Abstract: An impeller assembly including: an impeller housing having a housing inlet and a housing outlet for receiving and discharging working fluid; and an impeller located within and rotatable with respect to the impeller housing. The impeller having an impeller inlet for receiving the working fluid, a plurality of impeller blades forming a plurality of impeller passageways in communication with the impeller inlet, and a plurality of impeller outlets each communicating with one of the impeller passageways for discharging the working fluid. The impeller includes an impeller hub that has one or more hub vanes forming hub fluid channels to receive secondary fluid, where the hub fluid channels are in communication with at least one of the plurality of impeller passageways and is configured to induce rotation of the impeller hub. Angled hub vanes and/or skewed directional thrust balance openings are configured to induce rotation of the impeller hub.

Abstract: An impeller assembly including: an impeller housing having a housing inlet and a housing outlet for receiving and discharging working fluid; and an impeller located within and rotatable with respect to the impeller housing. The impeller having an impeller inlet for receiving the working fluid, a plurality of impeller blades forming a plurality of impeller passageways in communication with the impeller inlet, and a plurality of impeller outlets each communicating with one of the impeller passageways for discharging the working fluid. The impeller includes an impeller hub that has one or more hub vanes forming hub fluid channels to receive secondary fluid, where the hub fluid channels are in communication with at least one of the plurality of impeller passageways and is configured to induce rotation of the impeller hub. Angled hub vanes and/or skewed directional thrust balance openings are configured to induce rotation of the impeller hub.

Abstract: The disclosed system facilitates the flow of lubrication fluid between the planet gears and their respective housing pockets in a parallel-axis differential. A further set of pockets is formed within the differential housing for receiving and retaining lubrication fluid that is continuously supplied to the housing during vehicle operation. Holes, slots, and grooves direct the lubrication from the fluid-storage pockets to (a) the cylindrical bearing surfaces of the pockets and to (b) the interfaces between the planet-gear pockets and the end faces of their respective planet gears. The fluid-storage pockets are distributed circumferentially about the common axis of the side gears so that the rotational balance of the differential is maintained.