Patent ID: 8484893
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A clutch for provision between a drive shaft and a driven shaft to operate to couple the drive shaft to the driven shaft when a drive force is transmitted from the drive shaft and uncouple the driven shaft from the drive shaft during non-driving of the drive shaft, the clutch comprising: a driving-side rotating body capable of rotating integrally with the drive shaft; a driven-side rotating body capable of rotating integrally with the driven shaft; a holding case capable of rotating relative to the driving-side rotating body; a power transmitting member that is held by one of the driving-side rotating body and the holding case so as to be rotatable integrally with the one of the driving-side rotating body and the holding case, the power transmitting member being arranged between the driving-side rotating body and the driven-side rotating body in the radial direction and being moved between a non-engaging position, where the driving-side rotating body does not engage with the driven-side rotating body in a rotational direction, and an engaging position located radially outward from the non-engaging position, where the driving-side rotating body engages with the driven-side rotating body in the rotational direction; and a guiding member having a cam portion that is engaged with the power transmitting member and guides movement of the power transmitting member between the engaging position and the non-engaging position, the guiding member being held by the other of the driving-side rotating body and the holding case so as to be rotatable integrally with the other of the driving-side rotating body and the holding case, wherein at start of rotational driving of the driving-side rotating body, relative rotation between the driving-side rotating body and the holding case occurs, resulting in that the power transmitting member is guided by the cam portion to move from the non-engaging position to the engaging position; wherein the guiding member is held so as to be rotatable integrally with the holding case, and after the power transmitting member is moved to the engaging position while being guided by the cam portion during rotational driving of the driving-side rotating body, the guiding member is moved radially outward by a centrifugal force, thereby holding the power transmitting member at the engaging position.