Gearing Patents (Class 184/6.12)
  • Patent number: 10578200
    Abstract: A gear pair includes a first gear and a second gear that are engaged and paired with each other, wherein the arithmetic average roughness Ra of the tooth surface of the first gear is less than 0.10, and the arithmetic average roughness Ra of the tooth surface of the second gear is equal to or greater than 0.15. An improvement of the transmission efficiency is achieved due to the improved composite roughness of the gear pair. Accordingly, both of the improvement of the transmission efficiency of the gears and an improvement of the pitting fatigue life are achieved at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignees: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., AICHI MACHINE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takemichi Yamashita, Yutaka Mabuchi, Takeshi Kariya, Takao Mori, Tadashi Goto, Hiroyasu Nagami
  • Patent number: 10569872
    Abstract: A system for maintaining a machine. The system includes an aerial vehicle configured to fly to a lubrication location proximate the machine. A supply of friction minimizing material is carried by the aerial vehicle. A controller is configured to deliver at least part of the supply of friction minimizing material to the machine when the aerial vehicle is at the lubrication location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas D. Erickson, Kala Fleming, Clifford A. Pickover, Komminist Weldemariam
  • Patent number: 10571011
    Abstract: This assembly (400) has a housing (402) for high speed components and a collar (404) located at the output end of the housing and extending radially inward from an outer surface of the housing (402), where the collar retains lubricant (406) in the gearbox when the gearbox is stationary. The collar includes a gap (502), such that one or more of the high speed components can pass through the gap in the collar and such that components offset from the central axis of the gearbox are not impeded by the collar. The high speed components include a high speed shaft (408) and a mechanical pump (410), both of which are offset from the central axis of the gearbox. The housing comprises a cover (410) having one or more holes (510) such that one or more of the high speed components can pass through the gap in the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ROMAX TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: David Saysell
  • Patent number: 10571013
    Abstract: A planetary gear mechanism a sun gear, pinion gears meshing with the sun gear, a planetary carrier having pinion shafts pivotally supporting the pinion gears, a ring gear meshing with the pinion gears, and washers provided between the planetary carrier and the pinion gears. The washers include first washers that are disposed on the side of the planetary carrier and that have projections projecting radially outwardly from outer circumferential sides and second washers that are disposed between the first washers and the pinion gears. The projections come into contact with the planetary carrier and thereby prevent rotation of the first washers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koutaro Ishino
  • Patent number: 10543505
    Abstract: A tip end face of a body part 13 is provided at a part in front of a discharge port with respect to a rotational direction of a worm wheel 2 with a protruding part 16, and a tip end face of the protruding part 16 is provided with a grease-pushing surface part 17 configured to push grease into concave portions of a worm wheel teeth 3 while raking and leveling the grease so that the grease is substantially uniform in a width direction and in a circumferential direction of the worm wheel teeth 3. Also, the tip end face of the body part 13 is provided at a rear part of the discharge port with respect to the rotational direction of the worm wheel 2 with a protruding wall part 18 for preventing the grease 1 from moving rearwards with respect to the rotational direction of the worm wheel 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Ochi, Satoshi Araki
  • Patent number: 10539225
    Abstract: A power system includes: a rotating body; a housing accommodating the rotating body; and a storage portion provided at a bottom of the housing. A part of the rotating body is located in the storage portion. The housing includes: a supply target portion; and a direction changing portion. The direction changing portion includes: a collecting portion that is gradually inclined toward a downstream side in a rotation direction of the rotating body so as to be separated from an outer periphery of the rotating body and that receives the liquid medium scattered by the rotating body; and a guiding portion that is provided so as to cross a lower end of the collecting portion and that is gradually inclined downward toward the supply target portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nakano, Koji Ono, Noriyasu Hakuta
  • Patent number: 10539224
    Abstract: A lubricating device of a gear apparatus for a vehicle lubricates a low-rotation-side gear and a high-rotation-side gear meshing with the low-rotation-side gear. The lubricating device comprises a first tooth surface lubricating oil supply part configured to supply a lubricating oil directly to a tooth surface position located more upstream of a rotating direction of the low-rotation-side gear than a meshing position of the low-rotation-side gear with the high-rotation-side gear so as to spray some of the lubricating oil from the tooth surface position toward a tooth surface of the high-rotation-side gear, and an in-shaft lubricating oil supply part configured to supply the lubricating oil into a shaft of the high-rotation-side gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hori, Hakuba Okuno, Yukinobu Nishikawa, Hiroaki Kiyokami
  • Patent number: 10527152
    Abstract: A gear unit includes a housing, a trough for guiding oil and reducing losses due to splashing surrounding a circumferential section of a toothing part, the trough including at least three parts, e.g., at least one bottom plate and two side walls, the bottom plate being screw-connected to the two side walls, the trough being fastened to the housing, the trough having an opening, the bottom plate and the side walls being stamped bent parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Zili Wu
  • Patent number: 10480350
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a fan drive turbine for driving a gear reduction. The gear reduction drives a fan rotor. A lubrication system supplies oil to the gear reduction, and includes a lubricant pump to supply an air/oil mixture to an inlet of a deaerator. The deaerator includes a separator for separating oil and air, delivering separated air to an air outlet, and delivering separated oil back into an oil tank. The separated oil is first delivered into a pipe outwardly of the oil tank, and then into a location beneath a minimum oil level in the tank. Air within the oil tank moves outwardly through an air exit into the deaerator. A method of designing a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: William G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 10480646
    Abstract: A control apparatus of an automatic transmission including a plurality of planetary gear mechanisms and engaging mechanisms configured to establish a gear range by switching inputs/outputs of the plurality of planetary gear mechanisms, comprises an oil pressure supply device which supplies an oil pressure to operate the engaging mechanisms between an engaging state and a release state in which the engaging state is canceled; and a gear change controller which controls an operation state of each of the engaging mechanisms of the planetary gear mechanisms to establish one gear range of a plurality of gear ranges. The gear change controller executes gear change control of restricting the gear change to the gear range in a case in which the temperature of each of the engaging mechanisms in the gear range after the gear change is predicted to be not less than an allowable temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventor: Naoyuki Kubo
  • Patent number: 10436308
    Abstract: A transfer input shaft 51 of a transfer device 5 of a power transmission system PT has a first connection hole 51a that extends in a rotational axis direction from an end face on the side of a transfer input gear 55 that meshes with a final driven gear 42, and that connects the inside of a transmission case 61 and the inside of a transfer case 53. The transmission case 61 has a rib 62 that receives lubricating fluid scraped up by a final driven gear 42, and guides it toward the first connection hole 51a, in a position facing the end face of the transfer input shaft 51.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keita Kuboki
  • Patent number: 10436294
    Abstract: Fletching wear caused by elastic deformation in the axial direction of an input-side disk 2c due to thrust force of a pressure device is prevented. A female-spline section 13a formed around the middle section in the axial direction of the inner-circumferential surface of a center hole 19 in the input-side disk 2c and a male-spline section 12a formed around the outer-circumferential surface of one end section in the axial direction of an input rotating shaft 1b engage with a spline engagement. A disk-side fitting surface section 22 formed around a portion of the inner-circumferential surface of the center hole 19 in the input-side disk 2c that is adjacent to the other end side of the female-spline section 13a and a shaft-side fitting surface section 23 formed around a portion of the outer-circumferential surface of the input rotating shaft 1b that is adjacent to the other end side of the male spline section 12a are fitted together with an interference fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: NSK LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kota Fukuda, Toshirou Toyoda, Hiroki Nishii, Toshihiro Saito
  • Patent number: 10436307
    Abstract: An axle housing for a vehicle is provided. The axle housing includes a polymeric composite body. The polymeric composite body includes a polymer and a plurality of reinforcing fibers. The polymeric composite body has a modulus of greater than or equal to about 10 GPa. The polymeric composite body defines an inner surface and at least one bearing region. The inner surface defines an interior cavity. The interior cavity is configured to receive an internal gear set including a bearing. The at least one bearing region includes a bore. The at least one bearing region is configured to be disposed around the bearing of the internal gear set. The axle housing may unibody, such that a body portion is free of joints or seams, or it may include multiple pieces. Methods of manufacturing composite axle housings are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bradley A. Newcomb, Hamid G. Kia
  • Patent number: 10421357
    Abstract: An axle apparatus includes: an axle housing in which a machine part is disposed, the axle housing including a discharge port that discharges oil supplied to the machine part and a plurality of inflow ports into which the oil flows; a filter disposed outside the axle housing; a discharge pipe connecting the discharge port of the axle housing and the filter; a supply pipe of which one end side is connected to the filter, the other end side of the supply pipe being branched off and connected to the plurality of inflow ports; and a pump that causes the oil to circulate from the axle housing to the filter via the discharge pipe, and causes the oil to circulate from the filter to the axle housing via the supply pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Sano
  • Patent number: 10415692
    Abstract: An emergency lubrication device of simplified architecture for a mechanical system. The emergency lubrication device has a tank, trigger means, at least one pipe, and at least one distribution means. The tank contains a lubrication liquid and it is arranged inside the mechanical system and above the pipes and the distribution means. Each distribution means includes at least one constriction means for limiting the flow rate of the lubrication liquid. The lubrication liquid is heated by the mechanical system, and the viscosity of the lubrication liquid decreases so that the flow rate of the lubrication liquid through each distribution means is substantially equal to or greater than a minimum flow rate so long as the tank contains the lubrication liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Jean-Victor Lapeyre, Gilles Eymard-Duvernay
  • Patent number: 10371248
    Abstract: In an oil passage structure for a power transmission device including a case provided to accommodate a power transmission device, a baffle plate attached to an inner wall of the case, and an oil pump, the oil passage structure includes a supply oil passage through which oil is pumped from the oil pump to an oil supply destination via the baffle plate. A plate oil passage, which constitutes a portion of the supply oil passage, a supply port, which allows the oil discharged from the oil pump to flow into the plate oil passage through the supply port, and a first discharge port, which allows the oil supplied to the oil supply destination to be discharged through the first discharge port, are formed in the baffle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaho Kawakami, Motoki Tabuchi
  • Patent number: 10364881
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbine engine module comprising a rotating device (1) having a cover (5), said cover (5) comprising radial through ports (8) for the passage of the oil escaping by centrifugation and means (10) for guiding the oil leaving said ports (8) radially outwards, and a casing (2) defining at least one portion of a lubrication enclosure of said device (1), said casing (2) comprising at least one gutter (13), arranged to recover the oil, characterized in that the gutter (13) comprises an annular bottom wall (12) having at least one discharge port, and in that the casing (2) comprises at least one other port located on the outside of the gutter (13), said at least one other port and said at least one discharge port being connected to common discharge means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Catherine Pikovsky, Benoit Guillaume Farvacque
  • Patent number: 10316955
    Abstract: The integrated controller calculates the required lubricant flowrate required for lubricating the friction element corresponding to a selected position on the basis of a rotation speed difference in the friction element corresponding to the selected position, and increases the lubricant flowrate supplied to the friction element corresponding to the selected position immediately after switching is made between the forward position and the reverse position and supplies the lubricant flowrate larger than the required lubricant flowrate to the friction element corresponding to the selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kouichi Kotsuji, Akira Sugimura, Atsushi Maeda
  • Patent number: 10309525
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission is provided that performs a dial type gear shift operation. The vehicle transmission includes a knob that rotates to select a shaft stage and an operation unit that rotates to generate the operation feeling when the knob rotates. Additionally, a plurality of gear units are configured to transmit the rotational force of the knob to the operation unit and at least one of the plurality of the gear units has a central axis spaced apart from the rotational axis of the knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Chun Nyung Heo, Hong Jun Cha, Dae Hyung Kim
  • Patent number: 10309523
    Abstract: A driving force transmission device of a vehicle includes: a main body; a carrying up gear; a drive shaft; and a blocking member. A gear that transmits a driving force to the vehicle is housed in the main body. The carrying up gear carries up a lubricating oil stored in the main body. The drive shaft has, in the shaft, a lubricating oil storage space into which the carried up lubricating oil is introduced and a lubricating oil discharge hole through which the lubricating oil in the lubricating oil storage space is supplied to a bearing unit. The blocking member blocks the lubricating oil discharge hole in accordance with a rotational speed of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kawarazaki, Satoshi Akimoto
  • Patent number: 10253735
    Abstract: A motorcycle supercharger (42) pressurizes intake air (I) for a combustion engine (E). The supercharger (42) includes a centrifugal impeller (50) and an impeller casing (52) which covers the impeller (50). The impeller casing (52) includes an outer peripheral wall (84) located radially outward of the impeller (50) and a side wall (86) located axially outward of the impeller (50). Reinforcing first and second side wall ribs (94, 96) are provided at the side wall (86) of the impeller casing (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shohei Naruoka, Hisatoyo Arima, Hiroyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10253692
    Abstract: An aircraft engine having at least two shafts, each mounted rotatably about a center axis of the aircraft engine. A first shaft is driven, during operation of the aircraft engine, at a lower speed than a second shaft of the aircraft engine. A chamber limited at least in some areas by one of the shafts is provided, inside which is arranged a device for separating oil from an air-oil volume flow, said device being in operative connection with one of the shafts of the aircraft engine. The device for separating oil is in operative connection with the second shaft of the aircraft engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Sascha Burghardt
  • Patent number: 10247020
    Abstract: A turbine engine system includes a gutter and a gear train with an axial centerline. The gutter is disposed radially outside of the axial centerline. The gutter includes an inner surface and a channel that receives fluid directed out of the gear train. The inner surface at least partially defines a bore in which the gear train is arranged. The channel extends radially into the gutter from the inner surface, and circumferentially to a channel outlet. The bore has a cross-sectional bore area, and the channel has a cross-sectional channel area that is substantially equal to or less than about two percent of the bore area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael E. McCune
  • Patent number: 10215055
    Abstract: A transmission assembly including a transmission member and an oil distribution system. The transmission member includes a rotary pivot, and a pivot portion for pivoting about the rotary pivot; the oil distribution system is to receive oil feed and to transfer it to an oil reception chamber of the rotary pivot; the rotary pivot includes injection orifices putting the oil reception chamber into fluid flow communication with the gap between the rotary pivot and the pivot portion to form a fluid bearing; and the transmission assembly is for injecting oil into the gap at a first pressure into an outer portion of the gap, and at a second pressure into an inner portion of the gap, the second injection pressure being different from the first injection pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Augustin Curlier, Yassine Krid
  • Patent number: 10208851
    Abstract: A gear unit includes a housing, a trough for guiding oil and reducing losses due to splashing surrounding a circumferential section of a toothing part, particularly a gear wheel, especially in the radial and axial direction. The trough includes at least three parts, e.g., at least one bottom plate and two side walls, the bottom plate being screw-connected to the two side walls. The trough is fastened to the housing and includes an opening, particularly a channel, especially at its lowest surface area, e.g., particularly at the surface area having the greatest radial distance. In particular, during rotational movement of the gear wheel, oil is conveyed from the oil pan of the gear unit through the opening between the trough and gear wheel, especially to a position higher than the level of the oil pan. The bottom plate and the side walls are stamped bent parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Zili Wu
  • Patent number: 10167943
    Abstract: A power transmitting device that includes a shaft, a friction clutch, a lubricant passage and an oil spout. The friction clutch defines a lubricant chamber. The lubricant passage is disposed between the shaft and the lubricant chamber and has a passage outlet that intersects the lubricant chamber. The oil spout is received in the lubricant chamber and extends along a longitudinal axis of the shaft such that the oil spout is disposed about the lubricant passage and a portion of a hub portion of the friction clutch. The oil spout diverges radially outwardly from the hub portion with increasing distance from the lubricant passage in a direction toward an outlet of the oil spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Arie Alexiou, Jason P. Eldred, Ian Worcester, Hongtao Wang, Robert W. Green, III
  • Patent number: 10107333
    Abstract: A plain bearing assembly of a rotational element on a bearing pin, the assembly including a bearing bolt, a bearing sleeve, which is non-rotatably mounted on the pin and which has a first bearing surface formed on its outer circumference, a rotational element which is rotatably mounted on the bearing sleeve and which has a second bearing surface that is formed on its inner circumference and that is slidingly mounted on the first bearing surface. The bearing pin has at least one lubricant channel opening onto the outer side of the pin and the bearing sleeve has a radial groove formed on its inner circumference, which groove communicates with the radial lubricant channel, and at least one opening branching off radially from the radial groove and opening towards the rotational element. The rotational element has a radial groove formed on its inner circumference and communicating with the opening and the first bearing surface is harder than the second bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Wolfram Kruhoffer, Michael Plogmann, Markus Soyka, Sven Claus
  • Patent number: 10087886
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a core engine, a fan, a bypass duct and a clutch. The fan is driven by the core engine. The bypass duct is configured to receive airflow from the fan. The clutch links the core engine and the fan. The core comprises a reverse-flow, two-spool gas generator in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the fan is driven by a free turbine aerodynamically powered by the core engine. In one embodiment, the clutch includes reverse gearing to reverse rotational output of the fan. In one embodiment, the clutch and reverse gearing are implemented in an epicyclic gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Allan R. Penda, Gabriel L. Suciu, William G. Sheridan, Wesley K. Lord
  • Patent number: 10072748
    Abstract: A differential assembly arrangement with optimized pinion shaft bearing lubrication is provided. The assembly includes a housing, a ring gear, a pinion gear, a pinion shaft supported by two rolling element bearings, a sleeve, and a lubrication deflector. The two rolling element bearings, a pinion head bearing bearing and a pinion tail bearing, are located at each end of the sleeve which fits over the pinion shaft. The sleeve helps facilitate the application of a pre-load to the bearings. The lubrication deflector is located along the length of the sleeve for providing the correct amount of lubricant to the two bearings. The deflector is in the form of a ring located on the sleeve or integrated within the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Stephen Carr, Shaun Tate
  • Patent number: 10054212
    Abstract: A planetary gear hub assembly (1) comprising a housing (2) with a planetary sun gear (3) rotabably mounted in the housing (2). The planetary sun gear (3) meshes with a set of planet gears (4) which also mesh with a ring gear (5). A thrust bearing (25) is mounted on an outer end cover (7) of the housing (2) for engagement by an outer end of the planetary sun gear (3). The thrust bearing (25) is formed by a wear pad (26) mounted on an inner face (27) of the end cover (7) and an associated wear plug (28) mounted in a central axial bore (29) at the outer end of the planetary sun gear (3). An oil passage (30) extends through the wear pad (26) and communicates between an interior of the housing (2) and an oil-filling port (32) during normal use. The plug (34) can be removed for checking the oil in the housing (2) without affecting the position of the wear pad (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: Desmond McCarry
  • Patent number: 10054216
    Abstract: A method for assembling a carrier subassembly for use with a planetary gear train comprises inserting a gear so that the bore of the gear surrounds the bore of the carrier member, and aligning an assembly guide having a bore by engaging a portion of the assembly guide with an alignment feature of the carrier subassembly such that the bore of the assembly guide is aligned with the bore of the carrier member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: John Al Johnson
  • Patent number: 10041581
    Abstract: A planetary roller power transmission device includes: a stationary ring; a sun shaft; planetary rollers provided between the stationary ring and the sun shaft so as to be pressed against them; a carrier that supports the planetary rollers so that the planetary rollers are rotatable and that rotates in conjunction with revolution of the planetary rollers; and a disk-shaped support plate supporting an oil-containing member that can be in contact with a peripheral surface of each planetary roller. Axial free movement of the support plate is restricted by the planetary rollers and the sun shaft or a member that is integrated with the sun shaft so as to be integrally rotatable. The support plate is structured so as to be rotatable relatively to the sun shaft in conjunction with rotation of the sun shaft due to contact with the sun shaft or the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hajime Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10012306
    Abstract: A power transmission system includes an input shaft, a supercharger rotary shaft disposed coaxially with the input shaft, and a transmission mechanism interposed between the input shaft and the supercharger rotary shaft. A lubricating structure of the power transmission system is provided with an injection passage through which a portion of oil for lubricating bearings for supporting the supercharger rotary shaft is supplied, from a supercharger casing for supporting the bearings, towards the input shaft by means of a jetting spray across an interior space within the transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shohei Naruoka, Hisatoyo Arima
  • Patent number: 9982771
    Abstract: An epicyclic gear system is provided. The gear system may comprise an annular gear centered about an axis, a star gear radially inward from the annular gear, a journal pin inside the star gear and comprising an internal bore with a recessed wall, and a sun gear radially inward from the star gear. A journal pin is also provided. The journal pin may include an internal bore formed along an axis of rotation of the journal pin, and a recessed wall of the internal bore with a diameter greater than the diameter of the internal bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Marc J. Muldoon
  • Patent number: 9976490
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan drive turbine for driving a gear reduction. The gear reduction drives a fan rotor. A lubrication system supplies oil to the gear reduction. The lubrication system includes a lubricant pump supplying a mixed air and oil to a deaerator inlet. The deaerator includes a separator that for separating oil, and delivering separated air to an air outlet, and for delivering separated oil back into an oil tank. The separator includes a member having lubricant flow paths on both of two opposed sides. A method of designing a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: William G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 9903227
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to lubrication systems for gear systems of a gas turbine engine. In one embodiment, a lubrication system includes an auxiliary reservoir configured to store lubricant and a lubrication collection device. The auxiliary reservoir is contained within an annular structure of the gas turbine engine. The lubricant collection device can collect lubricant from a gear system of the gas turbine engine and direct collected lubricant to the auxiliary reservoir. The auxiliary reservoir is configured to receive collected lubricant by way of a channel within the annular structure. The lubrication system may compliment a main lubrication system, and in particular, when the main lubrication system is temporarily unable to supply lubricant to the gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brian P. Cigal
  • Patent number: 9897211
    Abstract: A device and method for extending the lifespan of a shaft seal for an open-drive compressor is provided. The device and method can also reduce and/or prevent deterioration of the shaft seal regardless of the operation condition of the open-drive compressor. The device and method can further reduce and/or prevent leakage of a lubricant and/or refrigerant that can cause deterioration of components within a transport refrigeration unit (TRU).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph Robert Kaiser, David John Dykes, Ralph David Price, Ryan Michael Fritts
  • Patent number: 9897253
    Abstract: A temperature controlled axle cooling system and method is disclosed. Axle hydraulic circuits cool oil circulating through vehicle axles, and sensors monitor axle temperatures. Pumps are activated to circulate the oil through the axle circuits based on the axle temperatures. Each axle circuit can be a separate closed-loop hydraulic system, not sharing fluid with any other vehicle or axle hydraulic systems. All axle cooling system pumps can be activated when any axle temperature exceeds a high threshold. All pumps can be deactivated when all axle temperatures are below a low threshold. Each pump can be activated and deactivated based only on that axle's temperature. The axle cooling system pumps can be driven by motors powered by the main vehicle hydraulic system flow. A valve can be controlled based on axle temperature to allow main vehicle hydraulic system flow. Multiple pumps can be driven by a single motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Ethan H Delp, Justin J Turnis
  • Patent number: 9869384
    Abstract: An automatic transmission is provided with a brake device provided with a rotatable rotation-side friction plate and a non-rotatable fixed-side friction plate; a transmission case which accommodates the brake device; a lubrication oil supply section which supplies lubrication oil introduced into the transmission case to an upper portion of the brake device; and a lubrication oil discharge section disposed below the brake device, and configured to discharge lubrication oil supplied from the lubrication oil supply section to the brake device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kaori Sako, Tatsutoshi Mizobe, Shinya Kamada
  • Patent number: 9853523
    Abstract: An electric wheel motor cooling system includes first and second electric wheel motors and gear reducers which use hydraulic fluid for cooling and lubrication. Each of the electric wheel motor housings includes a sump and a scavenge pump for return of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid reservoir. A remotely located hydraulic pump interconnected with the hydraulic fluid reservoir supplies and powers first and second locally located hydraulic motors which supply the electric motors and gears with an equal flow of lubricating and cooling oil. The first and second hydraulic motors, in turn, drive a common output shaft which, in turn, drives first and second scavenge pumps. The first and second scavenge pumps have a higher fluid flow rate than the hydraulic motors ensuring that oil is removed from the first and second electric wheel motor housings thus eliminating any churning losses of the motors or gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: FAIRFIELD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: LaVerne Andrew Caron, Shuo Zhang, Keith Mears
  • Patent number: 9851000
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus of a vehicle is provided. The power transmission apparatus includes: an input shaft; a brake mechanism; an oil pump; a housing case; a center support; a lubricating oil reservoir; and an oil passage. The brake mechanism includes a stationary race and a rotary race that are adjacently arranged in an axial direction of the input shaft. The center support is disposed between an inner surface of the housing case and the input shaft in the housing case. The center support is configured to support the input shaft relative to the housing case. The lubricating oil reservoir is disposed in a lubrication passage of the lubricating oil inside the housing case. The oil passage communicates the lubricating oil reservoir with the rotary race of the brake mechanism such that the lubricating oil reserved in the lubricating oil reservoir is supplied into the brake mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shioiri, Yuki Kurosaki, Hiroyuki Shibata, Hiroki Yasui
  • Patent number: 9822869
    Abstract: A shaft oil flow controller arrangement for pinion shaft bearings in a differential is provided, including a housing along with a pinion shaft supported therein by head and tail bearings. A ring gear is mounted for rotation and is engaged with a pinion gear. A bearing spacer is located on the pinion shaft between the head and tail bearings. A diverter is located on the bearing spacer, and includes a circumferentially extending diverter wall that is moveable from a first position in which the wall extends generally in a longitudinal direction of the pinion shaft at a first, lower rotational speed of the pinion shaft allowing a first volume of lubricant oil flow to the head bearing, to a second position, in which the wall extends radially outwardly at a second, higher rotational speed, to restrict lubricant oil flow to the head bearing to a lower volume, and increase oil flow to the tail bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stephen Carr
  • Patent number: 9810310
    Abstract: A multi-component fluid distribution system includes a first substrate component having an inlet for receiving fluid and an internal channel for communicating lubricant. A second substrate component is interlocked to the first substrate component. The second substrate component includes an inlet to receive fluid from the first component. The fluid distribution system also includes an over-molded portion sealing a joint between the first and second substrate components. The fluid distribution system further includes at least one outlet nozzle connected to the second substrate component to discharge fluid to a predetermined fluid receiving component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan
  • Patent number: 9803743
    Abstract: A rotary assembly comprising a transmission member and an oil distribution system enabling oil to be supplied to the transmission member in order to lubricate it. According to the invention, the oil distribution system comprises at least one oil transfer chamber provided with at least one feed orifice configured to receive oil from outside the rotary assembly; the transmission member includes at least one rotary portion provided with at least one oil reception chamber; at least one link duct provides fluid flow connection between the oil transfer chamber and the oil reception chamber; the oil distribution system is driven by said rotary portion of the transmission member to rotate together with it; and the rotary assembly is configured in such a manner as to accommodate a given amount of axial and/or radial relative movement between said rotary portion of the transmission member and the oil distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Michel Gilbert Roland Brault, Kévin Lemarchand
  • Patent number: 9803742
    Abstract: A radially stacked planetary gear assembly provides improved lubrication fluid flow to the planet gear bearings of an outer planetary gear set which is especially important when the housing or outer planetary gear carrier is stationary. The assembly includes radially aligned or stacked inner and outer planetary gear sets each having a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier having planet gears in constant mesh with the sun and ring gears wherein the ring gear of the inner gear set is also the sun gear of the outer gear set and the outer carrier is the assembly housing. The sun gear is disposed on a transmission shaft having lubrication passages which aligns with pluralities of radial openings in a hub housing. A circular plate or guide adjacent one side of the housing includes channels which align with the openings and functions as a lubrication director, channeling lubrication from the transmission shaft and the pluralities of radial openings in the housing hub to the outer bearings, shafts and planet gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kothamasi Sumithra Raju, Sudipto Ray, Leonid Basin, Hai Xu, Avinash Singh
  • Patent number: 9797504
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a lubrication system for a gearbox that is part of a drivetrain assembly, e.g. of a wind turbine. The lubrication system includes a ring assembly having a first ring and a detached, second ring. The first and second rings are configured to fit within a gap located between a planetary gear system and a gearbox housing of the gearbox, e.g. due to operational and/or system tolerances. When installed, the first and second rings of the ring assembly are arranged together so as to form at least one opening therebetween, thereby being configured to direct a lubricant from the gearbox housing to the planetary gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edwin Hidding, Stefan Rieken
  • Patent number: 9764739
    Abstract: A transfer case and transmission are designed to permit the transmission hydraulic control system to control a range selection coupler and a torque on demand clutch in the transfer case. Two pressure circuits are transmitted from the transmission to the transfer case: a high range circuit and a low range circuit. The low range circuit is pressurized to engage low range while the range circuit is pressurized to engage high range. The torque on demand clutch is controlled by whichever of these circuits has the higher pressure. Lubrication is provided to a front section of the transfer case via the transmission output shaft, with the fluid returning to the transmission sump through a drainback passageway. The rear portion of the transfer case has a segregated sump. A control strategy is employed to partially fill front section of the transfer case with fluid in preparation for vehicle towing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Laurence Andrew Deutsch, Jeffrey Edward Maurer, Steven Anatole Frait, Nicholas E. McCubbin, Andreas E. Perakes
  • Patent number: 9745862
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a fan drive planetary gear system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a stationary first bearing configured to receive a lubricant from a lubricant input, the stationary first bearing is located adjacent a fan drive shaft. A second bearing is configured to rotate with the fan drive shaft, the first bearing engages the second bearing and is configured to transfer the lubricant from the first bearing to the second bearing and into at least one fluid passage in the fan drive shaft. A conduit fluidly connects the at least one passage in the fan drive shaft with at least one component on the fan drive gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: William G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 9732842
    Abstract: A harmonic drive includes a circular spline, a cup-shaped flex spline meshed with the circular spline, a wave generator including an bearing mounted in the cup-shaped flex spline, an elliptical wheel mounted in the bearing and a coupling connected to the elliptical wheel so that an oil storage chamber is defined between the wave generator and the cup-shaped flex spline, and one or multiple stirrers connected to the coupling of the wave generator and drivable by the coupling to carry the storage lubricating oil out of the oil storage chamber for lubricating the bearing of the wave generator and the meshed tooth surfaces between the circular spline and the cup-shaped flex spline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: HIWIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Po-Jung Huang, Chung-Hsien Tsai
  • Patent number: 9732836
    Abstract: A harmonic drive featuring helix-facilitated lubrication includes a circular spline, a flexspline, a wave generator, and an agitating member. The flexspline meshes with the circular spline. The wave generator has a bearing installed within the flexspline, an elliptic wheel positioned in the bearing, and a shaft coupling connecting the elliptic wheel. The agitating member is located in a lubricant-holding space between the wave generator and the flexspline, and has a rotatory part and blade parts formed about a rotatory part. The rotatory part of the agitating member is connected to the shaft coupling of the wave generator, so that when the agitating member is driven by the shaft coupling, the helical blade parts agitate lubricant to perform convection, thereby better lubricating the bearing of the wave generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: HIWIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Cheng-Ming Su, Jian-An Lin