Transmission case vent
The present invention provides a transmission case assembly adapted for use with a motorcycle. The transmission case assembly includes a transmission case having a gear chamber adapted to contain a lubricant and generate a lubricant-laden mist during operation of the motorcycle, and a breather chamber in fluid communication with the gear chamber. The breather chamber is adapted to separate the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor and drain the separated lubricant into the gear chamber. The transmission case assembly also includes a transmission case cover coupled to the transmission case. The transmission case cover includes at least a portion of a passageway in fluid communication between the breather chamber and ambient air outside of the transmission case assembly. The passageway is adapted to exhaust the separated vapor outside of the transmission case assembly.
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This invention relates generally to motorcycles, and more particularly to motorcycle transmissions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMotorcycle transmissions typically include vented transmission cases for exhausting pressurized vapor built-up in the transmission cases to the atmosphere. Such a vented transmission case typically includes a hose fitting coupled to an upper portion of the transmission, such as on a transmission case top cover. An inverted U-shaped hose is typically coupled to the hose fitting to allow the pressurized vapor to exit the transmission case, while causing lubricant entrained in the pressurized vapor to condense and drain back to the transmission case.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides, in one aspect, a transmission case assembly adapted for use with a motorcycle. The transmission case assembly includes a transmission case having a gear chamber adapted to contain a lubricant and generate a lubricant-laden mist during operation of the motorcycle, and a breather chamber in fluid communication with the gear chamber. The breather chamber is adapted to separate the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor and drain the separated lubricant into the gear chamber. The transmission case assembly also includes a transmission case cover coupled to the transmission case. The transmission case cover includes at least a portion of a passageway in fluid communication between the breather chamber and ambient air outside of the transmission case assembly. The passageway is adapted to exhaust the separated vapor outside of the transmission case assembly.
The present invention provides, in another aspect, a transmission case assembly adapted for use with a motorcycle. The transmission case assembly includes a transmission case having a first interface portion, a gear chamber adapted to contain a lubricant and generate a lubricant-laden mist during operation of the motorcycle, and a breather chamber in fluid communication with the gear chamber to receive the lubricant-laden mist. The breather chamber is adapted to at least partially facilitate separation of the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor. The transmission case assembly also includes a transmission case cover including a second interface portion coupled to the first interface portion. The transmission case cover includes a vapor chamber in fluid communication with the breather chamber and adapted to receive the separated vapor. The transmission case assembly further includes a tortuous passageway fluidly communicating the gear chamber and ambient air outside of the transmission case assembly, at least a portion of the tortuous passageway passing through the first and second interface portions.
The present invention provides, in yet another aspect, a motorcycle including a front wheel, a rear wheel, a frame supported by the front and rear wheels, and a transmission case including a gear chamber adapted to contain a lubricant and generate a lubricant-laden mist during operation of the motorcycle, and a breather chamber in fluid communication with the gear chamber. The breather chamber is adapted to separate the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor and drain the separated lubricant into the gear chamber. The motorcycle also includes a transmission case cover coupled to the transmission case. The transmission case cover includes at least a portion of a passageway in fluid communication between the breather chamber and ambient air outside of the transmission case assembly. The passageway is adapted to exhaust the separated vapor outside of the transmission case assembly.
The present invention provides, in another aspect, a motorcycle including a front wheel, a rear wheel, a frame supported by the front and rear wheels, and a transmission case having a first interface portion, a gear chamber adapted to contain a lubricant and generate a lubricant-laden mist during operation of the motorcycle, and a breather chamber in fluid communication with the gear chamber to receive the lubricant-laden mist. The breather chamber is adapted to at least partially facilitate separation of the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor. The motorcycle also includes a transmission case cover including a second interface portion coupled to the first interface portion. The transmission case cover includes a vapor chamber in fluid communication with the breather chamber and adapted to receive the separated vapor. The motorcycle further includes a tortuous passageway fluidly communicating the gear chamber and ambient air outside of the transmission case, at least a portion of the tortuous passageway passing through the first and second interface portions.
The present invention provides, in yet another aspect, a transmission case cover adapted for use with a transmission case of a motorcycle. The transmission case includes a first interface portion and a breather chamber that receives a lubricant-laden mist during operation of the motorcycle. The breather chamber is adapted to at least partially facilitate separation of the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor. The transmission case cover includes a second interface portion adapted to couple to the first interface portion of the transmission case, a vapor chamber adapted to fluidly communicate with the breather chamber and adapted to receive the separated vapor, and a groove formed in the second interface portion to fluidly communicate the vapor chamber and ambient air outside of the transmission case, the groove adapted to exhaust the separated vapor outside of the transmission case.
Other features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts:
Before any features of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including”, “having”, and “comprising” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The use of letters to identify elements of a method or process is simply for identification and is not meant to indicate that the elements should be performed in a particular order.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The drive assembly 14 is preferably coupled to the frame 18 beneath the seat 38 between the front wheel 30 and the rear wheel 34 of the motorcycle 10. With continued reference to
With reference to
The transmission case 62 also includes a breather chamber 78 in fluid communication with the gear chamber 66. With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
During operation of the motorcycle 10, the internal working components of the transmission 54 (e.g., the shafts and gears) generate lubricant-laden mist in the gear chamber 66. In addition, as the transmission lubricant is heated, air or vapor in the gear chamber 66 may also be heated and expand. As the air or vapor in the gear chamber 66 expands, lubricant-laden mist may be carried from the gear chamber 66 to the breather chamber 78. As shown in
The baffle 110 may also cause at least a portion of the lubricant entrained in the lubricant-laden mist to separate or drop out. Particularly, the restriction provided by the apertures 114 in the baffle 110 may reduce the speed of the lubricant-laden mist, causing at least a portion of the lubricant entrained in the lubricant-laden mist to separate or drop out. The separated vapor (indicated by dashed arrow 162), therefore, may then enter the vapor chamber 118 through the apertures 114 in the baffle 110.
With reference to
Specifically, with continued reference to
With reference to
Various aspects of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A transmission case assembly adapted for use with a motorcycle, the transmission case assembly comprising:
- a transmission case including a gear chamber adapted to contain a lubricant and generate a lubricant-laden mist during operation of the motorcycle, and a breather chamber in fluid communication with the gear chamber, the breather chamber adapted to separate the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor and drain the separated lubricant into the gear chamber; and
- a transmission case cover coupled to the transmission case, the transmission case cover including at least a portion of a passageway in fluid communication between the breather chamber and ambient air outside of the transmission case assembly, the passageway adapted to exhaust the separated vapor outside of the transmission case assembly.
2. The transmission case assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
- a vapor chamber in the transmission case cover, wherein the passageway is in fluid communication between the vapor chamber and ambient air outside of the transmission case assembly; and
- a baffle positioned between the breather chamber and the vapor chamber, wherein the baffle at least partially restricts fluid flow between the breather chamber and the vapor chamber, and wherein the baffle is adapted to facilitate separation of the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor.
3. The transmission case assembly of claim 2, wherein the baffle comprises a gasket including at least one aperture to fluidly communicate the breather chamber and the vapor chamber.
4. The transmission case assembly of claim 3, wherein the at least one aperture is positioned on a side of the gasket opposite the portion of the passageway in the transmission case cover.
5. The transmission case assembly of claim 1, wherein the transmission case includes a first interface portion, wherein the transmission case cover includes a second interface portion coupled to the first interface portion, and wherein the passageway passes through the first interface portion and the second interface portion.
6. The transmission case assembly of claim 5, further comprising an ear extending from the first interface portion, wherein the ear at least partially defines a groove in the transmission case, and wherein the groove comprises a portion of the passageway.
7. The transmission case assembly of claim 1, wherein the transmission case cover includes a groove comprising the portion of the passageway.
8. The transmission case assembly of claim 1, wherein the passageway is integrally formed with the transmission case cover and the transmission case.
9. A transmission case assembly adapted for use with a motorcycle, the transmission case assembly comprising:
- a transmission case including a first interface portion, a gear chamber adapted to contain a lubricant and generate a lubricant-laden mist during operation of the motorcycle, and a breather chamber in fluid communication with the gear chamber to receive the lubricant-laden mist, the breather chamber adapted to at least partially facilitate separation of the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor;
- a transmission case cover including a second interface portion coupled to the first interface portion, the transmission case cover including a vapor chamber in fluid communication with the breather chamber and adapted to receive the separated vapor; and
- a tortuous passageway fluidly communicating the gear chamber and ambient air outside of the transmission case assembly, at least a portion of the tortuous passageway passing through the first and second interface portions.
10. The transmission case assembly of claim 9, further comprising a baffle positioned between the breather chamber and the vapor chamber, the baffle at least partially restricting fluid flow between the breather chamber and the vapor chamber, the baffle adapted to facilitate separation of the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor, the breather chamber adapted to accumulate the separated lubricant and drain the separated lubricant into the gear chamber, wherein at least a portion of the tortuous passageway passes through the baffle.
11. The transmission case assembly of claim 10, wherein the baffle comprises a gasket including at least one aperture to fluidly communicate the breather chamber and the vapor chamber.
12. The transmission case assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one aperture is positioned on a side of the gasket opposite the portion of the tortuous passageway passing through the first and second interface portions.
13. The transmission case assembly of claim 9, further comprising an ear extending from the first interface portion, wherein the ear at least partially defines a groove in the transmission case, and wherein the groove comprises a portion of the tortuous passageway.
14. The transmission case assembly of claim 9, wherein the second interface portion includes a groove, and wherein the groove comprises a portion of the tortuous passageway.
15. The transmission case assembly of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the tortuous passageway is integrally formed with the transmission case cover and the transmission case.
16. A motorcycle comprising:
- a front wheel;
- a rear wheel;
- a frame supported by the front and rear wheels;
- a transmission case including a gear chamber adapted to contain a lubricant and generate a lubricant-laden mist during operation of the motorcycle, and a breather chamber in fluid communication with the gear chamber, the breather chamber adapted to separate the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor and drain the separated lubricant into the gear chamber; and
- a transmission case cover coupled to the transmission case, the transmission case cover including at least a portion of a passageway in fluid communication between the breather chamber and ambient air outside of the transmission case assembly, the passageway adapted to exhaust the separated vapor outside of the transmission case assembly.
17. The transmission case assembly of claim 16, further comprising:
- a vapor chamber in the transmission case cover, wherein the passageway is in fluid communication between the vapor chamber and ambient air outside of the transmission case assembly; and
- a baffle positioned between the breather chamber and the vapor chamber, wherein the baffle at least partially restricts fluid flow between the breather chamber and the vapor chamber, and wherein the baffle is adapted to facilitate separation of the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor.
18. The motorcycle of claim 17, wherein the baffle comprises a gasket including at least one aperture to fluidly communicate the breather chamber and the vapor chamber.
19. The motorcycle of claim 18, wherein the at least one aperture is positioned on a side of the gasket opposite the portion of the passageway in the transmission case cover.
20. The motorcycle of claim 16, wherein the transmission case includes a first interface portion, wherein the transmission case cover includes a second interface portion engaged with the first interface portion, and wherein the passageway passes through the first interface portion and the second interface portion.
21. The motorcycle of claim 20, further comprising an ear extending from the first interface portion, wherein the ear at least partially defines a groove in the transmission case, and wherein the groove comprises a portion of the passageway.
22. The motorcycle of claim 16, wherein the transmission case cover includes a groove comprising the portion of the passageway.
23. The motorcycle of claim 16, wherein the passageway is integrally formed with the transmission case cover and the transmission case.
24. A motorcycle comprising:
- a front wheel;
- a rear wheel;
- a frame supported by the front and rear wheels;
- a transmission case including a first interface portion, a gear chamber adapted to contain a lubricant and generate a lubricant-laden mist during operation of the motorcycle, and a breather chamber in fluid communication with the gear chamber to receive the lubricant-laden mist, the breather chamber adapted to at least partially facilitate separation of the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor;
- a transmission case cover including a second interface portion coupled to the first interface portion, the transmission case cover including a vapor chamber in fluid communication with the breather chamber and adapted to receive the separated vapor; and
- a tortuous passageway fluidly communicating the gear chamber and ambient air outside of the transmission case, at least a portion of the tortuous passageway passing through the first and second interface portions.
25. The motorcycle of claim 24, further comprising a baffle positioned between the breather chamber and the vapor chamber, the baffle at least partially restricting fluid flow between the breather chamber and the vapor chamber, the baffle adapted to facilitate separation of the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor, the breather chamber adapted to accumulate the separated lubricant and drain the separated lubricant into the gear chamber, wherein at least a portion of the tortuous passageway passes through the baffle.
26. The motorcycle of claim 25, wherein the baffle comprises a gasket including at least one aperture to fluidly communicate the breather chamber and the vapor chamber.
27. The motorcycle of claim 26, wherein the at least one aperture is positioned on a side of the gasket opposite the portion of the tortuous passageway passing through the first and second interface portions.
28. The motorcycle of claim 24, further comprising an ear extending from the first interface portion, wherein the ear at least partially defines a groove in the transmission case, and wherein the groove comprises a portion of the tortuous passageway.
29. The motorcycle of claim 24, wherein the second interface portion includes a groove, and wherein the groove comprises a portion of the tortuous passageway.
30. The motorcycle of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the tortuous passageway is integrally formed with the transmission case cover and the transmission case.
31. A transmission case cover adapted for use with a transmission case of a motorcycle, the transmission case including a first interface portion and a breather chamber that receives a lubricant-laden mist during operation of the motorcycle, the breather chamber adapted to at least partially facilitate separation of the lubricant-laden mist into lubricant and vapor, the transmission case cover comprising:
- a second interface portion adapted to couple to the first interface portion of the transmission case;
- a vapor chamber adapted to fluidly communicate with the breather chamber and adapted to receive the separated vapor; and
- a groove formed in the second interface portion to fluidly communicate the vapor chamber and ambient air outside of the transmission case, the groove adapted to exhaust the separated vapor outside of the transmission case.
32. The transmission case cover of claim 31, wherein the groove is integrally formed with the transmission case cover.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 1, 2005
Publication Date: Jan 4, 2007
Applicant: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc. (Milwaukee, WI)
Inventors: Ben Lund (Wales, WI), John Schanz (Mequon, WI), Sean Rusch (Cedarburg, WI)
Application Number: 11/174,426
International Classification: F01M 11/08 (20060101);