For Differential Planetary Gearing Patents (Class 475/160)
  • Patent number: 8475314
    Abstract: An axle assembly includes an axle housing assembly including a housing structure having an interior cavity with a sump, a lubricant disposed in the sump having a liquid lubricant level, and a differential mounted in the axle housing assembly for rotation about a first axis. The differential includes a ring gear generating an annular stream of lubricant adjoining the ring gear above the liquid lubricant level during operation of the differential at a rotational speed greater than a predetermined rotational speed. The housing structure includes an interior surface on which a deflector is coupled. The deflector extends into the interior cavity and has a first face having an impingement portion and a first edge adjacent the impingement portion. The impingement portion extends into the stream and deflects a portion of the stream towards the first edge. The first edge disperses the portion of the stream into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Gatti Corless, Mark Alan Harnden, Mark Stephen Waack
  • Patent number: 8469852
    Abstract: A transmission system includes a housing having a sump. A crown wheel and pinion are positioned within the housing. The transmission system further includes a reservoir having an inlet system and an outlet system. Rotation of the crown wheel causes the oil to be transferred from the sump to the reservoir via the inlet system, and the outlet system allows oil to pass from the reservoir to the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Roberto Gianone, Chiara Cesari, Marco Bassi, Marco Fratelli, Clive Harrup, Bradley Arnold
  • Patent number: 8425360
    Abstract: A planetary bearing structure which does not require forcible oil supply of planetary bearing using slide bearing, and which can reliably supply oil to a sliding surface and lubricate the sliding surface with a simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Nishida, Shuichi Isayama
  • Patent number: 8409044
    Abstract: A method for lubricating an axle assembly can include: coupling a pair of tapered roller bearing to opposite ends of a differential housing; placing the differential housing into a carrier housing assembly such that the tapered roller bearings support the differential housing on the carrier housing assembly for rotation about a first axis; collecting a lubricant proximate a side of one of the tapered roller bearings opposite the differential housing; and rotating the differential housing about the first axis to cause the one of the tapered roller bearings to move a portion of the collected lubricant through the differential housing. A related axle assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J Hilker, Kevin R Beutler, Robert B Dwyer, Chih-Hung Chung, David R Brandt, William G Hunt, Gregory E Woodside
  • Patent number: 8382628
    Abstract: A power transmitting assembly having a differential case and a differential gearset that is received in an interior chamber in the differential case. The power transmitting assembly is configured to provide improved lubrication into an interior of the differential case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hilker, Gregory E. Woodside
  • Patent number: 8371978
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission including a rotatable input shaft connected to a driving source; a countershaft parallel to the input shaft; a differential unit below the countershaft, to which rotation is input from the countershaft, and coupled to right and left wheels; a case member containing the input shaft, countershaft, and the differential unit; a differential chamber disposed in the case member, contains the differential unit, and is separated from an oil storage chamber; and a differential separation member separating the differential chamber from the storage chamber, and formed along the differential unit ring gear, which meshes with an output gear of the countershaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: AISIN AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Nobata, Toru Murayama, Takehito Kato, Kazuhiro Chaen
  • Patent number: 8366578
    Abstract: A gear train assembly includes a first reduction planetary gear set having a rotating carrier and a second reduction planetary gear set having a non-rotating carrier. A plurality of vanes are attached to the carrier to direct oil from an oil bath towards the non-rotating carrier as the rotating carrier rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Zeirke, Keith A. Kabrick, Christopher P. Braet, Daniel J. Reed, Timothy F. Nusz, Rick T. Lasko
  • Patent number: 8366579
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes: a differential mechanism which includes a ring gear; a case which forms a differential chamber that houses the differential mechanism; and an oil pan which is fitted to the case, and which stores oil. The differential chamber includes a first space in which the oil supplied from the oil pan is gathered, and a second space which is formed on the opposite side of the first space with respect to the ring gear in the direction in which the rotational axis of the ring gear extends, and which is communicated with a space inside the oil pan. An oil passage, through which the oil is introduced from the first space to the second space, is formed in the case. The oil passage is formed in a bottom portion of the differential chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiko Tokai, Naoki Kato, Hiroki Goshima
  • Patent number: 8360915
    Abstract: An axle has a central crown wheel receiving portion with a pinion side and an opposite side. The opposite side is defined by a first crown wheel bowl for receiving a part of a crown wheel, the first crown wheel bowl having a peripheral edge. The axle includes a second crown wheel bowl for receiving the part of the crown wheel. The second crown wheel bowl is nested with the first crown wheel bowl and is attached to the first crown wheel bowl at a peripheral edge to define a reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Meritor Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Gianone, Chiara Cesari, Marco Bassi, Marco Fratelli, Stefano Martinello
  • Patent number: 8348800
    Abstract: A vehicle power transmission device includes: an input shaft; a planetary gear type speed reducer disposed concentrically to the input shaft to reduce and output rotation input to the input shaft; and a differential gear device disposed adjacently to the input shaft in a shaft center direction, the differential gear device being rotationally driven by the speed reducer to transmit a drive force to a pair of axles disposed on the shaft center while allowing a rotational difference between the axles, the speed reducer including a sun gear that is fit with a shaft end portion of the input shaft in a relatively non-rotatable manner, the sun gear being prevented from relatively moving toward the differential gear device by an annular snap ring fit and attached to an annular snap ring groove formed on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft end portion of the input shaft on the differential gear device side of the sun gear, the differential gear device including a differential case having a cylindrical end po
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Tanaka, Rikiya Kubo, Yoshihiko Sasaki, Hiroshi Hamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20120329599
    Abstract: Disclosed is a ring gear fastening structure in which a ring gear is fastened to the flange of a differential case configuring a differential sub-assembly. The inner circumferential surface of the ring gear is press-fitted into the outer circumferential surface of the flange, and the ring gear is swaged by means of a swage part which is disposed on at least one end of the flange in the axial direction. The inner circumferential surface of the ring gear is formed with a circumferential groove which extends in the circumferential direction of said inner circumferential surface. The circumferential groove is disposed facing the outer circumferential surface of the flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Taniguchi, Hiroyuki Shioiri
  • Publication number: 20120316024
    Abstract: A drive axle housing system may minimize churning of splash and spray oil within a drive axle housing. The drive axle housing system includes apparatus for incorporation into the axle, the apparatus including an oil churning reduction member that may be affixed to the interior walls of the axle housing. The oil churning reduction member includes interior surfaces adapted to closely align with interior moving gear components of the axle to minimize efficiency losses due to oil movement. The system may also incorporate an annular element, affixed to the axle housing and closely aligned with the backside of a ring gear component of the differential axle. The combined use of the member and the element may substantially reduce torque losses attributable to excessive churning of oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Weber, Dale C. Messmore, John B. Salomon, Benjamin T. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20120295751
    Abstract: Differential apparatus capable of guiding and supplying a sufficient amount of lubricant oil to the lubrication elements accommodated in the differential apparatus (6). The differential apparatus comprises a differential case (11), a differential carrier (21), a carrier cover (22), a differential mechanism housed in the differential case, and a ring gear (14) secured to the ring differential case. The differential case has a through bore (35,36,42) radially formed in differential case to have the inner space of the differential case held in communication with the outer space of the differential case. The differential carrier has a lubricant oil reservoir portion (28) positioned below the differential case to reserve the lubricant oil therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Susumu Okada
  • Patent number: 8298109
    Abstract: A transmission lubrication assembly includes a stator tube having a fluid passage and a sleeve bore, and a stator tube sleeve having a lubrication path provided along an external peripheral service thereof. In another aspect, the transmission lubrication assembly may include a solid input shaft rotatably received within the stator tube, a valve body, and a lubrication tube that provides fluid communication between the fluid passage and the valve body. In yet another aspect, a method of lubricating a transmission assembly includes providing a pressurized source of lubricating fluid, providing a stator tube comprising a fluid passage, and directing a portion of the lubricating fluid to a section of the transmission assembly by way of a stator tube sleeve, wherein the stator tube sleeve has an axial channel through which the lubricating fluid flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Competition Cams, Inc.
    Inventor: James Kevin Steele
  • Publication number: 20120270693
    Abstract: A lubricating oil used in a friction-type drive power transmission apparatus which includes: at least one of two additives; a first additive selected from at least one of an aliphatic amine having a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group with a carbon number of 12 to 20 (Chemical Formula 1) and an aliphatic amine ethylene oxide adduct having a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group with a carbon number of 12 to 20 (Chemical Formula 2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO, JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ando, Junji Ando, Kazutaka Matsukawa, Toshimi Hara, Mototake Furuhashi, Mamoru Tohyama, Toshihide Ohmori, Yasuo Esaki, Chihiro Kanzawa, Keiko Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 8262528
    Abstract: A power transmission device 1 includes a power transmitting mechanism 15 having a first casing 3, a speed change mechanism 13 and first oil and an intermittent mechanism 27 having a pair of rotating members 17, 19, an intermittent part 21, an actuator 23, a second casing 25 and second oil. The second casing 25 includes a first casing member 33 having a cylindrical part 29 and one end wall 31 and a second casing member 37 having another end wall 35 connected to the cylindrical part 29 integrally. The second casing 25 further includes a sealing member 39 arranged between the rotating member 19 and the end wall 31, another sealing member 41 arranged between the rotating member 19 and the other end wall 35 and an O ring arranged between the first casing 33 and the second casing 37, respectively. The second oil is enclosed in the second casing 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: GKN Driveline Torque Technology KK
    Inventors: Christian Gasch, Isao Hirota, Atsushi Tamura, Shouji Yoshida, Susumu Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20120178576
    Abstract: An axle system is provided that included an axle assembly having an axle member, a gear coupled with the axle member, and a housing encasing a lubrication fluid and at least a portion of the axle member and the gear therein. A device may selectively heat and/or cool the lubrication fluid at one or more regions of the axle system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Brian E. Beechie, John D. Mueller, Jeffrey M. Orzechowski, Anurag Peter Varma, Mary Gerber
  • Publication number: 20120172167
    Abstract: An axle assembly for a vehicle including a first gear, and a second gear joined to a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis. The second gear engages the first gear. A bearing is disposed over the shaft distal the second gear. A housing is disposed about at least a portion of the shaft. The housing includes a first lubricant pathway spaced apart from a second lubricant pathway, wherein the first lubricant pathway routes lubricant towards the bearing and the second lubricant pathway routes lubricant away from the bearing. The first and second lubricant pathways are not in a position coplanar with a plane of rotation of the first gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Gary Myers, Joseph A. Rozman, Charles R. Pajtas, Shawn E. Bronner, Syed M. Akbari
  • Publication number: 20120142476
    Abstract: A transmission system includes a housing having a sump. A crown wheel and pinion are positioned within the housing. The transmission system further includes a reservoir having an inlet system and an outlet system. Rotation of the crown wheel causes the oil to be transferred from the sump to the reservoir via the inlet system, and the outlet system allows oil to pass from the reservoir to the sump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Roberto Gianone, Chiara Cesari, Marco Bassi, Marco Fratelli, Clive Harrup, Bradley Arnold
  • Patent number: 8167757
    Abstract: A plurality of microscopic grooves are created on the surface of the teeth of planetary gears, and thus, irregular unevenness is created. This irregular unevenness includes a plurality of first microscopic grooves which function as lubricant grooves and a plurality of second microscopic grooves which are shallower than the first microscopic grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Junji Ando, Naoyuki Sakai, Hideyuki Saito, Yozo Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8167758
    Abstract: An axle assembly having an axle assembly with first and second sumps for holding a lubricant. A rotating ring gear associated with a differential can rotate through the lubricant in the first sump to cause a portion of the lubricant to cling to the ring gear. A portion of the lubricant that has clung to the ring gear can be removed from the ring gear and transferred to the second sump. The lubricant in the second sump can be drained to lubricate teeth of a pinion that is in meshing engagement with the ring gear and/or to lubricate bearings that support the pinion. A related method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P Downs, Herbert L Adams, III, W. Gordon Hunt, Gregory E Woodside
  • Publication number: 20120100951
    Abstract: An overdrive unit for a vehicle is operatively connectable to a transverse mounted front wheel drive vehicle gearbox, which has been arranged to provide a single output shaft. The overdrive unit includes a planetary gear set and a differential are mounted together in an overdrive unit housing such that the output shaft of the vehicle gearbox is operatively connectable to the planetary gear set. The planetary gear set is further operatively connectable to drive shafts of the vehicle via the differential. A clutch unit is provided for selectively engaging gearing of the planetary gear set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mathias Joergensson, Lars Andersson
  • Patent number: 8152382
    Abstract: An output tube assembly including a substantially cylindrical tube having an inner surface and an outer surface is provided. Also included is at least a set of bearings located on the inner surface of the tube. A slot through the inner surface to the outer surface extending from the inboard end of the cylindrical tube past the set of bearings is also included. A flange, a snap ring, and an end cap may also be provided. A method for lubricating the bearings of the assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Gary W. Fiordalis
  • Patent number: 8152675
    Abstract: A device for optimizing the oil delivery function of the ring gear of a differential to maximize the volume of oil flow. The device includes an annular disk (6) which, when viewed in an axially direction, is arranged adjacent the ring gear (1) on the side of the ring gear (1) facing the differential cage (5) and is coaxial with the ring gear (1). The annular disk (6) also serves as a scraper ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Roland Altvaten, Sven Jabs, Martin Gluck
  • Patent number: 8152674
    Abstract: A carrier assembly includes an auxiliary lubrication pump that lubricates gear components positioned within an internal cavity of a carrier housing. A differential gear assembly is positioned within the internal cavity to rotate about an axis. The auxiliary lubrication pump includes a first gear that is driven by the differential gear assembly about the axis and a second gear that is driven by the first gear. The first and second gears of the auxiliary lubrication pump cooperate to direct and control lubrication with the carrier housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Brian D. Hayes, Robert J. Martin, III
  • Patent number: 8109174
    Abstract: An axle assembly with an axle housing assembly and a differential that is mounted in the axle housing assembly for rotation about a first axis. The axle housing assembly defines an interior cavity with a sump having a static liquid lubricant level. The axle housing assembly includes a housing structure and a cover that is coupled to the housing structure. First and second sets of ribs are coupled to the cover and extend into the interior cavity. The first and second sets of ribs are disposed on opposite sides of a ring gear associated with the differential and include a plurality of ribs. A first portion of at least one of the ribs extends below the static liquid lubricant level to thereby be immersed when a liquid lubricant fills the sump to a level that coincides with the static liquid lubricant level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J Hilker, Kevin R Beutler, Kirk A Broome
  • Patent number: 8100806
    Abstract: A travel assembly, for example, suited for arrangement on a vehicle such as a mining dump truck, is provided with a travel motor, a planetary speed reduction mechanism for transmitting rotation of the travel motor at a lower rotational speed, a spindle forming an axle, and a wheel supported on the spindle via a tapered roller bearing and rotatable by the planetary speed reduction mechanism. The planetary speed reduction mechanism includes a sun gear rotatable by rotation of a shaft of the travel motor, planet gears for rotating the wheel in response to rotation of the sun gear, and a carrier for holding the planet gears. The travel assembly is provided with a spline connection connecting the spindle and the carrier with each other and an oil passage for guiding internal lube oil of the planetary speed reduction mechanism to the spline connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Shibukawa, Hayato Masuda
  • Publication number: 20120010037
    Abstract: A final drive comprising a lubrication system is provided. The final drive comprises an axle housing and a differential housing. The differential housing is in alignment with the axle housing, and they share a longitudinal axis. The final drive further comprises a lubricant ring having a lubricant ring inner diameter. The lubricant ring travels about an inner surface of the axle housing. Further, the final drive has a longitudinal axis region, defined as the region formed by the lubricant ring inner diameter. The lubrication system comprises a lubrication inlet in fluid communication with a lubricant outlet. The lubrication inlet is disposed in the axle housing to capture a portion of the lubricant ring. The lubricant outlet is disposed in the differential housing to distribute the portion of the lubricant ring generally to the longitudinal axis region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Brian D. Durbin, Tammo Wagner
  • Publication number: 20110319215
    Abstract: A vehicle motive power transmission apparatus includes: a planetary gear device; an oil pump for sucking oil present in an apparatus case; a one-way clutch that transmits normal-direction rotation output of the planetary gear device to the oil pump, but does not transmit reverse-direction rotation output of the planetary gear device to the oil pump; an oil tank which is provided in the apparatus case, and which is provided with a first introduction portion that receives oil that is splashed upward as a gear in the apparatus case rotates in a normal direction, and a second introduction portion that receives oil that is splashed upward as the gear rotates in a reverse direction; and an oil passageway that supplies the planetary gear device with oil present in the oil tank or oil sucked by the oil pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shingo Katoh, Masabumi Nishigaya
  • Patent number: 8083628
    Abstract: A differential carrier assembly for use in an axle of a vehicle includes a differential carrier that extends along a central axis. The differential carrier defines a chamber. A first stub shaft extends along a first rotational axis, transverse to the central axis. The first stub shaft is disposed within the chamber and is supported by the differential carrier. A first pair of gears is disposed in spaced relationship on the first stub shaft for rotation about the first rotational axis. A second stub shaft extends along a second rotational axis, transverse to the central axis and the first rotational axis. The second stub shaft is disposed within the chamber and supported by the differential carrier. A second pair of gears is disposed in spaced relationship on the second stub shaft for rotation about the second rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zinovy Soybel, William J. Duncan, Jr., Martin Hefter, Alvan J. Callahan, Richard F. Olenzek
  • Publication number: 20110281680
    Abstract: A final drive comprising a lubrication system is provided. The final drive comprises a differential housing and a reaction plate, wherein the reaction plate is mounted to the differential plate. The final drive also comprises a shaft and a friction disc. The shaft is rotatably disposed with differential housing, and the friction disc, which has a lubrication hole, is mounted about the shaft. The lubrication system comprises a differential supply passage positioned in the differential housing, and it also comprises a plate passage positioned in the reaction plate. The plate passage is in fluid communication with the differential supply passage, and the plate passage is in intermittent fluid communication with the lubrication hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: STEVEN P. FORSSBERG
  • Patent number: 8050829
    Abstract: An electronic locking mechanism for a vehicle differential assembly includes a lock element movable in response to an actuation signal between an open position and a locked position. The lock element generally forces side gears of the differential assembly to turn generally at a same rate when the lock element is in the locked position. The electronic locking mechanism further includes a processor configured to determine a status of the differential assembly from a current profile that includes the actuation signal and an induced current. The determined differential assembly status is generally one of an “activated and locked” status, an “activated but unlocked” status, a “deactivated but locked” status, and a “deactivated and unlocked” status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: GKN Driveline North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rory Matthew Johnson, Christopher C. Murray
  • Publication number: 20110263372
    Abstract: In a lubrication structure of a differential gear unit, a case has a guide rib that extends over a certain area with respect to a rotation path of a head of a bolt when a ring gear rotates, and that protrudes out from the case toward the head of the bolt. Also, a through-hole that extends in a vertical direction is formed in an upper portion of a hollow supporting portion, and the guide rib has an oil reservoir that curves toward an upper end opening of the through-hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromichi KIMURA, Takeshi KUWAHARA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Tatsuo OBATA, Masahiro TANAE
  • Patent number: 8033941
    Abstract: A lubricating oil feeding device includes a carrier and a carrier cover that are attached to both ends of the pinion shaft of the planetary gear and that are arranged in an axial direction of an input shaft of the automatic transmission; an oil sump groove that opens in a peripheral direction and the axial direction of the input shaft, the oil sump groove is structured by a wall portion of the carrier cover formed radiating from a center of the input shaft, a base portion of the carrier cover that extends in an axial direction of the pinion shaft, and an end portion on an inner peripheral surface of a clutch hub that is connected with the base portion; and an oil passage that feeds lubricating oil from the oil sump groove to the pinion shaft, and provides the lubricating oil for the planetary gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Nishida, Hiroshi Kato, Masashi Kitou, Yuichi Seki
  • Publication number: 20110245009
    Abstract: A vehicle power transmission device including an accumulation portion which accumulates lubricating oil, a pressure pump driven to pump the lubricating oil accumulated in the accumulation portion to the transmission as hydraulic oil, a scooping gear which scoops up the lubricating oil accumulated in the accumulation portion while rotating, a reception and guide portion receiving the lubricating oil scooped up by the scooping gear and guiding it to a predetermined lubrication target, and a leaked hydraulic oil guide portion guiding leaked hydraulic oil, leaked when the hydraulic oil is pumped from the pressure pump, to the reception and guide portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori SHIBAYAMA, Ko TSUNEMATSU, Tomoyuki ISHIKAWA, Tatsuaki ITO
  • Publication number: 20110245010
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission including a rotatable input shaft connected to a driving source; a countershaft parallel to the input shaft; a differential unit below the countershaft, to which rotation is input from the countershaft, and coupled to right and left wheels; a case member containing the input shaft, countershaft, and the differential unit; a differential chamber disposed in the case member, contains the differential unit, and is separated from an oil storage chamber; and a differential separation member separating the differential chamber from the storage chamber, and formed along the differential unit ring gear, which meshes with an output gear of the countershaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michio NOBATA, Toru Murayama, Takehito Kato, Kazuhiro Chaen
  • Patent number: 8021259
    Abstract: An axle assembly that includes a housing assembly, a lubricant and a differential assembly. The housing assembly defines a differential cavity with a lubricant sump into which the liquid lubricant is received. The differential assembly is mounted in the differential cavity for rotation about a rotational axis and includes a differential case, a ring gear, a gear set and an oil shield. The differential case has a body, which defines a gear cavity into which the gear set is received, and a flange that is coupled to the body and includes a flange face. The ring gear is coupled to the flange. The oil shield is coupled for rotation to the differential case and covers a least a radially outward portion of the circumferentially discontinuous features so that they do not directly contact the liquid lubricant in the lubricant sump when the differential assembly rotates about the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J Hilker, Kevin R Beutler
  • Patent number: 8021258
    Abstract: An axle assembly with an axle shaft, an annular disc and a pair of change members. The axle shaft includes an unthreaded body portion having a first diameter. The annular disc is mounted on the body portion and has a central aperture through which the unthreaded body portion is received. The central aperture has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter. Rotation of the axle shaft causes the annular disc to translate on the unthreaded body portion between the change members and wherein a direction in which the annular disc translates is changed through contact between the annular disc and the change members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian W McKenna
  • Publication number: 20110212805
    Abstract: A power transmitting assembly having a differential case and a differential gearset that is received in an interior chamber in the differential case. The power transmitting assembly is configured to provide improved lubrication into an interior of the differential case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hilker, Gregory E. Woodside
  • Patent number: 8007390
    Abstract: In a planetary gear unit 12 of a power transmitting device 10, a sun gear S1 is connected to an electric motor 20, a carrier CA1 is non-rotatably fixed to a case 40, and a ring gear R1 is connected to an output gear 13 and an oil pump 30. As a result, a structure of carrier being fixed/output power being taken out via ring gear is obtained. Therefore, for example, a structure can be employed in which the ring gear and the output gear are integrated. Accordingly, as compared with a structure in which a ring gear is fixed/output power is taken out via carrier and the output gear has to be axially offset and connected to a carrier, an axial space can be omitted, to allow the power transmitting device to be downsized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shingo Kato
  • Publication number: 20110203898
    Abstract: A vehicle power transmission device includes: a first power transmission member including a cylindrical shaft end portion rotatably supported via a first bearing on an inner circumferential side of a non-rotating support wall; and a second power transmission member supported on the inside of the cylindrical shaft end portion via a second bearing radially overlapping with the first bearing by the cylindrical shaft end portion to be rotatable concentrically and relatively to the first power transmission member, the second power transmission member including a circular disc gear portion protruded to an outer circumferential side at a predetermined distance from the second bearing in a shaft center direction of the second power transmission member, at a portion facing the first bearing, the gear portion having an annular inner circumferential guide protruding portion for guiding to the first bearing a lubricant oil that passes through the second bearing for lubrication, that enters into a gap between the second b
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Terasu Harashima, Koichi Tanaka, Atsushi Teshima, Yoshihiko Sasaki, Hiroshi Hamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20110179897
    Abstract: A machine has a shaft rotatable in at least one lubricated bearing. A lubricant duct for lubricating the bearing extends along the first shaft. A turbine, having blades engaging radially in the lubricant duct and oriented warped to the axis of the first shaft, is situated in the lubricant duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eckhard KIRCHNER, Jo VERMEULEN, Richard TAMBA
  • Patent number: 7985155
    Abstract: A transmission with a planetary gearset including planetary gears supported on a carrier, with a disk clutch or brake including a disk carrier which, via an integral cylindrical portion, is fixed to a shaft that supports the disk carrier, such that the carrier rotates on the cylindrical portion and the carrier is supported by a first axial bearing on the disk carrier and a second axial bearing on a sun gear, which engages the planetary gears, and with an oil supply for lubricating and/or cooling bearings, disk clutch and/or brake components. The first axial bearing includes rollers guided in a cage and first check-disk adjacent the carrier and a second check-disk rollers. The first check-disk flanged disk with a section for rollers of the first axial bearing and with a cylindrical section offset from the rolling section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gabor Diosi, Josef Haupt, Martin Brehmer
  • Patent number: 7980343
    Abstract: Due to a centrifugal force in a vehicle width direction due to turning of an automobile, oil in an electric motor housing chamber housing an electric motor and oil in a transmission housing chamber housing a reduction gear and a differential gear flows to-and-fro via oil communication passages that penetrate a partitioning wall. An opening on the transmission housing chamber side of the oil communication passages is spaced from the partitioning wall. Hence, when oil moves from the transmission housing chamber side to the electric motor housing chamber side, it is possible to prevent the oil quantity on the electric motor housing chamber side from increasing excessively and suppress an increase in resistance to oil stirring by a rotor of the electric motor while retaining a constant oil amount on the transmission housing chamber side to ensure lubricating performance for the reduction gear and the differential gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiichi Mogi
  • Patent number: 7980983
    Abstract: An improved hydraulically locking limited slip differential assembly for a drivetrain of a motor vehicle having a fluid pump external to a differential carrier and arranged for preventing slip between the wheels by selectively pressurizing a differential clutch internal to the carrier, and a controller arranged for selectively activating the fluid pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Edward V. Schrand, Charles R. Pajtas
  • Patent number: 7976421
    Abstract: A differential gear 1 for a vehicle comprises a differential case 2 having a pair of holes 9R, 9L for drive shafts, a pair of pinion gears 3, 4 supported by pinion gear supporters 10, 11 and a pair of side gears 5R, 5L engaging with the pinion gears 3, 4. A pair of thrust washers 6R, 6L is interposed between the backs of the side gears 5R, 5L and the inner peripheries of the holes 9R, 9L without radial movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Nakajima, Masashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7967713
    Abstract: A planetary gear set lubricating unit which supplies oil from inside a component adjacent the planetary gear set, via a radial bore and an oil catcher, axially through a bore of a planetary gear bolt to planetary gear bearings. The oil catcher forms a ring-shaped chamber, which can be filled with lubricant, and is arranged beside the planetary carrier approximately over the reference diameter of the planetary bolt. The oil catcher has outlet pipes extending axially to direct oil in the chamber. The oil catcher has ovular radial protrusions arranged such that a maximum radial dimension is close to the bolts and a minimum radial dimension is arranged between adjacent planetary bolts. The radially inner edge of the axial bore of the planetary bolts is radially located between the minimum and maximum dimensions of the protrusions. The chamber is delimited by a cover plate and a gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Haupt, Paul Granderath, Hagen Dopfert, Christian Ruhl
  • Patent number: 7963875
    Abstract: A power transmitting assembly having a differential case and a differential gearset that is received in an interior chamber in the differential case. The differential case defines a tubular bearing mount and a plurality of oil galleries. The tubular bearing mount terminates at a radially extending shoulder. Each oil gallery intersects the radially extending shoulder at a first end and extends through the differential case to communicate with the interior chamber. At least one location along the length of each oil gallery has a lateral cross-section that is smaller than a lateral cross-section of that oil gallery's first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hilker, Gregory E. Woodside
  • Publication number: 20110111911
    Abstract: A power transmitting assembly having a differential case and a differential gearset that is received in an interior chamber in the differential case. The differential case defines a tubular bearing mount and a plurality of oil galleries. The tubular bearing mount terminates at a radially extending shoulder. Each oil gallery intersects the radially extending shoulder at a first end and extends through the differential case to communicate with the interior chamber. At least one location along the length of each oil gallery has a lateral cross-section that is smaller than a lateral cross-section of that oil gallery's first end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hilker, Gregory E. Woodside
  • Patent number: 7892131
    Abstract: A method for lubricating an axle assembly can include: coupling a pair of bearing to opposite ends of a differential housing; placing the differential housing into a carrier housing assembly such that the bearings support the differential housing on the carrier housing assembly for rotation about a first axis; collecting a lubricant proximate a side of one of the bearings opposite the differential housing; and rotating the differential housing about the first axis to cause the one of the bearings to move a portion of the collected lubricant through the differential housing. A related axle assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hilker, Gregory E. Woodside