Gearing Patents (Class 184/6.12)
  • Patent number: 8978824
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include self-lubricating oil feed systems that may include an integral bearing. The oil feed systems may include gear pumps suitable to minimize the axial profile of the oil feed systems. Additionally, the oil feed systems may be directly coupled to turbomachinery having a gear, and provide for mechanical support and lubrication of certain components of the turbomachinery. In certain embodiments, the oil feed systems enables the transfer of a lubrication fluid to the bearing during operations of the turbomachinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Edward Stanley Czechowski, Michael Anthony Nuchereno
  • Patent number: 8979696
    Abstract: A high-pressure homogenizer including: a fixed body (7) housing a rotating crankshaft (10); a motor (3) for driving the crankshaft (10); a reduction gear unit (4) interconnected between the crankshaft and transmission elements (5, 6), characterized in that the reduction gear unit (4) is an epicyclic reduction gear unit. Preferably there is provided a lubricant feed line (15) which passes through the fixed body and reaches the epicyclic reduction gear unit (4). Preferably the epicyclic reduction gear unit (4) is constructed integrally with the fixed body (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Gea Mechnical Equipment Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luca Salvarani, Massimiliano Benassi, Michele Madureri
  • Patent number: 8973458
    Abstract: A gear unit having at least one shaft supported by a bearing in the gear unit housing, the spatial region of a bearing of a shaft situated in a cutout of the gear unit housing being limited at least partially towards the interior of the gear unit by a limiting device, in particular one that has a cutout for a shaft supported in the bearing, the lowest point of the cutout effecting a minimum oil level in the spatial region of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dietmar Strauβ, Ingo Schütterle
  • Publication number: 20150060207
    Abstract: A lubricating apparatus includes a rotating shaft disposed horizontally; a supporting wall supporting the rotating shaft with a bearing; an oil chamber surrounded by the supporting wall and the rotating shaft; an oil passage which extends within the rotating shaft and is communicated with lubricating portions; an oil intake portion for taking and supplying the oil to the oil chamber; and a plurality of guide ribs formed in the supporting wall, wherein the guide ribs are adapted to form at least two oil flow paths from a radially-outer portion of the oil chamber toward a center portion of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeru NISHIMURA
  • Patent number: 8967334
    Abstract: A gear unit at least partially filled with oil, wherein a device is provided in the gear unit for lowering the oil level, especially of the oil pan of the gear unit, during operation, the device including at least one temporary storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dietmar Strauβ, Ingo Schütterle
  • Patent number: 8961348
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Weber, Dale C. Messmore, John B. Salomon, Benjamin T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8960362
    Abstract: A drive axle assembly is provided that improves lubrication to the components of the drive axle assembly. As the wheel differential rotates, lubricant is splashed and lubricates bearings and other associated components of the differential assembly. In addition, lubricant is pumped by rotation of the first and second spur gears and is fed to the radial face of a forward bearing through a lubrication passage through a plurality of passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Mirko Barbir
  • Patent number: 8944216
    Abstract: An example lubricating transfer tube assembly includes a transfer tube having a bore extending from a fluid inlet portion to a fluid outlet portion. The transfer tube is configured to communicate a fluid through the bore between the fluid inlet portion and the fluid outlet portion within a gearbox. The transfer tube defines a spray aperture extending from the bore to an outer surface of the transfer tube. The spray aperture is configured to communicate at least some of the fluid from the bore to an area of the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Rollins, Melissa A. Bell
  • Patent number: 8939260
    Abstract: A double clutch transmission of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a clutch chamber (3) which is designed as a first oil chamber, for accommodating a double clutch, and a transmission chamber (8) which is designed as a second oil chamber, for accommodating a double clutch transmission gear set. A partition wall (9) separates the oil chambers from one another. An oil pump (11) is positioned in the transmission chamber (8) and can be driven by a drive shaft (7) which extends through the partition wall (9) from the transmission chamber (8) into the clutch chamber (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Thomas Schneider
  • Patent number: 8939257
    Abstract: The invention provides a power train mechanism capable of decreasing a rotational resistance. The power train mechanism includes: a clutch drum; a forced feed oil passage and a central oil passage for supplying oil to the clutch drum; an oil reservoir provided below the clutch drum; an outer circumferential surface surrounding member for surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the clutch drum, while facing the outer circumferential surface with a clearance therebetween to such a degree as to avoid contact with the outer circumferential surface during rotation of the outer circumferential surface of the clutch drum; and a trans-axle rear cover provided continuously to the outer circumferential surface surrounding member, for surrounding axial one end surface of the clutch drum, in which a side of the outer circumferential surface surrounding member axially opposite to the trans-axle rear cover is an open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuaki Nakamura, Kazuyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8939258
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine for generating electric power by an air stream (1) onto a rotor (48) rotatable about a rotor axis (2), said rotor comprising a plurality of rotor blades (3, 4) and being coupled via a rotor shaft (5) to a generator (6), wherein a primary transmission (8) is present between the rotor shaft (5) and generator input shaft (7) for multiplication of the rotational speed, wherein the pressure-feed or force-feed lubricating system of said main transmission comprising a lubricating pump (9) enables the supply to components (46, 47) subject to wear, wherein the wind turbine (10) has an emergency pump (11) for lubricant supply, which during normal operation of the wind turbine is not operational and during spinning operation and/or a power failure can be connected and which is operated by the rotating rotor (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Kenersys GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Becker
  • Patent number: 8939259
    Abstract: A wind turbine lubrication system comprising a pump for pumping lubricant through a lubrication circuit, said pump being driven by a power-take-off from the drive train of the wind turbine, characterized in that said pump for pumping lubricant drives at least a first hydraulic motor providing mechanical power to a first wind turbine auxiliary component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Wind, S.L.U.
    Inventors: José Luis Román Mallada, Daniel Castell Martinez
  • Patent number: 8931596
    Abstract: A lubricant oil supplying apparatus (1-1) provided for a power transmission apparatus (1) having an accumulating part (9), a rotating member (7) rotating interlockingly with rotation of a drive wheel to feed a lubricant oil in the accumulating part, and an oil receiving part (8) disposed above in the vertical direction than the rotating member, and supplying the lubricant oil to the oil receiving part, in which a passage member (10) for guiding the lubricant oil fed by the rotating member to the oil receiving part is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shioiri, Tadashi Yamada, Haruo Isomura
  • Patent number: 8931285
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a gas turbine engine includes a fan, a speed reduction device driving the fan, and a lubrication system for lubricating components across a rotation gap. The lubrication system includes a lubricant input. A stationary first bearing receives lubricant from the lubricant input and has a first race in which lubricant flows. A second bearing for rotation is within the first bearing. The second bearing has a first opening in registration with said first race such that lubricant may flow from the first race through the first opening into a first conduit. The first bearing also has a second race into which lubricant flows. The second bearing has a second opening in registration with the second race such that lubricant may flow from the second race through the second opening into a second conduit. The first and second conduits deliver lubricant to distinct locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. McCune, William G. Sheridan, Lawrence E. Portlock
  • Patent number: 8919499
    Abstract: A circuit and a method for feeding oil to rolling bearings in a turbomachine is disclosed. The circuit includes an oil supply; an oil duct connecting the supply to lubrication enclosures, each enclosure containing at least one rolling bearing; an oil feed pump located between the supply and the lubrication enclosures; an oil recovery pump connected downstream from each lubrication enclosure; a pressurizing valve placed in the duct between the oil feed pump and the lubrication enclosures, the pressurizing valve being adapted to open when the pressure at its inlet exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure; a branch connection duct connecting the inlet of the pressurization valve to one of the lubrication enclosures in order to feed it with oil; and a feeding device which feeds the lubrication enclosures at a small oil flow rate so long as the pressure at the inlet of the pressurization valve has not reached the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Francois Delamour, Jean-Louis Muller, Nicolas Alain Bernard Potel, Jean-Louis Jacquerie, Albert Cornet
  • Patent number: 8919500
    Abstract: A motorcycle compensator-sprocket-wheel-hub lubricating system has a lubricant-collection plate (2) (30) attachable to a sprocket-gear housing (1) of a motorcycle for catching lubricant falling from a sprocket-wheel chain (4) and conveying the lubricant to a compensator-sprocket-wheel hub (33) which is provided with enhanced lubrication of rotating-contact and sliding-contact parts with lubricant conveyed from the lubricant-collection plate (2) (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Inventors: Richard Kilcrease, Ronald W. Babos
  • Patent number: 8915465
    Abstract: A rotor system is disclosed for a reactive drive rotary wing aircraft. Rigidity of the rotor is enhanced and play between flight controls and the rotor are eliminated by mounting swashplate actuators to a flange rigidly secured to the mast. Thermal management of the rotor is performed in order to avoid bearing failure or loss of bearing preload. Methods include modulating the temperature of oil pumped over one or more of the mast bearing, swashplate bearing, and spindle bearing. The temperature of air passively or actively drawn through rotor may also be modulated to maintain bearing temperature within a predetermined range. Structures for reducing pressure losses and drag on components due to air flow through the rotor are also disclosed. Thermal management of a rotor may be performed by oil and air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Groen Brothers Aviation, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Johannes van der Westhuizen
  • Patent number: 8905885
    Abstract: A vehicle drive device configured with reduced axial dimensions, while still having appropriate lubrication. The vehicle drive device is configured with an input shaft coupled to an engine, a rotary electric machine, and an output shaft coupled to wheels. A power transfer mechanism couples input shaft, the rotary electric machine, and the output shaft. A case houses at least the rotary electric machine and the power transfer mechanism. An oil reserving portion capable of reserving oil supplied by rotation of the power transfer mechanism is provided above the rotor shaft inside the case. A communication oil passage is oriented between the oil reserving portion and an inner circumferential space formed inside the rotor shaft. The rotor shaft is disposed to be inserted into the inside housing space, and has a supply communication hole that communicates between the inner circumferential space and the inside housing space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignees: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Masamitsu Seno, Takuya Komatsu, Natsuki Sada, Hirotaka Yata, Tomoo Atarashi, Hiromichi Kimura, Takeshi Kuwahara, Tatsuo Obata, Michitaka Tsuchida, Yoshinori Morita, Shingo Kato
  • Patent number: 8905192
    Abstract: A lubricating-oil collection guide tool includes an oil-collection container; an oil funnel guiding lubricating oil into an oil passage at an axis end of a rotation axis; and an oil-passage member communicating the oil funnel and the oil-collection container. The oil-passage member includes a first passage member extending from the oil-collection container, and a second passage member extending from the oil funnel. While an insertion hole is formed in a lateral wall portion on one end side of the second passage member, one end portion of the first passage member is a cylindrical end portion. The cylindrical end portion is inserted into the insertion hole to move in and out in the axis line direction. The cylindrical end portion moves in a long axis direction relative to the insertion hole, and turns as a center of an axis line of the cylindrical end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignees: Nifco Inc., Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Araki, Tsutomu Tada
  • Patent number: 8899381
    Abstract: An electric transaxle according to the invention comprises a transaxle casing, an electric motor, an axle, a gear mechanism, first and second fluid sumps, and first and second fluid introduction passages. The transaxle casing defines a gear chamber therein. The electric motor includes a motor casing attached to the transaxle casing. The axle is supported by the transaxle casing. The gear mechanism transmits power from the electric motor to the axle. Fluid of the first fluid sump raised by driving the gear mechanism is supplied to the second fluid sump. The first fluid introduction passage introduces the fluid raised from the first fluid sump to the second fluid sump when the axle is rotated in a forward traveling direction. The second fluid introduction passage introduces the fluid raised from the first fluid sump to the second fluid sump when the axle is rotated in a backward traveling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ebihara, Hiroaki Hashima, Kengo Sasahara
  • Patent number: 8900090
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a structural oil baffle housing which at least partially supports a set of intermediate gears. Each of the intermediate gears is mounted to a respective flexible carrier post. A spherical joint is mounted to each flexible carrier post and the structural oil baffle housing is mounted to the spherical joint mounted to each flexible carrier post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: William G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 8893469
    Abstract: An assembly includes a gas turbine engine, a compartment wall, and a gutter system. The gas turbine engine has a spool connected to a fan shaft via a gear system. The compartment wall is positioned radially outward from the gear system. The gutter system is positioned radially outward from the gear system for capturing lubricating liquid slung from the gear system and positioned radially inward of the compartment wall. The gutter system includes a gutter and a flow passage fluidically connected to the gutter. The flow passage has a plurality of holes that allow the lubricating liquid to pass through the flow passage into a space between the flow passage and the compartment wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, Francis Parnin, Denman H. James, Robert E. Peters
  • Patent number: 8893569
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power-transmitting apparatus. A power-transmitting apparatus of the present invention comprises: a pin gear provided with a plurality of pins capable of rolling movement; and a spur gear provided with a plurality of teeth and en-gagingly coupled to the pin gear so as to be relatively movable, wherein the spur gear teeth are formed with a cycloid tooth shape, and a polygonal tooth root space is formed at a tooth root region of the spur gear. As compared to a trochoid tooth shape, the tooth shape of the spur gear engagingly coupled to the pin gear so as to be relatively movable according to the present invention has a greater tooth size so that it can be applied as a cycloid tooth shape capable of maintaining a sufficient tooth contact ratio, and can resolve a reduction in tooth thickness and the wedging of the pins from an undercut at the tooth root region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sejin-Igb Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sun Ho Lim
  • Patent number: 8875841
    Abstract: In a transmission, a lubrication oil retention section is formed to surround an area around a circumferential part of a first gear that ranges from a lubrication oil storage region to the outside of the lubrication oil storage region. In the lubrication oil retention section, the lubrication oil scooped up by the rotation of the first gear is retained between the lubrication oil retention section and the first gear at the outside of the lubrication oil storage region. The lubrication oil retention section enables the first gear to splash the lubrication oil retained at the outside of the lubrication oil storage region, toward a receiver that flows the lubrication oil to various sliding parts of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Ai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Yoshimi, Toshiya Uematsu, Masaki Kawamoto, Norio Kayukawa, Hiroyuki Kato, Shiro Ogami
  • Patent number: 8876647
    Abstract: A reduction gear includes a sun pinion and planet pinions driven by the sun pinion and rolling on a fixed ring gear. The device includes an oil tank, an oil supply duct and oil routing ducts. The device also includes an oil ejection device at the end of the fixed supply duct, the orientation of which includes a radial component directed away from a common axis of rotation, and a cylindrical device for recovering the oil that can move in rotation about the common axis of rotation. The oil ejection device is linked by at least one duct to a lubrication device for the gear formed by the cooperation of the teeth of at least one planet pinion with an adjacent pinion. This device feeds the ducts which supply the oil to the parts to be lubricated, by virtue of the action of the centrifugal field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Francois Gallet, Boris Briantais, Jean-Pierre Serey, Alexandre Tan-Kim
  • Patent number: 8869940
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for supplying oil at different temperatures to different locations within a wind turbine gearbox, wherein oil is pumped from a common oil sump to the different locations via a common header. The different gear box locations are divided into at least two groups, wherein each of said groups receives inlet oil at a respective inlet oil temperature. A first temperature control device is disposed between the common header and the first group, and a second temperature control device is disposed between the common header and the second group of gearbox locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Bertram Johnson, Priyangu Chunilal Patel
  • Patent number: 8869941
    Abstract: An injection jet includes a body having a first and a second passage disposed therein for channeling a fluid to a working element. The first passage remains fluidly separated from the second passage. A system includes the injection jet along with a main reservoir and an emergency reservoir. The first passage is in fluid communication with the main reservoir, while the second passage is in fluid communication with the emergency reservoir. The system operates in a standard mode and an emergency mode. Both the first passage and the second passage are configured for jointly supplying fluid to the working element during standard mode. The second passage is configured for independently supplying fluid to the working element during emergency mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Poster
  • Patent number: 8863905
    Abstract: A transmission for a wheel loader includes a first oil accumulating part accumulating scattered lubricating oil and a second oil accumulating part accumulating the lubricating oil from the first oil accumulating part. The first oil accumulating part communicates with the second oil accumulating part through a communication oil path. Lubricating oil accumulated in the second oil accumulating part is directed to a lubricated part through a lubrication oil path when a rotary shaft is rotated at a rotational speed less than a predetermined rotational speed. The second oil accumulating part includes a shaft end space disposed at an end of the rotary shaft that accumulates the lubricating oil from the first oil accumulating part. A horizontal hole formed in a center part of the rotary shaft and extending axially allows the shaft end space and the vertical hole to communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyousuke Moriguchi, Hironori Torisu, Eiji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8858380
    Abstract: A speed reduction device includes front and rear stage speed reduction mechanisms. The speed reduction device includes a connecting shaft that connects the front stage speed reduction mechanism to the rear stage speed reduction mechanism; bearings that support the connecting shaft; an oil supply port that is formed on one side of front and rear stage sides of the bearings; and communication passages that make a receiving section, which is closer to the front stage speed reduction mechanism than the bearings in a casing of the speed reduction device, communicate with a receiving section, which is closer to the rear stage speed reduction mechanism than the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Ishizuka, Ikuko Nonoyama
  • Patent number: 8857149
    Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a fan rotatable about an axis, a compressor section, a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section, a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor, and a fan drive gear system including a carrier for supporting a plurality of gears. A torque frame is attached to the carrier. A plurality of connectors extends between the carrier and torque frame for securing the torque frame to the carrier. A scupper captures lubricant during gear operation and directing lubricant into a space between at least one of the plurality of connectors and at least one of the torque frame and the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Marc J. Muldoon
  • Patent number: 8840508
    Abstract: A planetary gear set with a planet stage revolving in a gear set housing has a planet carrier which is connected in particular to a rotor and has planet web cheeks which are connected to one another by means of webs, and a plurality of planet gears which are mounted in planet gear bearings, which are connected to the planet carrier, and are in engagement on one side with a sun gear and on the other side with a ring gear. The gear set housing is provided with an oil supply channel which is connected to at least one oil-guiding channel in the planet carrier. The lubrication of the meshing engagements is facilitated in the planetary gear set by providing dry sump lubrication. This is achieved in that at least one channel connected to the oil-guiding channel is embedded in each web, said channel being aligned with the meshing engagements between sun gear and planet gear and/or planet gear and ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ansgar Floren, Gerhard Bauer, Dirk Strasser
  • Patent number: 8840510
    Abstract: A speed reduction mechanism includes: a speed reduction unit that includes an input member formed of an external gear that makes circular motion about a rotation axis with an eccentric amount, and a rotation force applying member formed of an internal gear that is in mesh with the input member; and a lubricating oil supply unit that supplies lubricating oil to a bearing of the speed reduction unit. The lubricating oil supply unit includes an oil tank arranged outside of the rotation force applying member, an oil delivery passage that delivers the lubricating oil to the oil tank, and a first oil introduction passage that introduces the lubricating oil from the oil tank to the bearing. The lubricating oil is delivered to the oil delivery passage through pumping action of the input member based on the circular motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Keita Nomura, Kunihiko Suzuki, Tomoyoshi Takai
  • Patent number: 8840511
    Abstract: A vehicle drive device configured with an input member coupled to an internal combustion engine, a rotary electric machine, an output member coupled to wheels, and a power transfer mechanism that drivably couples the input member, the rotary electric machine, and the output member. An oil collecting portion is configured to collect oil supplied by rotation of the power transfer mechanism, The collected oil falling passage is configured to cause the oil collected by the oil collecting portion to flow downward to be supplied to a portion of a facing wall surface located above a cylindrical member. A communication oil passage communicates between the gap and the inside housing space is formed at a portion of abutment between the subject support bearing and the support projecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jiddosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masamitsu Seno, Hirotaka Yata, Natsuki Sada, Takuya Komatsu, Tomoo Atarashi, Michinobu Suzuki, Hiromichi Kimura, Michitaka Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 8840509
    Abstract: A fluid supply system is provided for cooling and lubricating a transmission of an automobile, which includes, but is not limited to a cooling channel for cooling the transmission and a lubrication channel for lubricating the transmission. The lubrication channel communicates with the cooling channel via a shift valve. The shift valve is adapted to provide at least a first valve status, by which the cooling channel is connected to the lubrication channel via only one first valve path, and a second valve status, by which the cooling channel is connected to the lubrication channel via at least the first valve path and by which the cooling channel is connected in addition via a second valve path to a bypass channel bypassing the lubrication channel. Since at least two different valve statuses optimized for low and high power are provided, it is possible to reduce unnecessary spin losses over the whole range of applied powers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Frederic Pignard
  • Patent number: 8833193
    Abstract: A gear unit, an oil scraping device being provided on the front of a rotatably supported gear wheel, in particular on a plane area of the front of a gear wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sew-Eurodrive GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dietmar Strauβ, Ingo Schütterle
  • Patent number: 8820479
    Abstract: Oil level maintenance system for a gearbox (3) in a wind turbine comprising an intermediate tank (7) for determining the inlets (8.1, 8.2) and outlets (9.1, 9.2) of connection between the multiplication stages (6) of the gearbox (3) in the wind turbine and the external tank (5) for oil destined for the gearbox (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Gamesa Innovation & Technology, S.L.
    Inventors: Patrick Saenz De Ugarte Sevilla, Jose Maria Zabala Zabala
  • Patent number: 8820478
    Abstract: A lubricating and cooling epicyclic stepdown gearing, for example in an aeroengine turbomachine, including a cylindrical casing mounted on a planet-carrier of the gearing and forming a centrifugal scoop surrounding stationary oil-delivery strips, the cylindrical casing including radial ducts feeding nozzles pointing towards zones where the planet gears mesh with outer ring(s) of the gearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Gerard Philippe Gauthier, Serge Rene Morreale
  • Patent number: 8813469
    Abstract: A lubricating system for lubricating components across a rotation gap has an input that provides lubricant to a stationary first bearing. The first bearing has an inner first race in which lubricant flows. A second bearing rotates within the first bearing and has a first opening in registration with the inner first race such that lubricant may flow from the inner first race through the first opening into a first conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: William G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 8813607
    Abstract: A gearbox includes an outer housing including manual rotation access passage and a manual rotation shaft coupled to a spool of an engine to rotate the engine spool. The gearbox also includes coupled to the outer housing that includes a flapper valve that, in a closed position, prevents a lubricant from escaping from the outer housing via the manual rotation access passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Blewett, Keith E. Short
  • Publication number: 20140231174
    Abstract: A vehicle drive device having a rotating electrical machine, a speed change mechanism, and a case that accommodates the rotating electrical machine speed change mechanism. A first oil storage portion is provided so as to communicate with the speed change mechanism accommodating space. A hydraulic pump that supplies the oil in the first oil storage portion to the speed change mechanism and the rotating electrical machine. A second oil storage portion provided so as to communicate with the rotating electrical machine accommodating space. A discharge oil passage discharges the oil in the second oil storage portion to the first oil storage portion. The discharge oil passage includes a first opening that opens toward the first oil storage portion, and the first opening is provided so that its lower end is located above an oil level in the first oil storage portion during rotation of the hydraulic pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mikio Iwase, Daiki Suyama, Naoya Jinnai, Tatsuya Okishima, Masahiro Izuhara, Kensuke Wada, Yukihiko Ideshio, Yuji Inoue
  • Patent number: 8807282
    Abstract: A lubricant system is disclosed, in particular for the supply of lubricant to a user in a gas turbine aircraft engine. The system includes a lubricant reservoir, where in the lubricant reservoir a lubricant can be set in rotation by at least one rotatable drum that is integrated into the lubricant reservoir or by at least one rotatable blade that is integrated into the lubricant reservoir, such that the lubricant, as a result of centrifugal force, comes into contact against a rotationally symmetrical wall of the lubricant reservoir, and from there can be transported toward a user. A drive system is included for the or each rotatable drum or the or each rotatable blade of the lubricant reservoir. At least one rotating lubricant separator is provided for the venting of the lubricant. The or each lubricant separator can be driven by the drive system of the or of each rotatable drum and/or of the or of each rotatable blade of the lubricant reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Streifinger
  • Patent number: 8800720
    Abstract: A lubrication system includes a control subsystem operable to selectively communicate lubricant from a reserve lubrication subsystem under a pressure to supplement lubricant from a main lubrication subsystem in response to identification of a prolonged reduced-G condition. A gas turbine engine includes a main lubrication subsystem in communication with a geared architecture; a reserve lubrication subsystem in communication with the geared architecture; and a control subsystem operable to selectively communicate lubricant from the reserve lubrication subsystem under a pressure in response to identification of a prolonged reduced-G condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: David L. Motto
  • Patent number: 8789656
    Abstract: A system for lubricating a remote bearing in rotating machinery is disclosed. An aerator is coupled on an end of a shaft distally from a gearbox and on a far side of an obstruction coupled to the shaft. Oil is carried centrifugally along an inner diameter wall of the shaft while air is carried along a central axis of the shaft. The aerator may include an axial groove for receiving oil from the inner diameter wall of the shaft. The aerator may further include a radial passage for carrying air into the oil to provide a misted lubricant that may be provided into the remote bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Robert Eccles, Davis Jensen
  • Patent number: 8790075
    Abstract: A support assembly for a geared architecture includes an engine static structure. A flex support is secured to the engine static structure and includes a bellow. A support structure is operatively secured to the flex support. A geared architecture is mounted to the support structure. First members are removably secured to one of the engine static structure and the flex support and second members are removably secured to the support structure. The first and second members are circumferentially aligned with one another and spaced apart from one another during a normal operating condition. The first and second members are configured to be engageable with one another during an extreme event to limit axial movement of the geared architecture relative to the engine static structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, Alessio Pescosolido
  • Patent number: 8776950
    Abstract: A transfer case arrangement may include a first output shaft, a second output shaft, a clutch, a shutdown device, a lubrication device, and a control. The clutch may distribute a torque between the output shafts. The shutdown device may shut down the second output shaft when the clutch is disengaged. The lubrication device may lubricate the clutch and/or another component of the transfer case arrangement. The lubrication device may include an oil conveying device for conveying lubrication oil. The control may activate the oil conveying device periodically when the second output shaft is shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: MAGNA Powertrain AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Johannes Quehenberger, Walter Hamal
  • Publication number: 20140174856
    Abstract: A lubrication device for a hybrid vehicle power transmission device including a gear member, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor within a transaxle case, the lubrication device includes: a first pipe supplying oil forcibly transferred from an oil pump to the second electric motor; an oil passage branched from the first pipe; a first catch tank supplied with oil from the oil passage; a second pipe connected to the first catch tank to supply oil accumulated in the first catch tank to the first electric motor; an oil flow outlet disposed in the first catch tank and located above the second pipe; and a second catch tank disposed vertically beneath the first catch tank to receive oil outflowing from the oil flow outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyonori TAKAGI, Hiroaki KIMURA, Makoto TOMITA, Norihide TSUKIASHI
  • Publication number: 20140166402
    Abstract: A lubricating device of an automatic transmission includes a partitioning member that partitions an oil chamber, to which a lubricating oil of a first oil chamber is introduced; a second oil chamber partitioned by the partitioning member and to which lubricating oil to supply to a forward clutch is introduced; and a third oil chamber partitioned by the partitioning member and to which lubricating oil to supply to a pinion unit such as a pinion gear coupled with one engagement unit of the forward clutch is introduced; wherein a clutch oil path that introduces the lubricating oil of the first oil chamber to the second oil chamber and a pinion oil path that introduces the lubricating oil of the first oil chamber to the third oil chamber are formed in a clutch drum interposed between the first oil chamber and the oil chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoaki Yanagida, Takaho Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20140161591
    Abstract: An aircraft engine having a fan or propeller stage mounted to a planetary gearing system through a planetary gearing output drive shaft is provided with a lubricant system having a seal with lubricant delivery chamber for receiving a lubricant and a sealing surface sealing against a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft has a hollow interior and an opening in registration with the delivery chamber. The lubricant system has a lubricant pump in fluidical communication with and downstream of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventor: Gideon Daniel VENTER
  • Patent number: 8746406
    Abstract: A transmission for a wheel loader includes first and second oil accumulating parts, a communication oil path, a horizontal hole and a vertical hole. The first oil accumulating part accumulates scattered lubricating oil. The second oil accumulating part is mounted to an end of an output shaft below the first oil accumulating part, and accumulates the lubricating oil from the first oil accumulating part. The communication oil path allows the first and second oil accumulating parts to communicate with each other. The horizontal hole extending axially is formed in the rotary shaft, and communicates with the second oil accumulating part. The vertical hole communicating with the horizontal hole is formed in the output shaft, and directs the lubricating oil accumulated in the second oil accumulating part to the lubricated part when the output shaft is rotated at a rotational speed lower than a predetermined rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyousuke Moriguchi, Hironori Torisu, Eiji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8746986
    Abstract: A spline lubrication apparatus is disclosed for lubricating a spline of a pump drive. The apparatus includes a housing and a rotatable spline which is disposed within the housing. The spline includes a shaft having a plurality of longitudinally extending splines. A gear is rotatably supported within the housing and includes a splined bore for the rotatable reception therein of the rotatable spline. An adapter is secured to the housing and defines a cavity for the rotatable reception therein of the splines and splined bore. A plurality of pockets are in fluid communication with the cavity such that when the splines and splined bore are rotating within the cavity, the flow of the lubricant within the cavity around the splines and splined bore is interrupted by the pockets. The arrangement is such that the flow of lubricant collects within the pockets and cascades onto the splines and splined bore for enhancing the lubrication thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel D Finocchio