# US 11,111,968 B2 · Clutch unit and vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,111,968 B2 - Document ID: US11111968B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/455,169 - Filed: 2019-06-27 - Published: 2019-11-07 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-29 - Assignees: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Kengo Minami; Yoshiki Terashima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111968B2 ## CPC - F16D 23/12: Mechanical clutch-actuating mechanisms arranged outside the clutch as such (specific for combined clutches F16D21/00; mechanisms specific for synchronisation F16D23/02) - F16D 13/752: {the adjusting device being located in the actuating mechanism arranged outside the clutch (adjusting "Bowden" mechanisms F16C1/22)} - F16D 28/00: Electrically-actuated clutches (arrangements for synchronisation F16D23/02; clutches actuated directly by means of an electromagnet F16D27/00; automatic clutches F16D43/00 - F16D45/00; external control F16D48/00) - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract A clutch unit includes a clutch having a clutch spring, a motor that generates an actuation driving force for actuating the clutch, an output shaft that transfers the clutch reaction force to the clutch and receives an elastic restoring force of the clutch spring as a clutch reaction force, and a spring that inputs an assist force for assisting the actuation driving force to the output shaft. In switching the clutch from an engaged state to a disengaged state, the output shaft receives the assist force before receiving the clutch reaction force, whereas in switching the clutch from the disengaged state to the engaged state, the assist force becomes zero after the clutch reaction force becomes zero. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A clutch unit comprising: a clutch including a plurality of torque transfer members, including a plurality of clutch plates and a plurality of friction plates, that transfer a torque by a friction force upon the plurality of clutch plates contacting the plurality of friction plates to form a contact portion therebetween, and a clutch spring that connects the plurality of torque transfer members to one another by an elastic restoring force, the clutch being switchable to an engaged state where the torque is transferred and a disengaged state where the torque is interrupted; an actuator that generates an actuation driving force for actuating the clutch; a transfer member that transfers the actuation driving force generated by the actuator to the clutch and receives the elastic restoring force of the clutch spring from the clutch as a clutch reaction force; and an auxiliary spring member that inputs an assist force for assisting the actuation driving force to the transfer member, wherein a force transfer path between the transfer member and the contact portion between the plurality of clutch plates and the plurality of friction plates is so configured that a timing of transfer of the clutch reaction force to the transfer member and a timing of input of the assist force to the transfer member are different in that in switching the clutch from the engaged state to the disengaged state, the assist force is input to the transfer member from the auxiliary spring member before the clutch reaction force is input to the transfer member from the clutch, and in switching the clutch from the disengaged state to the engaged state, the assist force input to the transfer member from the auxiliary spring member becomes zero after the clutch reaction force input to the transfer member from the clutch becomes zero. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The clutch unit according to claim 1, wherein in a state where an abrasion amount of the torque transfer member reaches a predetermined limit, in switching the clutch from the engaged state to the disengaged state, the assist force is input to the transfer member from the auxiliary spring member before the clutch reaction force is input to the transfer member from the clutch, and in switching the clutch from the disengaged state to the engaged state, after the clutch reaction force input to the transfer member from the clutch becomes zero, the assist force input to the transfer member from the auxiliary spring member becomes zero. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The clutch unit according to claim 2, wherein in switching the clutch from the engaged state to the disengaged state, the assist force input to the transfer member from auxiliary spring member is at maximum after start of input of the clutch reaction force to the transfer member from the clutch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The clutch unit according to claim 3, wherein in switching the clutch from the disengaged state to the engaged state, the assist force input to the transfer member from auxiliary spring member is at maximum before input of the clutch reaction force to the transfer member from the clutch becomes zero. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A vehicle comprising the clutch unit according to claim 4. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A vehicle comprising the clutch unit according to claim 3. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The clutch unit according to claim 2, wherein in switching the clutch from the disengaged state to the engaged state, the assist force input to the transfer member from auxiliary spring member is at maximum before input of the clutch reaction force to the transfer member from the clutch becomes zero. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A vehicle comprising the clutch unit according to claim 7. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) A vehicle comprising the clutch unit according to claim 2. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The clutch unit according to claim 1, wherein in switching the clutch from the engaged state to the disengaged state, the assist force input to the transfer member from auxiliary spring member is at maximum after start of input of the clutch reaction force to the transfer member from the clutch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The clutch unit according to claim 10, wherein in switching the clutch from the disengaged state to the engaged state, the assist force input to the transfer member from auxiliary spring member is at maximum before input of the clutch reaction force to the transfer member from the clutch becomes zero. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A vehicle comprising the clutch unit according to claim 11. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A vehicle comprising the clutch unit according to claim 10. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The clutch unit according to claim 1, wherein in switching the clutch from the disengaged state to the engaged state, the assist force input to the transfer member from auxiliary spring member is at maximum before input of the clutch reaction force to the transfer member from the clutch becomes zero. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A vehicle comprising the clutch unit according to claim 14. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A vehicle comprising the clutch unit according to claim 1. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The clutch unit according to claim 1, wherein the clutch further includes a pressure member, the clutch unit further includes a push rod that penetrates a center portion of the pressure member in an axial direction thereof, the push rod having a flange portion, the pressure member being rotatable with respect to the push rod, and the force transfer path is formed to include a gap between the flange portion of the push rod and the pressure member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The clutch unit according to claim 1, wherein the clutch unit further includes a link mechanism having an adjustment mechanism, the adjustment mechanism including a first arm and a second arm that are apart from each other by a predetermined distance, the second arm being connected to the transfer member, and the force transfer path is formed to include the adjustment mechanism.