubricated without removing the clutch housing 30 from the vehicle. Therefore, the lubrication maintenance work is facilitated and the work efficiency is improved.

The lubrication tube 130 has been described as being made of metal in the first embodiment, but the lubrication tube 130 may alternatively be made of an elastic material. During lubrication of a narrow space, the lubrication tube 130 made of an elastic material may be deformed along the shape of such a space. Further, the shape of the lubrication pipe 130 is not limited to a linear shape, but may be a curved shape. The structure of the lubricator 150 is not limited to the structure having the cylinder and the piston, and any structure capable of supplying grease to the lubrication pipe 130 may be employed.

Next, first to third modified examples as modified examples of the first jig will be described. Here, a modified example of the first clamp 110 will be described with reference to fig. 10 to 13.

First, a first modified example of the first jig will be described. Fig. 10 is a view schematically showing a first jig 110A of a first modified example. As shown in fig. 10, the first clip 110A of the first modified example is made of an elastic material, such as ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), and has a structure that does not include a key on the rear surface side of the protruding portion 112. The projection 112 is sized so that interference occurs between the projection 112 and the through-hole 31. That is, the protrusion 112 is interference-fitted in the through hole 31. The projection 112 is formed in such a size that: the side surfaces 112a, 112b may be fitted on the inner surfaces 31a, 31b of the through-hole 31. This eliminates the need for a key.

Next, a second modified example of the first jig will be described. Fig. 11A is a view schematically showing a first jig 110B of a second modified example. Fig. 11B is a view showing the shape of a first jig 110B of a second modified example. As shown in fig. 11A and 11B, in the first clip 110B of the second modified example, the protruding portion 112 extends perpendicular to the rear surface 111B of the base portion 111. Further, the first hole 113 and the second hole 114 linearly extend in a direction perpendicular to the flat plate of the base 111. The protruding portion 112 of the first clip 110B is also interference-fitted in the through hole 31.

Next, a third modified example of the first jig will be described. Fig. 12 is a view schematically showing a first jig 110C of a third modified example. As shown in fig. 12, in the first jig 110C of the third modified example, a pair of step portions 117, 118 are provided on the rear surface 111b side of the base portion 111. The step portions 117, 118 are formed as one step portion on each side of the protruding portion 112 and are shaped to protrude from the rear surface 111 b. The side wall surface 117a of the step portion 117 is disposed outside the side surface 112b of the protrusion 112 with respect to the center line L in the Y direction. The side wall surfaces of the step portion 118, which are on the opposite sides of the center line L, are disposed outside the side surface 112a (shown in fig. 6B) of the protrusion 112. The height of the steps 117, 118 is shorter than the height of the protrusion 112.

Since the dimensions of the protruding portion 112 and the pair of step portions 117, 118 in the Y direction are different from each other, the first jig 110C can accommodate through-holes 31 having different opening shapes. When the opening of the through-hole 31 is small, the protrusion 112 is fitted in the through-hole 31. When the opening of the through hole 31 is large, the protrusion 112 cannot be fitted in the through hole 31, but the pair of steps 117, 118 are fitted in the through hole 31.

Fig. 13 is a view schematically showing a modified example of the step portion. As shown in fig. 13, the step portion included in the third modified example may be formed as a plurality of steps. The side wall surface 117a of the step portion 117 forming the first step and the side wall surface 119a of the step portion 119 forming the second step are disposed at positions farther from the center line L in the Y-axis direction than the side surface 112b of the protrusion 112 (at positions outside the side surface 112b in the width direction). The side wall surface 117a of the first step is disposed at a position Y1 farther than the side wall surface 119a of the second step. The side wall surface 119a of the second step is disposed at a position Y2 farther than the side surface 112 b. When the sidewall surface 117a or the sidewall surface 119a is in contact with the inner surface 31a of the through-hole 31, the first jig 110A is located in the Y direction.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. A description will be given of a lubricating device 100A of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the lubricating device 100A has a structure in which the second jig 120 is integrated with the first jig 110D. In the description of the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Fig. 14 is a view schematically showing a lubricating device 100A of the second embodiment. As shown in fig. 14, the lubricating device 100A of the second embodiment has a structure in which a first jig 110D and a second jig 120 are integrated, with a lubricating tube 130 fixed to the first jig 110D.

Fig. 15A is a view seen from the direction of arrow C of fig. 14. Fig. 15B is a view seen from the direction of arrow D of fig. 14. As shown in fig. 15A and 15B, in a state where the insertion portion 121 is inserted into the first hole 113 of the first jig 110D, the stopper 122 and the base 111 of the first jig 110D are fixed to each other. As for the fixing method of the first and second clamps 110D and 120, these clamps are joined together by an adhesive such as glue. When both the first jig 110D and the second jig 120 are made of metal, these jigs may be integrated by welding or the like.

The first clamp 110D includes two surfaces that contact the flat surface 21D of the clutch release fork 21 as positioning surfaces. As shown in fig. 15B, the first clamp 110D includes a first contact surface 115A and a second contact surface 115B.

Fig. 16A is a view showing a first state in which the jig of the second embodiment is mounted in the through hole 31. Fig. 16B is a view showing a second state in which the jig of the second embodiment is mounted in the through hole 31. The second state shown in fig. 16B represents a state in which the jig is temporarily removed from the first state shown in fig. 16A and then rotated by 180 degrees. As shown in fig. 16A, in the first state where the first contact surface 115A is in contact with the flat surface 21d of the clutch release fork 21, grease is supplied through the lubrication tube 130. Then, the first jig 110D is removed from the through hole 31 and rotated 180 degrees about the center axis in the Z direction, and grease is supplied through the lubrication tube 130 in the second state where the second contact surface 115B of the first jig 110D is in contact with the flat surface 21D of the clutch release fork 21.

Here, a method of performing lubrication by the lubricating device 100A of the second embodiment will be described.

First, as a first step, the front end portion 131 of the lubrication pipe 130 is inserted into the clutch housing 30 through the through hole 31, and the insertion portion 121 is inserted into the through hole 31 up to the position of the mark line on the side surfaces 121a, 121b of the second jig 120. The insertion portion 121 can be inserted up to a position where the opening position of the through hole 31 is aligned with the position of the marking line.

As a second step, movement is performed to bypass an obstacle inside the clutch housing 30 while maintaining the insertion position reached in the first step. For example, in a state where the first contact surface 115A of the first clamp 110D is in contact with the flat surface 21D of the clutch release fork 21, the first clamp 110D and the second clamp 120 are moved to bypass the obstacle. In this case, the positioning step of bringing the first contact surface 115A of the first clamp 110D into contact with the flat surface 21D of the clutch release fork 21 is performed in a state where the protruding portion 112 of the first clamp 110D has not been inserted into the through hole 31.

As a third step, the protruding portion 112 is inserted into the through hole 31 until the base portion 111 comes into contact with the clutch housing 30 in a state where the first contact surface 115A is placed along the flat surface 21d of the clutch release fork 21. In the third step, while maintaining the state in which the first contact surface 115A is in contact with the flat surface 21d of the clutch release fork 21, the insertion portion 121 is inserted into the through hole 31, and the rear surface 111b of the base portion 111 is in contact with the clutch housing 30. The state where the base portion 111 of the first jig 110D is in contact with the outer wall of the clutch housing 30 means that the front end portion 131 of the lubrication pipe 130 has been inserted into a predetermined target position within the clutch housing 30.

In this state, as a fourth step, an appropriate amount of grease is supplied from the lubricator 150 connected to the lubrication pipe 130. As a result, an appropriate amount of grease is injected through the front end portion 131 of the lubrication pipe 130, and the grease is supplied to the pressing portion 21a of the clutch release fork 21, which is a portion requiring lubrication.

After the lubrication is completed in the fourth step, the lubrication pipe 130 is drawn out as a fifth step. In this case, the second jig 120 is pulled out of the through hole 31 while cutting the grease at the front end portion 131 of the lubrication tube 130. Since the first clamp 110D and the second clamp 120 are integrated, when the lubrication tube 130 is pulled out from the through hole 31 at the completion of lubrication, the first clamp 110D can be removed from the through hole 31 together with the lubrication tube 130. This may prevent the first clamp 110D from being unable to be removed during lubrication maintenance. Then, the first clamp 110D is rotated 180 degrees about the center axis in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, in the second state where the second contact surface 115B is in contact with the flat surface 21d of the clutch release fork 21, grease can be supplied through the lubrication tube 130 based on the above steps.

When there is no obstacle on the path to the portion requiring lubrication inside the clutch housing 30, the above-described first step and second step may be omitted. In this case, a marking line for the second jig 120 is not required, and the process may start from the third step to insert the insertion portion 121 until the base portion 111 of the first jig 110D comes into contact with the clutch housing 30.

As described above, the lubricating device 100A of the second embodiment allows the pressing portion 21a of the clutch release fork 21 to be lubricated without removing the clutch housing 30 from the vehicle. Therefore, the lubrication maintenance work is facilitated and the work efficiency is improved. The lubricating device 100A is useful when there is no obstacle on the path from the through hole 31 to the pressing portion 21a of the clutch release fork 21 in the clutch housing 30.