Operating assist device for vehicle clutch

A clutch assist device operating between a clutch and a manual clutch operator, the clutch operator being connected to the clutch by a transmitting component, the clutch including a clutch element being biased by a clutch spring toward an engaged position and being movable by the clutch operator and the transmitting component from the engaged position to a disengaged position, the clutch assist device comprising:

• a movable member movable in synchronization with the transmitting component,
• auxiliary force member which is disposed relative to the transmitting component to apply an assist force to the transmitting component, at least when the clutch operator is moved to disengage the clutch element, in such a direction as to assist disengaging the clutch element while the clutch operator is moved from a disengage start position, at which point the clutch operator works against the bias of the clutch spring, to a disengaged position where the clutch element is in the disengaged position,
• a rotatable member for transmitting the urging force of the auxiliary force member to the movable member;
• and
• a cam mechanism being interposed between the movable member and the rotatable member, the cam mechanism including a cam surface configured to maintain the urging force applied by the rotatable member to the movable member within a fixed range while the clutch operator is moved from an intermediate position between the disengage start position and the disengaged position to the disengaged position;
• wherein the transmitting component has a first clutch wire connected to the clutch operator and a second clutch wire connected to a clutch release mechanism of the clutch, and wherein the first and second clutch wires are connected to the movable member.

A clutch assist device incorporated in a clutch mechanism having a friction clutch with a clutch spring, a transmitting component connected to the friction clutch, and a clutch operator which is connected to the transmitting component and which changes the engagement state of the friction clutch when operated against the urging force of the clutch spring, the clutch assist device comprising:

• a movable member movable in synchronization with the clutch operator;
• a rotatable member;
• an auxiliary elastic member for applying an urging force to rotate the rotatable member, the auxiliary elastic member being pivotal through a fixed path with movement of the movable member;
• and
• a cam mechanism interposed between the movable member and the rotatable member for transmitting the urging force applied to the rotatable member to the movable member,
• wherein, when the clutch operator is operated in such a direction as to disengage the friction clutch, the auxiliary elastic member applies an urging force to move the movable member in such a direction as to assist disengaging the friction clutch while the clutch operator is moved from a disengage start position, at which point the clutch operator works against the bias of the clutch spring, to a disengaged position where the clutch element is in the disengaged position, and wherein the cam mechanism is configured to change a velocity ratio, which is the ratio of the rotational velocity of the rotatable member to the traveling velocity of the movable member, while the clutch operator is moved from the disengage start position to the disengaged position.

A clutch assist device incorporated in a clutch mechanism having a friction clutch with a clutch spring, a transmitting component connected to the friction clutch, and a clutch operator which is connected to the transmitting component and which changes the engagement state of the friction clutch when operated against the urging force of the clutch spring, the clutch assist device comprising:

• a movable member movable in synchronization with the clutch operator;
• a rotatable member;
• an auxiliary elastic member for applying an urging force to rotate the rotatable member, the auxiliary elastic member being pivotal through a fixed path with movement of the movable member;
• and
• a cam mechanism interposed between the movable member and the rotatable member for transmitting the urging force applied to the rotatable member to the movable member,
• wherein, when the clutch operator is operated in such a direction as to disengage the friction clutch, the auxiliary elastic member applies an urging force to move the movable member in such a direction as to assist disengaging the friction clutch while the clutch operator is moved from a disengage start position, at which point the clutch operator works against the bias of the clutch spring, to a disengaged position where the clutch element is in the disengaged position, and wherein the cam mechanism is configured to maintain a ratio between the reactive force of the clutch spring and the load applied to the clutch operator within a preset range while the clutch operator is moved from the disengaged start position to an intermediate position between the disengage start position and the disengaged position.

A clutch assist device incorporated in a clutch mechanism having a friction clutch with a clutch spring, a transmitting component connected to the friction clutch, and a clutch operator which is connected to the transmitting component and which changes the engagement state of the friction clutch when operated against the urging force of the clutch spring, the clutch assist device comprising:

• a movable member movable in synchronization with the clutch operator;
• a rotatable member;
• an auxiliary elastic member for applying an urging force to rotate the rotatable member, the auxiliary elastic member being pivotal through a fixed path with movement of the movable member;
• and
• a force transmitting component interposed between the movable member and the rotatable member for transmitting the urging force caused by the auxiliary elastic member which the rotatable member receives to the movable member,
• wherein, when the clutch operator is operated in such a direction as to disengage the friction clutch, the auxiliary elastic member applies an urging force to move the movable member in such a direction as to disengage the friction clutch while the clutch operator is moved from a disengage start position to a disengaged position, and
• wherein the urging force transmitting component is configured to change a velocity ratio, which is the ratio of the rotational velocity of the rotatable member to the traveling velocity of the movable member, while the clutch operator is moved from the disengage start position to the disengaged position.