TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE CLUTCH MECHANISM

摘要

A temperature responsive clutch mechanism that is constructed simple and compact and that can be simply maintained. Rollers (4) functioning as engagement pieces are circumferentially arranged in an annular space between inner and outer rings (1, 2) while being retained by a retainer (3). Each roller (4) is urged by a plate spring (5) in the direction in which the roller (4) is not caught between the inner and outer rings (1, 2), and the roller (4) urged by the plate spring (5) is pushed back in the opposite direction by a bimetal (6) that deforms in response to a variation in temperature. When the bimetal (6) deforms, the roller (4) is caught by a tilt cam surface (2a) formed on the inner diameter surface of the outer ring (2), and this engages the inner and outer rings (1, 2) with each other. The clutch mechanism is constructed simple and compact and can be simply maintained.