Splash Patents (Class 184/11.1)
  • Patent number: 7823696
    Abstract: A gear unit is basically provided with a gear and a unit case. The gear is arranged and configured to transfer rotation inputted from an external source to at least one driven member. The unit case defines an interior space for enclosing the gear and containing a lubricant to lubricate the gear. The unit case includes an output shaft opening and a lubricant passage. The output shaft opening is configured for connecting the driven member to the gear. The lubricant passage has an inlet provided adjacent the output shaft opening and a lubricant discharge outlet provided in a bottom portion of the unit case to convey lubricant between the output shaft opening and the lubricant discharge outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentarou Baba
  • Publication number: 20100196140
    Abstract: An oil control device inhibits the flow of oil along a shaft (8) rotating about an axis. The oil control device comprises an annular body (19) for rotation with said shaft (8) and includes a first face (30) extending generally radially from said axis. A second radially outer circumferential surface (40) is provided, extending generally axially. An oil slinging groove (32) extends into said body (19) and has a mouth (37) defined between a first circumferentially extending rim (38) and a second circumferentially extending rim (39). The second rim (39) is spaced both radially and axially from the first rim (38). The groove (32) is defined at least in part by a wall (34) which meets the first rim (38) at an acute angle to a radial plane. The groove (32) is also defined at least in part by a wall (35) which meets the second rim (39) at an acute angle to the direction of the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: David Gee, Jonathon Heslop, Iain Taylor
  • Patent number: 7753172
    Abstract: A lubrication scavenge system is disclosed herein. The lubrication scavenge system includes a structure disposed for high-speed rotation about an axis. The lubrication scavenge system also includes a sump housing with an inwardly-facing surface substantially encircling the structure for receiving and directing lubricant expelled from the structure. A volume is defined between the structure and the inwardly-facing surface. The lubrication scavenge system also includes an open cell metal foam body disposed in the volume and tightly encircling the structure to substantially reduce windage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Munson
  • Patent number: 7694601
    Abstract: A housing of a gear device houses a plurality of gears and a lubricant. On at least one side surface of at least one gear selected from the plurality of gears, an extended projection is provided. On a side surface of the housing facing the side surface of the selected gear, an extended projection is provided. The extended projection of the selected gear and the extended projection of the housing extend in a direction crossing the circumferential direction of the selected gear. When viewed along an axial direction of the selected gear, according to rotation of the selected gear, the extended projection of the selected gear and the extended projection of the housing partially face each other in the axial direction of the selected gear and form facing portions. A lubricant holding portion capable of holding the lubricant is formed between the facing portion of the extended projection of the selected gear and the facing portion of the extended projection of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Murakami
  • Patent number: 7677207
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine has a circular inner chamber, which houses a plurality of cylinders with reciprocating pistons that move in a radial direction towards and away from the center of the inner chamber. A flywheel with distinct vanes or portions is positioned for rotation about a central axis of the inner chamber. A gear assembly operationally connected to the reciprocating pistons forces the flywheel to rotate and impart torque to a central shaft extending though the inner chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Inventor: Johnny Nicholson
  • Patent number: 7673539
    Abstract: An arrangement and method for removing a shaft from a gearbox housing without having to totally disassemble the housing. The gear box has an aperture in the housing. The aperture is used to gain access to the retaining ring that locks the shaft within the housing. Once the retaining ring is removed, the shaft may then slide out of the housing. A plug member is used to cover the aperture when it is not necessary to remove the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Knox, Christopher E. Blair
  • Patent number: 7654251
    Abstract: A centrifugal supercharger includes a case presenting a compressor chamber and a transmission chamber. An impeller in the compressor chamber is mounted to a shaft that extends into the transmission chamber. The impeller shaft is drivingly connected to a power input shaft by intermeshing gears provided on the shafts. A portion of the transmission chamber defines a fluid reservoir in which lubrication fluid is held. The intermeshing gears, as well as the bearing assemblies supporting the shafts, are located outside the fluid reservoir portion of the transmission chamber. A rotatable fluid-propelling element partly submerged in the lubrication fluid contained within the reservoir portion ensures that sufficient but not excessive lubrication fluid is supplied to the intermeshing gears and the bearing assemblies. A dedicated lubricant reserve system ensures that the required operating level of fluid is provided to, and maintained in, the reservoir portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Accessible Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Jones, Glennon J. Roderique
  • Publication number: 20090314580
    Abstract: A method of regulating the oil level in a section of an oil sump of a splash-lubricated transmission that has at least first and second oil sump sections that are separated by a baffle plate (2). The oil sprayed from a gearwheel (1), that is immersed in one oil sump section, is specifically deflected into an adjacent oil sump section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2007
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Svenin Jabs, Martin Glück
  • Patent number: 7547185
    Abstract: An output shaft air/oil separator system comprises an outer housing, an oil passage, a spline shaft having a cavity formed therein that communicates with the oil passage, an output shaft disposed at least partially within the spline shaft cavity that has a first section spaced apart from an inner surface of the spline shaft to form a gap therebetween in communication with the spline shaft cavity and a second section contacting at least a portion of the spline shaft inner surface, a housing cavity defined by at least a portion of an outer surface of the spline shaft and the outer housing, an annular groove formed in the spline shaft communicating with the spline shaft cavity, and at least one port extending between the spline shaft inner and outer surfaces in communication with the annular groove and the housing cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Giesler, Brent L. Bristol, Michael J. Burns, Tina Marie Hynes
  • Patent number: 7510381
    Abstract: The invention provides a twin-shaft, dry-running rotary piston machine (1) comprising two rotary pistons (8) supported in a housing (2) via shafts (4) and roller bearings (6) with rolling elements, said rotary pistons are horizontally arranged and mesh with each other in opposite directions, so as to define a conveying chamber; two oil chambers (10) arranged in said housing (2) at opposite front sides of the conveying chamber in the area of the roller bearings (6) and provided to be at least in part filled with lubricating oil, two splash elements (12), with per oil chamber (10) one splash element (12) being arranged on the shafts (4) in such a manner that every shaft (4) carries a total of only one splash element (12); and at least two connection channels (14) connecting the two oil chambers (10) with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Aerzener Mashinenfabrik GBBH
    Inventors: Frank Beckmann, Hans-Ulrich Fleige, Ulrich Götzel, Björn Irtel, Oliver Palm
  • Patent number: 7421921
    Abstract: A parallel axes type automatic transmission including a first input shaft having m or more (m is an integer not less than 2) wet multiplate clutches and drive gears rotatably mounted, a second input shaft having n or more (n is an integer greater than m and not less than 3) wet multiplate clutches and drive gears rotatably mounted, and a third input shaft having m or less wet multiplate clutches and drive gears rotatably mounted. The automatic transmission further includes an output shaft having a fixed final drive gear and a plurality of fixed driven gears. The first, second, and third input shafts are arranged at different levels so that the second input shaft is arranged at the highest level, the first input shaft is arranged at the middle level, and the third input shaft is arranged at the lowest level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kimura, Motoo Takeda, Yoshimichi Tsubata
  • Patent number: 7353784
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine has a circular inner chamber, which houses a plurality of cylinders with reciprocating pistons that move in a radial direction towards and away from the center of the inner chamber. A flywheel with distinct vanes or portions is positioned for rotation about a central axis of the inner chamber. A gear assembly operationally connected to the reciprocating pistons forces the flywheel to rotate and impart torque to a central shaft extending though the inner chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Inventor: John W. Nicholson, IV
  • Patent number: 7320384
    Abstract: A gearbox includes a housing having therein a receiving chamber, a transmission gear wheel mounted in the receiving chamber for rotation driven by an external driving force, an eccentric shaft assembly mounted in the receiving chamber and coupled to the transmission gear wheel for rotation together with the transmission gear wheel and driving action of a cutter, and a lubricating blade mounted at a bottom side of the receiving chamber, rotatably connected with the eccentric shaft assembly for rotation together with the eccentric shaft assembly, and having a plurality of arched grooves for delivering the lubricating oil located at the bottom side of the receiving chamber to the transmission gear wheel and the eccentric shaft assembly by a centrifugal force generated by the rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventor: Andy Huang
  • Patent number: 7287508
    Abstract: An engine lubrication method is provided. The four-cycle engine has a lightweight aluminum alloy engine block having a cylindrical bore and an enclosed oil reservoir formed therein. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted in the engine block for rotation about a crankshaft axis. A piston reciprocates within the bore and is connected to the crankshaft by a connecting rod. An oil pump driven by the cam gear, which mates with crank gear that is driven by crank shaft, inhales the oil from the oil reservoir to splash lubricate into the cylinder bore. The engine is provided with a cylinder head assembly defining a compact combustion chamber having a pair of overhead intake and exhaust ports and cooperating intake and exhaust valves. A lightweight, high-powered engine is thereby provided having relatively low HC and CO emissions. A circular arc wall surrounds around web of the crankshaft with a slight distance from the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: ETG Limited
    Inventor: Katsumi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 7243632
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a small four-stroke gasoline engine with oil mist lubrication. The lubrication oil way of the engine includes a crankshaft chamber B, a camshaft chamber C, an upper rocker arm chamber D and a condensation chamber E. The camshaft chamber C communicates with the upper rocker arm chamber D via a tappet cavity 13. The upper rocker arm chamber D communicates with the condensation chamber E. An oil mist chamber A is surrounded by an upper case body 3 and a lower case body 4 at the side of the crankshaft chamber B, the bottom of the oil mist chamber A communicates with the crankshaft chamber B. An oilsplash impeller 2 is fixed on a crankshaft, which extends into the oil mist chamber A. An oil way 12 is provided on the upper case body 3 between the oil mist chamber A and the camshaft chamber C. An oil return way 15 is provided on a cylinder head assembly 5. An oil return way 14 is provided on the upper case body 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Ji-Rong No Hu
  • Patent number: 7210374
    Abstract: A housing (40) for a gear unit, the housing being formed by a moulding process including casting, pressure casting, injection moulding or like processes. The housing (40) of the invention comprises housing walls and support for bearing elements of a gear shaft, the housing walls (47) and support (45, 46) being formed in a mould wherein the support (45, 46) is connected to a wall (47) of the housing (40) and extends from that wall (47) in a direction in which the housing is removed or demoulded from the mould. Further, a surface of the support may be shaped to provide elements to hold a liquid lubricant and elements to direct that lubricant to and/or from the bearing elements of a gear shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Hansen Transmissions International NV
    Inventor: Dirk-Olaf Leimann
  • Patent number: 7178426
    Abstract: An improved lubrication system for drive axle assemblies is provided that uses a collector in connection with a filter plug to lower the dynamic lubricant level in the drive axle assembly and filter contaminants in the lubricant sump. The collector is affixed to a cover plate attached to the drive axle housing and defines a well and a flow passage proximate the bottom of the well. The flow passage is aligned with an opening through which lubricant is inserted into the housing. A plug with a filter is inserted through the opening in the cover plate and into the flow passage. The invention reduces churning losses by lowering the dynamic lubricant level in the axle assembly without having a negative impact on lubricant life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Turner, Leo Wenstrup
  • Patent number: 6997284
    Abstract: In a driven axle assembly (12) for a motor vehicle that includes a differential housing located substantially in the center of the axle and tubes (16, 17) extending laterally from the differential, surrounding axle shafts (20) and opening into a lubricant reservoir (60) in the differential housing, a system for circulating and cooling axle lubricant includes a cover (26) for closing and sealing the housing having a first aperture into the housing where a ring gear rotates through the lubricant reservoir. The aperture in the cover opens to a chamber that holds lubricant carried through the aperture by the rotating ring gear. Conduit (72) connected by a hydraulic fitting to the chamber has its opposite end connected to an oil cooler mounted on the axle tube. Conduit (78) returns the lubricant to the reservoir in the differential housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Spicer Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Nahrwold
  • Patent number: 6978757
    Abstract: A lubrication structure for splash lubrication in an engine includes an oil collector formed as a depression in the outer peripheral surface of the crank pin and an oil groove provided on the big-end of the connecting rod. The oil collector is formed approximately at the center, in an axial direction, of the crank pin. The position of the oil collector is chosen so as to be displaced from an explosive force in an expansion cycle of the engine. The oil groove is provided on the big-end of the connecting rod, and has a first end and a second end. The first end is open in the inner peripheral surface at the center thereof in an axial direction, and the second end is open into the crank case. The oil collector receives oil stored in the crank case and the oil is transferred to the oil groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Furuya
  • Patent number: 6938731
    Abstract: A drive axle assembly is provided which includes a gear housing and differential gear set. An insert is provided which is disposed in a lubricant reservoir of the gear housing. The insert directs lubricant away from the reservoir upon rotation of the differential gear housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Steven G. Slesinski
  • Patent number: 6863043
    Abstract: A power tool having a rotary implement driven by a four-cycle engine. The engine crankcase is through a passageway which extends through a camshaft to a valve chamber. The rotating shaft member inhibits the escape of lubricating oil when the engine is running while permitting a lubricating oil mist to circulate through the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: MTD Southwest, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurihara, Shiro Kawamoto, James M. Grayson
  • Publication number: 20040168856
    Abstract: An oil spatter prevention apparatus having a shaft for use with a device, such as a tape recorder, including a stationary portion fixed to a deck, a shaft body extended from the stationary portion on which a rotation body is rotatably supported on an outer circumference, and an oil spattering prevention means for preventing oil applied between the shaft body and the rotation body from being spattered when the shaft body rotates, the oil spatter prevention means being at least one of a circumferential recess on the shaft body, an annular recess on the shaft stationary portion, and a recess exterior and adjacent to the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Bong-Joo Kim, Hyeong-Seok Choi, Jae-Kab Seo
  • Patent number: 6736240
    Abstract: A cam drive is provided for a valve control of a mixture-lubricated internal combustion engine that has a cylinder, and a cylinder head in which is disposed a poppet valve which is actuated by a pivotable rocker arm. Mounted in a cam chamber is a control cam that is driven by the crankshaft of the engine and on the cam path of which rests a drag lever that transfers the cam lift to the rocker arm. To achieve a reliable mixture lubrication, a flow guidance element is disposed in the annular chamber between the peripheral wall of the cam chamber and the maximum diameter of the path of a cam nose. The flow guidance element is provided with a flow edge that is disposed adjacent to the drag lever in the vicinity of the path diameter of the cam nose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co.
    Inventors: Bernhard Dürr, Harald Schliemann, Manfred Rabis, Jörg Schlossarczyk
  • Patent number: 6688432
    Abstract: The invention concerns a piston compressor, particularly a hermetically enclosed piston compressor, with a housing, in which a motor is arranged, the motor having a crankshaft with a vertically standing crank pin that has in its upper front side an opening, which is connected with an oil supply arrangement. It is endeavored to reduce an external oil circulation. For this purpose, the opening is provided with a limiting arrangement, which limits an axially directed movement of lubricating oil from the opening to a predetermined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Danfoss Compressors GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Erik Nissen, Christian Svendsen, Frank Holm Iversen, Klaus Reinwand, Preben Bjerre
  • Patent number: 6666184
    Abstract: A power tool having a rotary implement driven by a four-cycle engine. The engine crankcase is through a passageway which extends through a camshaft to a valve chamber. The rotating shaft member inhibits the escape of lubricating oil when the engine is running while permitting a lubricating oil mist to circulate through the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: MTD Southwest, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurihara, Shiro Kawamoto, James M. Grayson
  • Patent number: 6644439
    Abstract: In a transmission for an internal combustion engine including an oil sump and an oil pump operatively in communication with the oil sump, an oil reservoir is provided for receiving oil from the oil sump when the transmission is in direct drive and power is transmitted only through the main shaft of the transmission while the intermediate shaft is idling so that no friction is generated by the gears of the intermediate shaft being immersed in the oil of the oil sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Detlev Schnitzer
  • Publication number: 20030183455
    Abstract: A vehicle drive axle is provided that includes a housing having a longitudinal portion defining a cavity. An axle shaft is supported within the cavity for rotation about an axis. The cavity is at least partially filled with oil. A plurality of spaced apart noncontiguous projections extend from the axle shaft in a direction transverse to the rotational axis. During rotation of the axle shafts, the projections extend into the oil within the cavity and splash the oil onto the upper portion of the axle housing. Increased heat dissipation is achieved by dispersing the oil throughout the cavity, and in particular the upper portion of the axle housing, where it radiates into the surrounding environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Mark Schneider, Larry W. Bowman, Eric B. Ratts, Paul Raymond Sieber, Robert W. Hildebrand, Michael Everett Johnson, James R. Brichta
  • Publication number: 20030173156
    Abstract: A lubricant retention assembly is employed with an electric motor to prevent the loss of lubricant from a self contained lubricant reservoir of the motor. The lubricant retention assembly includes a thrust collar mounted on the motor shaft and a bearing cap surrounding the thrust collar, where the thrust collar has an annular flange that throws lubricant leaking along the shaft radially outwardly toward the bearing cap. The bearing cap has an angled interior surface that deflects the lubricant thrown from the annular flange of the thrust collar back into the motor interior and toward the lubricant reservoir. A thrust washer is also provided on the shaft adjacent the thrust collar and prevents lubricant leakage along the shaft between the interface of the shaft and the thrust collar. The thrust washer and thrust collar have complementary configurations that maintain the thrust washer in position on the shaft adjacent the thrust collar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Gary W. Borcherding
  • Patent number: 6616432
    Abstract: A fluid pump cowling for attachment to at least a pair of helical drivetrain gears having teeth and lands. The cowling has a pair of sidewalls adapted to extend at least partially over the lands of a first of the pair of drivetrain gears and a curved sump wall extending between the sidewalls that corresponds generally to the outermost circumference of the first gear. A sump channel is defined between the sidewalls on the sump wall adjacent a distal end of the sump wall. The sump channel has a generally frustoconical shape and leads to a fluid outlet opening defined in one of the sidewalls. The cowling is positioned such that the teeth of the pair of helical gears mesh in an area in fluid communication with the sump channel to create an area of high fluid pressure upon rotational movement of the gears with a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald S. Szczepanski, Jonathan M. Adler
  • Publication number: 20030159888
    Abstract: A “splash” lubrication system having an oil slinger capable of providing an increased flow rate of lubricating and cooling oil to lubricated components of the system compared to conventional dip stick oil slingers while reducing oil atomization and oil loss through the crankcase vent is disclosed. In embodiments of the invention, the oil slinger is comprised of a disk coupled to the crankshaft assembly of the device being lubricated (e.g., an engine, pump, compressor, or the like) so that rotation of the crankshaft assembly rotates the disk for splashing lubricating oil from the crankcase's oil sump onto the moving parts of the device being lubricated by the lubricating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventor: Robert F. Burkholder
  • Patent number: 6604608
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for lubricating an internal-combustion engine includes a shaft extending through a gearbox, a gear and a sliding sleeve coupled to rotate with the shaft and adapted to move axially along the shaft, a gearshift fork in mating engagement with the sliding sleeve and moveable parallel to the shaft, a rib in the gearbox adjacent the shaft, and a duct extending into the gearbox. The duct preferably directs a lubricant onto the gearshift fork and the sliding sleeve. Preferably, the rib directs the lubricant from the duct onto the gearshift fork and the sliding sleeve. In an alternative embodiment, at least some of the lubricant flung from the shaft, gear, and sliding sleeve contacts the rib and is directed onto the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork. Further preferably, a projection extends from the rib to direct the lubricant onto the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Harley Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Fegg
  • Patent number: 6578466
    Abstract: A sheet-processing machine operating in cycles, inter alia a shaping press, during which a cyclic excess air pressure is produced in a covered part of the machine, where the covered part has an opening (6) on the perimeter of which a diaphragm is fixed, the diaphragm being made of an elastic material which is substantially impermeable and resistant to the oil lubricating the machine (9). The diaphragm can be a fabric (3) substantially permeable to air and stretched on a frame (2) surrounding the opening (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Bobst S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Rebeaud
  • Patent number: 6523435
    Abstract: A differential gear for a motor vehicle, comprises a casing, an input shaft, two output shafts, and a differential supported within the casing. The casing comprises two casing parts connected to each other along a separation plane which is oriented perpendicular with respect to the output shafts. At least one of the two casing parts comprises a projection which serves as a hollow carrier. The projection comprises an attachment spot for attaching the casing to a body of the motor vehicle, and is arranged above a rest oil level within the casing, wherein a retaining element is arranged within the casing at the entrance of the projection. The retaining element limiting the flow of oil which has been thrown into the projection, back into the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Getrag Getriebe-Und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & CIE
    Inventors: Guenter Ruehle, Mark Mastroianni
  • Patent number: 6516789
    Abstract: A centrifugal supercharger includes a case presenting a compressor chamber and a transmission chamber. An impeller in the compressor chamber is mounted to a shaft that extends into the transmission chamber. The impeller shaft is drivingly connected to a power input shaft by intermeshing gears provided on the shafts. A portion of the transmission chamber defines a fluid reservoir in which lubrication fluid is held. The intermeshing gears, as well as the bearing assemblies supporting the shafts, are located outside the fluid reservoir portion of the transmission chamber. A rotatable fluid-propelling element partly submerged in the lubrication fluid contained within the reservoir portion ensures that sufficient but not excessive lubrication fluid is supplied to the intermeshing gears and the bearing assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Accessible Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel W. Jones
  • Patent number: 6510829
    Abstract: In a handheld type OHV engine, an oil tank is provided so as to be connected to one side wall running the length of a crankcase and a cylinder block, the oil tank houses oil mist generation means to and a rotational movement section of a valve operation mechanism, and the oil mist generated in the oil tank is supplied from a crank chamber to a valve operation chamber of a cylinder head housing a reciprocating movement section of the valve operation mechanism, and is returned to the oil tank by utilizing the pressure pulsations of the crank chamber and a one-way valve. It is thus possible to lubricate the inside of the crank chamber and the valve operation mechanism reliably regardless of the operational position of the handheld type OHV engine while reducing the overall height of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Ito, Takao Nishida, Sei Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20020170781
    Abstract: A “splash” lubrication system having an oil slinger capable of providing an increased flow rate of lubricating and cooling oil to lubricated components of the system compared to conventional dip stick oil slingers while reducing oil atomization and oil loss through the crankcase vent is disclosed. In embodiments of the invention, the oil slinger is comprised of a disk coupled to the crankshaft assembly of the device being lubricated (e.g., an engine, pump, compressor, or the like) so that rotation of the crankshaft assembly rotates the disk for splashing lubricating oil from the crankcase's oil sump onto the moving parts of the device being lubricated by the lubricating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: Robert F. Burkholder
  • Patent number: 6460656
    Abstract: A lubricant flinger, for providing lubricant fluid to bearings on a horizontal shaft within a wet-sump bearing housing, has a rotationally balanced body with portions extending radially sufficiently to reach below a lubricant level in the wet-sump. The body has provisions for fixing it on the horizontal shaft and is capable of insertion, while mounted on the horizontal shaft, into the housing through a bearing bore of radius smaller than that of the body. Outer portions of the body may have features which enhance lubricant pick-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: William B. Jones, Jr., Khajak Jack Minassian
  • Patent number: 6439208
    Abstract: A centrifugal supercharger includes a case presenting a compressor chamber and a transmission chamber. An impeller in the compressor chamber is mounted to a shaft that extends into the transmission chamber. The impeller shaft is drivingly connected to a power input shaft by intermeshing gears provided on the shafts. A portion of the transmission chamber defines a fluid reservoir in which lubrication fluid is held. The intermeshing gears, as well as the bearing assemblies supporting the shafts, are located outside the fluid reservoir portion of the transmission chamber. A rotatable fluid-propelling element partly submerged in the lubrication fluid contained within the reservoir portion ensures that sufficient but not excessive lubrication fluid is supplied to the intermeshing gears and the bearing assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Accessible Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel W. Jones
  • Patent number: 6394061
    Abstract: An oil reservoir chamber, a crank chamber and a valve-operating chamber are provided in an engine body. The oil reservoir chamber and the crank chamber are in communication with each other through a through-hole, and the crank chamber and the valve-operating chamber are in communication with the each other through a one-way valve which is opened upon rising of the pressure in the crank chamber. The valve-operating chamber and the oil reservoir chamber are in communication with each other through an orifice. By utilizing a pressure pulsation in the crank chamber, an oil mist produced in the oil reservoir chamber is circulated from the oil reservoir chamber to the crank chamber, the valve-operating chamber and the oil reservoir chamber. Thus, in any operational attitude of an engine, the lubricating oil can be circulated without use of special oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasutake Ryu, Souhei Honda, Takao Nishida, Takanori Tsugekawa
  • Patent number: 6374951
    Abstract: An improved splash-type lubrication system (100) for a change-gear transmission (102). A closely fitting gear shroud (104) is provided with upper openings (106, 108, 110) allowing the countershaft and main shaft gears to mesh and directs splashed lubricant (112) toward needle bearings (44) supporting main shaft gears (38, 40) on the main shaft (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Michelhaugh, John C. Bierlein
  • Patent number: 6363904
    Abstract: A power tool having a rotary implement driven by a four-cycle engine. The engine crankcase is through a passageway which extends through a camshaft to a valve chamber. The rotating shaft member inhibits the escape of lubricating oil when the engine is running while permitting a lubricating oil mist to circulate through the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: MTD Southwest Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurihara, Shiro Kawamoto, James M. Grayson
  • Patent number: 6227160
    Abstract: An engine powered hand-held power tool and engine lubrication method is provided, the power tool being intended to be carried by an operator during use. The power tool has a frame, including a handle to be grasped by the operator, an implement affixed to the frame having a rotary input member, and a small four-cycle, lightweight, internal combustion engine attached to the frame for driving the implement. The four-cycle engine has a lightweight aluminum alloy engine block having a cylindrical bore and an enclosed oil reservoir formed therein. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted in the engine block for rotation about a crankshaft axis. A piston reciprocates within the bore and is connected to the crankshaft by a connecting rod. An oil splasher driven by the crankshaft intermittently engages the oil within the enclosed oil reservoir to splash-lubricate the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: MTD Southwest, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurihara, Robert G. Everts
  • Patent number: 6223858
    Abstract: High and low speed gears of a vehicle transmission are selectively lubricated by transmission oil flung by a final ring gear. A first oil gutter directs the transmission oil to low speed gears when the transmission oil is flung at low speed. At higher speed, the transmission oil is flung past the first gutter to be received by a second gutter from which it flows to lubricate high speed gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikazu Ubagai, Shinobu Yoneda
  • Patent number: 6213081
    Abstract: A 4-cycle engine, includes an engine body having a piston, a crankshaft and a crank chamber, an oil reservoir chamber adjacent the crank chamber and independent therefrom, the oil reservoir chamber having an oil mist generator therein drivably connected to the crankshaft, and a valve-operating chamber. Further, a first passageway connects the oil reservoir chamber with the crank chamber to provide oil mist communication therebetween. A second passageway connects the crank chamber with the valve-operating chamber to provide oil mist communication therebetween. Additionally, a third passageway connects the valve-operating chamber with the independent oil reservoir chamber to provide oil communication therebetween, wherein the three chambers and the three passageways form a lubrication oil feed channel to provide one-way circulation of lubrication oil therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasutake Ryu, Souhei Honda, Takao Nishida, Takanori Tsugekawa
  • Patent number: 6213078
    Abstract: A system for lubricating a 4-cycle engine includes a crank chamber having a crank portion of a crankshaft contained therein and storing a lubricating oil therein, a valve operating chamber having a valve-operating device contained therein, wherein the crank chamber and the valve-operating chamber are provided in an engine body. An oil mist producing means is provided in the crank chamber for producing an oil mist from the lubricating oil. The crank chamber and the valve operating chamber are in communication with each other above an oil level of the lubricating oil in the crank chamber through a control valve which is opened upon rising of the pressure in said crank chamber and closed upon reduction of the pressure in said crank chamber. The valve-operating chamber is substantially in communication at its upper portion with the atmosphere, and in communication at its bottom with the crank chamber through an orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasutake Ryu, Souhei Honda, Takao Nishida, Takanori Tsugekawa
  • Patent number: 6186277
    Abstract: An apparatus for lubricating a cooling rotary components in a vehicle drivetrain. The apparatus is defined by a single component bearing cap having integrally formed lubricant deflectors to direct lubricant flow to lubricant-starved side bearings in a drive axial differential carrier assembly. The lubricant deflectors extend angularly outward from the ends of the bearing cap. The bearing cap is secured to a housing portion of a drive axle differential carrier assembly of the vehicle drivetrain. A differential bearing assembly is pinched between the bearing cap and bearing mounting surfaces of the drive axle differential carrier assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Martin D. Tervo