With Lubricaton Patents (Class 475/159)
  • Patent number: 7481735
    Abstract: In the transmission, the drive motor is provided on an end of a housing, and a drive device is provided on an opposite end of the housing. An output shaft is provided at a predetermined position in the housing to receive power from the drive motor. A drive shaft is coaxially coupled to the output shaft, and a drive gear is provided at a predetermined position on the drive shaft. Furthermore, a driven gear engages with the drive gear, and a driven shaft is coaxially coupled to the driven gear and is parallel with the drive shaft. The braking device is coaxially coupled to an outer surface of a portion of the driven gear that faces the drive motor. A planetary gear assembly is provided on an outer surface of the driven shaft at a position adjacent to the drive device to transmit the power at reduced speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: SE II Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyoung Woo Moon
  • Publication number: 20090017954
    Abstract: A lubricating oil feeding device includes a carrier and a carrier cover that are attached to both ends of the pinion shaft of the planetary gear and that are arranged in an axial direction of an input shaft of the automatic transmission; an oil sump groove that opens in a peripheral direction and the axial direction of the input shaft, the oil sump groove is structured by a wall portion of the carrier cover formed radiating from a center of the input shaft, a base portion of the carrier cover that extends in an axial direction of the pinion shaft, and an end portion on an inner peripheral surface of a clutch hub that is connected with the base portion; and an oil passage that feeds lubricating oil from the oil sump groove to the pinion shaft, and provides the lubricating oil for the planetary gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Nishida, Hiroshi Kato, Masashi Kitou, Yuichi Seki
  • Publication number: 20080287243
    Abstract: The reducer contains a lubricant inside, which is at least partly flowable during the operation, the inside of the reducer being tightly sealed from the outside. The reducer includes a communicating part that communicates the inside and the outside of the reducer. The communicating part is blocked with a blocking member that has oil repellency, air permeability, and non-permeability to oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7442142
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a first brake including first clutch plates; a pump cover defining a first receiving chamber, and a second receiving chamber receiving a planetary gear; a first cylindrical portion including splines; a second cylindrical portion located radially inside the first cylindrical portion; a first cylinder chamber formed radially inside the first cylindrical portion; and a first piston including a first radially extending portion, and a second radially extending portion, the first piston being arranged to push the first clutch plates, by using the second radially extending portion, radially inside the first cylindrical portion. The automatic transmission further includes a lubricating oil supply hole located at a radial position which is between the first cylinder chamber and the first cylindrical portion, and which is separated from the first cylinder chamber in the radial direction; and a connection groove connecting the lubricating oil supply hole and the splines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Tetsurou Kitahara, Kohei Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20080245172
    Abstract: A wave reduction gear (5) is disposed inside a device case (2) of a rotating table device (1). Lubrication oil is sprayed from an oil supply channel (22), which is formed in the device case (2), toward an oil supply hole (22) formed in a cup-shaped flexible externally toothed gear (12). A wave bearing (19) disposed in the interior is lubricated via the oil supply hole (21). Lubricating oil that has entered into the flexible externally toothed gear (12) is forcibly suctioned to the exterior via an oil recovery channel (23) that is formed in the device case (2). Accordingly, it will be possible to prevent oil from being suctioned due to the negative pressure state in the interior of the flexible externally toothed gear accompanying the high-speed rotation, and regions of the wave bearing (19) can be reliably lubricated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Yoshihide Kiyosawa, Hiroki Hanaoka, Hiroshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7422536
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for cooling and lubricating a pinion bearing of an automatic transmission. The apparatus preferably includes a carrier assembly partially defining a centrifugal compensation oil reservoir. A pinion shaft is supported by the carrier assembly. The pinion shaft defines an internal channel in fluid communication with the oil reservoir. The apparatus of the present invention also includes a generally annular pinion gear member circumscribing at least a portion of the pinion shaft, and a pinion bearing disposed radially between the pinion shaft and the pinion gear member. The pinion bearing is adapted to facilitate rotation of the pinion gear member relative to the pinion shaft. The pinion bearing is aligned with the channel such that oil transferred therethrough is applied to the pinion bearing, and the pinion bearing is accordingly cooled and lubricated by the oil. A corresponding method for cooling and lubricating the pinion bearing is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin T. Grochowski, Paul D. Stevenson, Elizabeth I. Wooden
  • Patent number: 7416504
    Abstract: In an off-highway vehicle having an electric propulsion system which includes a motorized wheel, a traction motor and a transmission for transmitting power from the traction motor to the motorized wheel, wherein the transmission comprises a reduction stage, a low speed sun pinion defining a sun pinion cavity and a thrust washer, wherein the thrust washer includes a first surface portion movably associated with the low speed sun pinion via a thrust washer retainer and wherein the thrust washer is movably associated with the reduction stage via a lubrication plug is provided, wherein the lubrication plug includes a first plug portion having a radially extending portion movably associated with a second surface portion of the thrust washer and a second plug portion having a second plug portion structure which defines a plug cavity having a plug cavity inlet and at least one plug cavity outlet disposed adjacent at least a portion of the thrust washer, wherein the plug cavity inlet is disposed to communicate the su
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Inventor: Augusto Xavier Jurado
  • Patent number: 7404779
    Abstract: A planetary transmission which has a drive shaft, an axial bearing, an internal gear, an axially displaceable sliding collar and a lubrication circuit and an output shaft which is mounted the transmission housing by an external bearing and an internal bearing. The housing is provided with an oil intake (13) which is connected to an oil line (16) with the external bearing (5) of the output shaft, which is linked by an oil feeding circuit with the axial bearing (9) of the output shaft. The axial bearing (9) is connected with an interior gear bearing by an interior gear (17), the interior gear (17) is encapsulated through a wall section (18). An oil discharge (14) is connected with an oil pump located outside the planetary transmission which, on the other hand, is connected with the oil intake (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Harald Eckert
  • Patent number: 7399247
    Abstract: The present invention details a sleeve and bushing of an electromechanical automatic planetary transmission. The sleeve and bushing operate to confine the desired flow of transmission lubricant through the components of the planetary gear arrangement. Additionally, the sleeve and bushing assist in maintaining a sufficient pressure level in the cavity of the planetary carrier to enable the lubricant to reach the bearings of the pinion gear. Moreover, the radius or size of the bushing/sleeve arrangement can be adjusted to occupy the radial clearance or cavity between the sun gear and main shaft for an automatic transmission with axially separable splined sun gear and sun gear shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory W. Kempf, James A. Raszkowski
  • Patent number: 7399253
    Abstract: A washer and a planetary gear set having the same, wherein the washer includes a first washer member and a second washer member. The first washer member is formed at a surface thereof with a plurality of first stepped portions each having a radially extending concave structure. The second washer member has a plurality of second stepped portions each having a radially extending convex structure facing the first washer member. As the second stepped portions are inserted into the first stepped portions, respectively, a plurality of oil flow holes are defined between the first stepped portions and the second stepped portions, thereby allowing lubricating oil to pass through the washer in a radial direction. With this configuration, the washer ensures the smooth supply of lubricating oil regardless of the rotating direction of a pinion gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jim Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 7396308
    Abstract: A vehicular drive system including a first electric motor, a differential mechanism operable to distribute an output of a drive power source to the first electric motor and a power transmitting member, a second electric motor disposed in a power transmitting path between the power transmitting member and a drive wheel, and a power transmitting device disposed between the second electric motor and the drive wheel, wherein the first electric motor, the differential mechanism, the second electric motor and the power transmitting device are arranged in an axial direction of the vehicular drive system, the vehicular drive system being characterized by a support wall disposed between the second electric motor and the power transmitting device and arranged to support the second electric motor, and a first group of oil passages which are formed through the support wall and through which a lubricating oil is supplied to at least one of the first electric motor, the differential mechanism and the second electric motor,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Ryuji Ibaraki
  • Patent number: 7390277
    Abstract: The device includes a cover coupled to a first flange on the opposite side from an internally meshing planetary reduction gear part. The cover has a hole through which the input shaft of the reduction gear extends. An oil reservoir section is formed between the cover and the first flange. Oil seals are provided between the input shaft and the cover, and between the input shaft and a second flange, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Egawa
  • Patent number: 7384360
    Abstract: A thrust washer (9) for planet gears (6) of a planetary gearbox is provided that is made form a tempered, cold rolled strip having a flatness less than or equal to 0.03 mm, and a hardness ranging from 370 to 580 HV. The thrust washer (9) can be produced in a particularly cost effective manner by making it from an appropriate initial stock having the desired final properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Volker Ploetz, Wolfgang Fugel, Alexander Reimchen, Horst Engelhardt
  • Patent number: 7377870
    Abstract: A planetary gear lubrication unit includes a planetary gear unit having a sun gear and a carrier that has a plurality of pinion shafts, wherein each of the plurality of pinion shafts rotatably supports a pinion, a plurality of side plates that support the plurality of pinion shafts, and a rotating shaft arranged in a center portion of the planetary gear unit, in which lubrication oil supplied from the rotating shaft is led to a portion of the pinion shafts that support the pinions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Matsushita, Satoru Wakuta, Yoshio Kintou, Seigo Kano, Kazuhisa Ozaki, Kinya Yoshii, Masatoshi Adachi
  • Patent number: 7374507
    Abstract: A differential assembly includes a housing defining a space containing a volume of hydraulic fluid, the housing including interior surfaces. A gear that rotates in the housing includes surfaces that pass through the fluid as the gear rotates and on which the fluid is carried to the interior surfaces of the housing. A bearing located in the housing is supplied with fluid from a fluid path that hydraulically connects the interior surfaces and the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Rex Randall Corless, Gerald Stephen Szczepanski, William Riley
  • Publication number: 20080096714
    Abstract: A support shaft provides lubrication to a journal bearing during windmilling operation of a gear set. A primary oil pump provides oil from an oil supply during driven operation of the fan, and a secondary oil pump provides oil from an internal sump during windmilling operation of the fan. During driven operation of the fan, oil is pumped with the primary oil pump through a primary oil flow path to an outer surface of the support shaft. During windmilling fan operation, oil is pumped from an internal sump with a secondary oil pump through the secondary oil flow path. The secondary oil flow path has a smaller flow capacity, and the secondary oil pump is a smaller capacity pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Michael E. McCune
  • Patent number: 7357745
    Abstract: A travel working machine includes a traveling body 2 supported by traveling contrivances such as wheels 3, 4 and provided with an engine 5, a transmission case 8 mounted to the traveling body, and a hydraulic mechanical transmission mounted to the transmission case for changing speed of power from the engine by a combination of a planetary gearing 30 and a hydraulic transmission which includes a hydraulic pump 27 and a hydraulic motor 28 and transmitting the power to the traveling contrivances. A pump input shaft 34 for input to the hydraulic pump, a motor output shaft 35 for output from the motor and transmission gears 43, 45 provided at the respective shafts are arranged in the transmission case and above an oil level S of lubricating oil stored in a lower portion of the transmission case. Such an arrangement contributes to reducing power loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigemi Hidaka, Youichirou Nishi, Takeshi Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 7353733
    Abstract: A transmission apparatus for an automobile or the like includes: a transmission gear mechanism including, therein, a speed-reducing small gear at an axial one side of an intermediate shaft; a final driving mechanism including, therein, a speed-reducing large gear at an axial one side of an axle; a casing including: a first chamber; a second chamber; a first inner surface; a second inner surface; and a case rib; and a wall which is positioned between the first inner surface and the end surface of the speed-reducing large gear that faces the first inner surface; the wall including: a lower portion; and an edge portion, and the wall covering, at a short distance away, the end surface of the speed-reducing large gear that faces the first inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Aisin Ai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Yasuhisa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7322900
    Abstract: An oil feeding device which has an oil reserving portion 50 and first oil requiring portions 8, 62, 63, 67, 68, 72 and 76 provided in a moving object, and a first oil discharging portion 58 for feeding an oil reserved in the oil reserving portion 50 to the first oil requiring portions comprises: a regulating member 64 for regulating a relative movement of the oil discharged from the first oil discharging portion 58 and the first oil requiring portions in a moving direction of the moving object; a second oil discharging portion 57 for feeding the oil reserved in the oil reserving portion 50 to the first oil requiring portions. A discharging pressures of the oil at the first oil discharging portion 57 and the second oil discharging portion 58 are changed in accordance with the amount of the oil in the oil reserving portion 50. Therefore, the reduction of the amount of oil to be fed to the first oil requiring portions can be suppressed even when the speed of the moving object changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Ichioka, Hideto Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20080011115
    Abstract: A lubricating structure of a rotational shaft oil sealing portion includes a casing, a rotational shaft rotatably retained by the casing, an annular space defined between the casing and the rotational shaft, an annular oil seal retained by the casing at one axial end of the annular space and sealing a clearance between the casing and the rotational shaft, the annular oil seal defining an oil seal chamber at the other axial end of the annular space, an oil supply passage, an oil drain passage, and an oil groove formed at the inner peripheral wall of the casing by cutting away the inner peripheral wall into a crescent shape in a circumferential direction, the oil supply passage communicating with the oil groove at a circumferentially center portion of the oil groove, wherein pressurized lubricating oil is supplied to the oil groove via the oil supply passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicants: AISIN AI CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Wakabayashi, Shinji Kitaoka, Toru Inoue, Satoshi Munakata
  • Publication number: 20080004155
    Abstract: A synchronizing mechanism includes a synchronizer hub, a coupling sleeve, a clutch gear and a synchronizer ling. The synchronizer hub is fixedly coupled to a rotational shaft. The coupling sleeve is coupled to an outer circumference of the synchronizer hub with a spline engagement to slide with respect to the rotational shaft in an axial direction upon an operation of a shift fork. The clutch gear is rotatably supported on the rotational shaft. The synchronizer ring is configured and arranged to produce a synchronized load between the coupling sleeve and the clutch gear. The coupling sleeve includes a guide section configured and arranged to guide at least a portion of lubricating oil supplied from a shift fork engagement part of the coupling sleeve toward at least one of the clutch gear and the synchronizer ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: AICHI MACHINE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hironori Miyagoe
  • Publication number: 20070298925
    Abstract: A fluid passage structure includes a piston defining a piston chamber, a return spring to urge the piston in a direction decreasing a volume of the piston chamber, and a casing. The casing is formed with a fluid supply passage to supply a fluid pressure into the piston chamber. The supply passage includes an open end opening in the piston chamber and confronting the piston. The open end of the supply passage has an area so determined as to prevent the return spring from being deformed by kinetic energy of an operating fluid gushing into the piston chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Tetsurou KITAHARA, Kohei Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7311628
    Abstract: A planetary gear set for an automatic transmission of a vehicle includes a central shaft having a main lubrication path and a penetration hole connected with the main lubrication path, a sun gear, a pinion gear, a ring gear, a planet carrier, a first bearing disposed between a side of the sun gear and the planet carrier, a second bearing disposed between the planet carrier and the pinion gear, a clutch hub shaft, a sun gear lubrication path that connects the main lubrication path to the first bearing through the penetration hole, a pinion gear lubrication path that connects the main lubrication path to the second bearing through the penetration hole, and a sealing element disposed in a passageway connecting the pinion gear lubrication path and the sun gear lubrication path so as to close the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Young Sam Choi
  • Patent number: 7300377
    Abstract: A planetary transmission includes a plurality of planetary gearsets. The planetary gearsets have a lubrication system comprised of pinion pins secured in side plates and central passages located within the pinion pins. The central passages or cavities have radially outwardly disposed fluid passages, which supply fluid lubrication to support bearings for the pinion pins of the respective planetary gearsets. Lubrication fluid is communicated into the cavities when thrust loads are imposed on the planetary gearsets and the thrust bearings disposed between adjacent planetary gearsets reduces the flow area for the lubrication fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Coffey, Boris I. Burgman
  • Patent number: 7294090
    Abstract: A planetary gear device includes a housing having a chamber for receiving lubricating member and having an internal gear, a carrier rotatably received in the chamber of the housing and having an output shaft and having a number of openings for rotatably receiving planet pinions. The planet pinions are engaged with the internal gear of the housing, and each includes a bore for receiving an axle, and a number of rollers received between the planet pinion and the axle to act as a bearing device for smoothly attaching the planet pinions on the axles. The planet pinions each has one or two side portions each having one or more slots for filling the lubricating member into the bore of the planet pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Apex Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robin C. S. Chang
  • Patent number: 7276006
    Abstract: The invention provides a transmission case that includes a rear housing that partially encloses transmission components about a center axis. The rear housing sealingly connects to a main housing at one end and to a drive unit extension at another end. The rear housing has an axial passage generally parallel to the center axis and a cross passage that is substantially perpendicular to the axial passage. The cross passage is in fluid communication with the axial passage to allow draining of fluid within the drive unit extension to the main housing. A method of returning fluid to a transmission oil sump is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William S. Reed, Bert D. Love
  • Patent number: 7270620
    Abstract: A planetary gear carrier for a planetary gearset comprising a web for receiving planetary gear pins on which planetary gears of the planetary gearset are disposed, also comprises an oil baffle which axially abuts the web on the side of the web plate facing away from the planetary gears and forms a lubricating oil chamber in conjunction with the web for guiding an amount of lubricating oil into lubricating holes of the planetary gear pin. The web has a locking profile for a positive connection between the planetary gear carrier and a gearbox component, which is axially adjacent to the planetary gear carrier on the side of the web facing away from the planetary gears. The oil baffle comprises a device for axially securing the gear component abutting the planetary gear carrier to the locking profile of the web in a mounted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Peter Tiesler, Eberhard Biermann
  • Patent number: 7252615
    Abstract: This invention details a lubrication system for an automatic transmission, specifically the bearings of the planetary pinion gears. The planetary carriers have grooves formed in spider and flange sections thereof to carry the lubricating material from the inner diameter of the planetary carrier to the inner diameter of each pinion gear bearing mounted in the planetary carrier. The invention further includes two thrust washers that are assembled on opposing sides of each pinion gear that have axially and radially extending slots that further carry the oil between the inner diameter of the planetary carrier and the outer diameter of the planetary carrier. Lastly, the invention discloses a method for lubricating the pinion gears of the planetary carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, Daimler Chrysler AG, Daimler Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory W. Kempf
  • Patent number: 7247112
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently cooling and lubricating rotating components in a hybrid transmission is provided. By efficiently managing cooling flow to and between the rotating elements, flow requirements and associated pumping requirements within the drive unit are minimized. In addition, by providing a method for placing the fluid directly on the required components, spin losses associated with component contact with stray oil are reduced. Combined, the reduction in pumping and spin losses create a more efficient drive unit and an overall more efficient hybrid drive system which directly leads to higher fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., DaimlerChrysler AG, DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Foster, James A. Raszkowski, Gregory W. Kempf
  • Patent number: 7228928
    Abstract: An in-wheel motor includes a motor, a shaft, an oil pump and oil paths. The oil pump is provided on one end of the shaft. The motor includes a stator core, stator coils and a rotor. The oil pump pumps up an oil from an oil reservoir via an oil path to supply the pumped-up oil to another oil path. The another oil path supplies the oil from the oil pump to the outer periphery of the stator core of the motor from an opening end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryóji Mizutani, Yasuji Taketsuna, Yuki Tojima, Atsushi Torii, Shigetaka Isogai
  • Patent number: 7220208
    Abstract: An arrangement for lubrication of a gear including a first gearwheel (402, 602, 702) in engagement with a second gearwheel (404), the teeth of the first gearwheel having an axial extent longer than the entire axial extent of the teeth of the second gearwheel. A first tooth surface of the first gearwheel is in engagement with the teeth of the second gearwheel. A second tooth surface of the first gearwheel (402, 602, 702) constitutes a part in a spline joint together with corresponding internal teeth of a gear element (423, 623, 723, 823). A lubricant duct (429, 629, 729, 829) is arranged so as to conduct lubricant to the first tooth surface. The lubricant duct (429, 629, 729, 829) consists of a space between a tooth tip and a corresponding tooth root in the spline joint. The gear element (423, 623, 723, 823) consists of a coupling ring. The first gearwheel (402, 602, 702) consists of a sun wheel. Both the coupling ring and the sun wheel form part of a range gearbox with planetary gear stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Anders Hedman
  • Patent number: 7214157
    Abstract: A gear unit includes a planet gear rotatable about a sun gear and supported by a planet carrier, the planet carrier including an annular formation for flow of lubricant and which is substantially concentric with the major axis about which the planet carrier is rotatable, and the gear unit including a housing having at least one lubricant supply position provided at a position radially aligned with the annular formation of the planet carrier as considered relative to the major axis about which the planet carrier rotates, and the planet carrier including flow paths for flow of lubricant from the annular formation to a planet gear bearing. The invention also discloses a method of lubricating a gear unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Hansen Transmissiosn International N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Flamang, Warren Smook
  • Patent number: 7189183
    Abstract: Stop disks (9, 12) that on both sides delimit planet wheels (6) and that are provided on at least two evenly spaced-apart peripheral positions with inner axial passages (9.2, 12.2) that are linked with their respective location bores (9.1, 12.2) via respective constrictions (9.2.1, 12.2.1) and between the inner axial passages (9.2, 12.2), outer axial passages 99.3, 12.3) are disposed off-set outward in the radial direction, and the inner axial passages (9.2, 12.2), when looked at in the radial direction, are disposed in the area of the rolling bodies (11.1) and the outer axial passages (0.3, 12.3) cover at least a part of the front of the planet wheels (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: INA Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fugel, Alexander Reimchen
  • Patent number: 7186198
    Abstract: An improved transaxle having space along an input shaft so that transmission fluid can flow along such input shaft. The input shaft is splined to a forward drum. In order for transmission fluid to be able to pass the splines of the input shaft and the mating splines of the forward drum, either one or more splines or one or more mating splines are removed. Some of each may also be eliminated. The structural integrity of the input shaft is maintained by having the splines radiate from the surface of the input shaft. Optionally, a bushing and tubes facilitate the movement of transmission fluid from the surface of the input shaft, to a cooler, and back to the surface of the input shaft. Furthermore, a variety of construction techniques are employed for, inter alia, further strengthening the improved transaxle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventors: Efrain A. Selva, Jr., Paul R. Brock
  • Patent number: 7163482
    Abstract: Antifoam compositions for functional fluids contain antifoam agents comprising perfluoropolyether compounds (PFPE). An automatic transmission fluid is provided containing the antifoam composition in a lubricating base oil, along with conventional additives such as antiwear agents. Automobile transmissions are provided that contain an automatic transmission fluid containing the new antifoam compositions. In a further embodiment, methods are provided for reducing foam in an engine oil or unwanted noise in an automobile transmission during operation, comprising lubricating the engine or transmission with a lubricating fluid containing the antifoam compositions of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Reuben Sarkar, Brent D. Calcut, Thomas J. Chapaton, Marie-Christine G. Jones
  • Patent number: 7097582
    Abstract: A planetary transmission with a planetary gearset (RS1), having a satellite carrier with planetary gearwheels (11, 14), mounted bolts (12, 15) attached to the satellite carrier. The satellite carrier comprises a web plate (17) via which lubricant is fed to the planetary gearwheels (11, 14) through lubricant bores in the bolts (12, 15) of the planetary gearwheels (11, 14). A structural element adjacent to the web plate (17) has no rotation speed relative to the web plate (17). A static-seal element (18) is arranged between the web plate (17) and the structural element adjacent to the web plate (17) above the bolts (12, 15) so that a lubricant chamber (109) is formed between the web plate (17) and the structural element adjacent to the web plate (17). Lubricant flows into this chamber (109), accumulates therein, and passes from the chamber (109) into the lubricant bores of the bolts (12, 15) of the planetary gearwheels (11, 14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gert Bauknecht, Peter Ziemer
  • Patent number: 7025704
    Abstract: In a planetary gear unit for an automatic transmission, notches that are longer than the diameter of a pinion are formed in a brake hub that is integral with a carrier cover. Lubricating oil holes are formed in the carrier cover so as to extend from the inner cylindrical surface thereof to the respective notches. The pinion is inserted through one of these notches for mounting between the carrier cover and the carrier body integrated therewith. Oil flowing from the lubricating oil holes lubricates pinion support surfaces and the like and is then supplied through the notches to a reverse brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Yasuda, Akihiko Kita
  • Patent number: 7025701
    Abstract: A power transfer device includes a casing, a lubricant reservoir in the casing having lubricant therein, and a shaft rotatably supported in the casing. The shaft extends into the lubricant reservoir. A lubricant driving structure is coupled to the shaft for common rotation. The lubricant driving structure includes at least one helically shaped member that extends longitudinally along and circumferentially about the shaft. The at least one helically shaped member is located in the lubricant reservoir. Rotation of the at least one helically shaped member drives the lubricant axially along the shaft and away from the lubricant reservoir. According to other features, an oil propeller wheel is mounted around a shaft in the power transfer device for rotation therewith. The oil propeller wheel communicates with the lubrication in the lubricant reservoir and is operable to direct the lubricant from the lubricant reservoir axially along the shaft toward the differential assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Yugang Cui, Theodore M. Joslin
  • Patent number: 7022039
    Abstract: A planetary transmission includes a first gear set including a first sun gear and at least one first planetary gear in meshing arrangement with the first sun gear, a second gear set including a second sun gear and at least one second planetary gear in meshing arrangement with the second sun gear, a casing surrounding the first gear set and the second gear set, a first thrust washer between the first sun gear and the second sun gear, a second thrust washer between the second sun gear and the casing, and a lubrication system. The lubrication system comprises a passageway extending through the casing and placing a hollow interior of the second sun gear in fluid communication with a mesh point between teeth of the second sun gear and teeth of the at least one second planetary gear, such that when oil is forced from the mesh point the oil travels through the passageway, into the hollow interior of the second sun gear, and into contact with the first and second thrust washers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Komatsu America Corp.
    Inventors: Nobuki Hasegawa, Danny L. Hillman
  • Patent number: 7004871
    Abstract: An automatic transmission apparatus comprising, a first member rotating integrally with an input shaft and including a first cylindrical portion having an inner spline at an inner peripheral surface, a second member including a second cylindrical portion having an outer spline for engaging with the inner spline of the first member and a depressed portion formed on the second member and a clearance, which establishes a communication between an inner portion surrounded by the first and the second members and an outer portion of the first and the second members, is formed between the depressed portion of the second member and the inner surface of the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoya Tanikawa
  • Patent number: 6991574
    Abstract: A drive axle assembly includes an input operably coupled to a power source. The input drives first and second axle shafts, which in turn drive laterally spaced wheel ends. Each wheel end includes a gear set that is driven by one of the axle shafts. The axle shafts are enclosed within a center axle housing and the gear sets are enclosed within gear housings. The drive axle includes a pumping mechanism that maintains predetermined oil levels within the center axle housing and gear housings. The oil level in the center axle housing is lower than the oil level in the gear housing. The pumping mechanism includes an impeller that is mounted for rotation with the axle shaft. The impeller draws oil from the center axle housing into a cavity, which transfers the oil to the gear housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Robert James Martin, III
  • Patent number: 6968934
    Abstract: A lubricating structure of a friction engaging device including a rotating drum which is a cylindrical rotating body, around a perimeter of which there is provided a friction member, and which is engaged with/disengaged from a predetermined coupling member via the friction member; and a ring gear which is spline-coupled to an inner surface of the rotating drum and which is positioned while contacting an inward flange that is integrally provided with the rotating drum. In the lubricating structure, a centrifugal oil passage which is formed between the ring gear and the inward flange, and which introduces lubricating oil inside the rotating drum to a spline-coupled portion of the ring gear and the rotating drum by centrifugal force, and a plurality of through holes which are formed in the rotating drum and through which the lubricating oil, that has flowed into the spline-coupled portion, flows to an outside of the rotating drum where the friction member is provided are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihiro Yamamura, Yuji Yasuda, Hirofumi Onishi
  • Patent number: 6945896
    Abstract: An auxiliary transmission (31) with controllable clutch (2) is described for the optional distribution of a drive output torque to one or more drive output shafts with a reduction gear stage (3) and with a hydraulic pump (14). The hydraulic pump (14) is arranged on a transmission input shaft (4) and the reduction gear stage (3) is connected in series in such manner that the drive input power to the hydraulic pump (14) remains at least approximately the same when a range change takes place in the reduction gear stage (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christoph Pelchen, Ünal Gazyakan, Barbara Schmohl
  • Patent number: 6938512
    Abstract: A lubricating system for an automatic transmission including at least one planetary gear set and plural friction engagement elements includes an oil pump which pumps oil to generate oil pressure in response to activation of a driving power source and an introducing passage which is provided at a planetary carrier of the at least one planetary gear set, receives the oil from the oil pump and directs the oil for purposes of lubrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoya Tanikawa
  • Patent number: 6890280
    Abstract: An automatic power transmission to which a lubricating device of the invention is applied is of a type which has an operation mode wherein when, under rotation of an input shaft, a pinion carrier is prevented from making a revolution, pinions carried by the pinion carrier are rotated. The lubricating device comprises a first oil passage formed in a fixed wall of the transmission and connected with an oil supply source; a second oil passage formed in the input shaft, the input shaft being rotatably held by the fixed wall; a third oil passage formed in the pinion carrier to feed the pinions with the lubrication oil, the pinion carrier being concentrically disposed around an axis of the input shaft; a first connection passage connecting the first and second oil passages; and a second connection passage connecting the first and third oil passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Oshidari, Masaki Nakano, Yasuo Takagi
  • Patent number: 6846261
    Abstract: A planetary gearset includes a sun gear member having a sun gear body made of a steel material and an outer periphery with a plurality of teeth formed thereon. Each of the sun gear teeth has at least one mating surface for engaging mating surfaces on complementary teeth on at least one planet gear. A fatigue-resistant coating is applied to the mating surfaces of the sun gear teeth. The coating is harder and more abrasive than the mating surfaces of the planet gear teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Leonid Charles Lev, Yang-Tse Cheng, Neil E Anderson, Anita Miriam Weiner, Robert F. Paluch
  • Publication number: 20040248688
    Abstract: In the oscillating internal-meshing planetary gear system of the present invention, a space formed between a external gear (52) and a internal gear (8) is filled up with a grease (14), which contains base oil whose kinetic viscosity is equal to or higher than 10 mm2/s at 100° C. and lithium complex thickener synthesized from adipic acid. Such construction of the oscillating internal-meshing planetary gear system of the present invention provides a power transmission system using a trochoidal tooth profile gear and a circular-arc tooth profile gear that enables to realize a long life and keeping a high efficiency, even without applying grease containing sodium nitrite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Masahiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 6826981
    Abstract: A differential for racing cars that travel in a given direction around a closed circular or oval track, including an overrunning clutch arrangement for disengaging from the drive train of the differential an outside wheel shaft that overruns the inside wheel shaft during a turn by a given amount, and a locking device for continuously locking the inside wheel shaft to the differential drive train. Preferably, the locking device comprises a locking gear that is non-rotatably splined to the inside wheel shaft and that has pinion teeth that are in continuous engagement with the central drive member of the differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Tractech Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Kress
  • Patent number: 6817962
    Abstract: A planetary gear mechanism which includes a sun gear having an introduction passage and a communication passage for communicating the introduction passage and an outside of the sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of pinion gears geared with the sun gear and the ring gear, a plurality of pinion pins rotatable relative to the pinion gears, a carrier having a penetration bore inserted with the pinion pin for supporting the pinion pins so that the pinion gears rotate about the sun gear, a washer provided between the pinion gear and the carrier being inserted with the pinion pin, a slit formed on the carrier formed radially inward relative to the penetration bore, the slit being formed facing the washer, a restriction portion formed on the washer, and an extension portion formed on the washer and extended radially inward relative to a tooth flank of the pinion gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoya Tanikawa
  • Publication number: 20040204281
    Abstract: In a transmission-fluid cooling system of an automatic transmission of an automotive vehicle equipped with a water-cooled oil cooler and an air-cooled oil cooler connected in series to each other, a first bypass valve is provided to permit working fluid to circulate therevia through oil passages in the transmission, bypassing the water-cooled oil cooler and the air-cooled oil cooler, only when a working-fluid temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature and the line pressure is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure. Also provided is a second bypass valve that opens to permit the working fluid to circulate via the water-cooled oil cooler and the second bypass valve through the oil passages in the transmission, bypassing only the air-cooled oil cooler, only when the working-fluid temperature is less than or equal to a preset temperature value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: JATCO Ltd
    Inventor: Hideshi Wakayama