Lubrication Patents (Class 74/467)
  • Patent number: 7357237
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clutch transmission and a method of operating the same. The clutch transmission has a transmission element that is accommodated in a transmission chamber, a clutch element accommodated in a clutch chamber, and a hydraulic controller comprising an oil pump. The purpose is to provide pressures and volume flows in the clutch transmission, in which, in order to cool the clutch element, the oil pump sucks in oil and pumps it into the clutch chamber. In order to reduce churning losses in the transmission chamber to prevent air from being sucked in by the oil pump, an intake chamber is operatively connected to an oil outlet of the clutch chamber in order to receive the oil that leaves the clutch chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Getrag Ford Transmissions GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Hegerath
  • Publication number: 20080041179
    Abstract: In an automatic transmission having an air breather chamber for separating oil and air, entering the air breather chamber as oil bubbles, a shielding rib is located below an air-breather opening serving as an inlet-and-return port, for preventing oil, stored in a transmission casing assembly and splashed by rotary motion of a transmission rotating component part, from directly reaching the air-breather opening. An upside of the shielding rib is configured to be inclined downwardly with respect to a horizontal line in such a manner as to be oriented toward the transmission rotating component part, for receiving oil dripping through the air-breather opening with the upside of the shielding rib and for rapidly delivering the received oil toward the transmission rotating component part, using the inclined upside of the shielding rib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Kenjiro YASUI, Naoto Satou
  • Patent number: 7331423
    Abstract: An oil supply system for a transmission includes a transmission casing; a transmission shaft disposed in the transmission casing; a plurality of gears relatively rotatably fitted on the transmission shaft; an oil passage axially formed in the transmission shaft; a trough portion formed on an inside wall of the transmission casing so as to receive oil splashed from the gears; and a connection passage formed in a side wall of the transmission casing and extending downwardly from the trough portion to the oil passage. The oil passage is opened at outer peripheral portions of the transmission shaft adjacent to the gears, and opened at one axial end of the transmission shaft. The trough portion is disposed above the transmission shaft and is extended axially along the transmission shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Inoue, Toshiyuki Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20080022801
    Abstract: A lubrication system for driving force distributing and transmitting apparatus includes a case reserving lubrication fluid in a space provided at a bottom portion thereof, a rotational shaft rotationally supported by the case, a first oil seal provided between the case and the rotational shaft, an oil pump actuated by rotation of the rotational shaft, a lubrication fluid introducing passage directly supplying the pressurized lubrication fluid outputted by the oil pump to the first oil seal, and a lubrication fluid leading passage supplying the lubrication fluid pushed out via the first oil seal to a component to be lubricated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicants: AISIN AI Co., Ltd., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji KITAOKA, Toru Inoue, Yukio Ueda, Satoshi Munakata
  • 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: 20080016975
    Abstract: A power transmission system for a vehicle is provided, including: a housing that can reserve oil therein; and a rotational member rotatably supported within the housing, with a surface of the rotational member being partly contactable with a surface of the oil reserved in the housing, in which the surface of the rotational member partly contactable with the oil surface includes a non-contact surface that is not in contact with any power transmission members, the non-contact surface having an oil repellent section. When the surface of the rotational member contacts the oil surface, the oil repellent section repels the oil quickly. Therefore, the amount of oil, which adheres to and rotates with the rotational member agitating the oil, decreases. This reduces oil heat generation and rotational resistance to the rotational member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuaki Nakamura, Kazuyuki Watanabe, Takeshi Ishiwada
  • 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
  • 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: 7210522
    Abstract: The invention constitutes an arrangement for cooling a vehicle component, for example a transmission, disposed adjacent to an engine, which arrangement includes a cooling circuit designed to feed a coolant through the transmission and including a line for coolant to the transmission and a line for coolant to the transmission. According to the invention, the cooling circuit is also designed to cool the engine and includes a further line for feeding the coolant to the engine, and the cooling circuit includes a flow control valve for controlling the coolant in the cooling circuit such that the flow of coolant to the vehicle component is lower than the flow to the engine. As a result of the invention, an improved arrangement is obtained for cooling, for example, a transmission, for example in heavy goods vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Marian Gruian
  • Patent number: 7189178
    Abstract: An axle assembly including a differential gear set having a ring gear. The axle assembly includes a carrier assembly housing that contains the differential gear set and an arcuate fence disposed adjacent to the ring gear that connects to the carrier assembly housing. A moveable plate slidingly connects to the arcuate fence. The moveable plate has an open position, a closed position and a plurality of positions therebetween. The closed position is closer to the ring gear than the open position. The arcuate fence and/or the moveable plate may reduce churning of the lubrication to increase the cooling efficacy of the lubrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank C. Weith
  • Patent number: 7155996
    Abstract: By blocking off a partial passage opening in a lubricating oil supply passage of a transmission gear mechanism by attaching a transmission holder, an operation to block off the passage opening is omitted. Supply of lubricating oil to a main shaft and a counter shaft of a transmission gear mechanism is carried out using branched passages from a main gallery, and the branched passage constitutes a lubricating oil supply passage to the main shaft while the branched passage constitutes a lubricating oil supply passage to the counter shaft. A partial passage opening of the branched passage is then blocked up at the time of attaching a transmission holder to the transmission case, and in this way a lubricating oil supply passage to the counter shaft is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawakubo, Toru Gunji
  • Patent number: 7028571
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for lubricating an internal-combustion engine includes a shaft extending through a gearbox, a gear and a sliding sleeve coupled to rotate with the shaft and adapted to move axially along the shaft, a gearshift fork in mating engagement with the sliding sleeve and moveable parallel to the shaft, a rib in the gearbox adjacent the shaft, and a duct extending into the gearbox. The duct preferably directs a lubricant onto the gearshift fork and the sliding sleeve. Preferably, the rib directs the lubricant from the duct onto the gearshift fork and the sliding sleeve. In an alternative embodiment, at least some of the lubricant flung from the shaft, gear, and sliding sleeve contacts the rib and is directed onto the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork. Further preferably, a projection extends from the rib to direct the lubricant onto the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Harley Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Fegg
  • 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: 6991065
    Abstract: To lubricate a length of track, a plurality of lubricating nozzles are provided. Each nozzle is fed by the output of a single positive displacement pump, and all the pumps are controlled by a computer. Vibration sensors, sound sensors, or L/V ratio sensors detect physical qualities which occur as a train passes a given point, and another detector measures the time between successive wheels on the truck of a car as it passes a given point to measure train speed. The computer compares the output readings measured by the detector to a table of outputs in its memory that are indicative of a lubricated track to determine if lubrication is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventors: Carlton L. Leslie, Kevin Kostelny-Vogts
  • Patent number: 6948606
    Abstract: A transmission has an oil drain passage for connecting an oil reservoir with a mission case in a pump casing. The automatic transmission has also a retainer serving as a shielding member to shield between a discharge opening of the oil drain passage from at least part of a multistage transmission mechanism. This ensures that breather oil blow, which is caused by the spattering and stirring of operating oil by the high-speed drum member, is shielded from at least part of the transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ida, Nobukazu Ike, Satoru Kasuya, Masaaki Nishida, Masahiro Hayabuchi, Mitsutaka Okuno
  • 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: 6936933
    Abstract: Arrangement for providing an integrated starter generator apparatus for producing electrical power and/or rotational torque. The apparatus includes a primary rotor (18) arranged for cooperation with a primary stator (16), and a secondary rotor (20) arranged for cooperation with a secondary stator (17). A one-way clutch (19) is disposed between the primary rotor (18) and the secondary rotor (20) that permits both rotors to be locked together in one direction of rotation, and that allows them to operate independently in the opposite direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Melvyn Wilmore
  • Patent number: 6910398
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for lubricating an internal-combustion engine includes a shaft extending through a gearbox, a gear and a sliding sleeve coupled to rotate with the shaft and adapted to move axially along the shaft, a gearshift fork in mating engagement with the sliding sleeve and moveable parallel to the shaft, a rib in the gearbox adjacent the shaft, and a duct extending into the gearbox. The duct preferably directs a lubricant onto the gearshift fork and the sliding sleeve. Preferably, the rib directs the lubricant from the duct onto the gearshift fork and the sliding sleeve. In an alternative embodiment, at least some of the lubricant flung from the shaft, gear, and sliding sleeve contacts the rib and is directed onto the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork. Further preferably, a projection extends from the rib to direct the lubricant onto the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Fegg
  • Patent number: 6830527
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventor: Hideshi Wakayama
  • Patent number: 6830096
    Abstract: An apparatus to regulate and control the temperature of an axle assembly for a vehicle. A heat pipe is inserted though the axle housing cover, the heat pipe travels the length of the cover. Near the lower region of the carrier and beneath the lubricating fluid level, the heat pipe bends to continue in the horizontal direction. Disposed about the terminal end of the heat pipe below the lubricating fluid line are a series of cooling fins. Heat generated within the lubricating fluid that is heated during operation conduit is dissipated via the cooling fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Torque-Traction Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Fett, Timothy William Runstadler, David Allen Krueger, Michael L. Dougherty
  • Publication number: 20040206198
    Abstract: A gearbox having an oil pump driving arrangement therein is described, the arrangement comprising: oil pump means adapted for pumping oil by rotation of at least a part of said oil pump about an axis; said part being operably connected for rotation to reverse idler gear means whereby rotation of said idler gear means causes said oil pump means to pump oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Dave Coxon, Martin Irving
  • Patent number: 6781797
    Abstract: A motor is disclosed comprising a motor case and a rotating shaft for the motor having a portion within the motor case and a portion extending outside of the motor case. A feed screw is formed on the extending portion of the rotating shaft. The feed screw threadedly engages with a moving body which moves back and forth along an axial direction of the rotating shaft. The feed screw has a threaded portion, a top portion of this threaded portion being provided with a concavity to store lubricating oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Sankyo Seiki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Mutai, Yoshiaki Koshida
  • Publication number: 20040147361
    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: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Takashi Yasuda, Akihiko Kita
  • Patent number: 6732606
    Abstract: An optimally finished gear has a surface roughness between approximately 5 micro-inches Ra to 10 micro-inches Ra. The reduced surface roughness, when located at the gear teeth, can reduce the maximum contact stress by more than fifty percent. Similarly, the subsurface shear stress can be reduced by approximately thirty percent. The reduced contact stress and reduced shear stress results from improved lubrication conditions between the gear teeth. Surface roughness greater than 10 micro-inches Ra results in increased contact of the surface peaks, while surface roughness lower than 3 micro-inches is too smooth to retain adequate lubrication between the gear teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Zhu, Michael Bujold, Patrick Watts
  • Patent number: 6729206
    Abstract: The level of quietness for an automatic transmission case is ensured by preventing vibration by improving the rigidity while suppressing the increase in the mass of a transmission case. In an automatic transmission case in which a valve body is attached to a case wall that covers the transmission mechanism, the rigidity of the automatic transmission case is increased by providing, in the case, an enclosing wall that projects out from the case wall and encloses the periphery of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayabuchi, Masaaki Nishida, Satoru Kasuya, Nobukazu Ike
  • Patent number: 6668978
    Abstract: The invention concerns an oil supply system for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having one hydrodynamic starting element. It has one oil pump (2) to convey oil to a variator (9, 10) and/or to shifting elements (12, 13), to a converter unit (19) that can be supplied with oil via two oil lines (23, 25), especially a hydrodynamic torque converter (20) having a converter lock-up clutch (21), and to a lubrication device (28), the same as at least one filter device (3, 31) and one oil cooling device (17). Here are provided one prioritized primary circuit (6) with a main pressure adjusted by a main pressure valve (3) for pressure supply of the variator (9, 10) and/or of the shifting elements (12, 13) and a secondary circuit (7) for oil supply of the lubrication device (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Batavia L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bernd Fessler, Friedrich Reiter
  • Publication number: 20030196510
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for lubricating an internal-combustion engine includes a shaft extending through a gearbox, a gear and a sliding sleeve coupled to rotate with the shaft and adapted to move axially along the shaft, a gearshift fork in mating engagement with the sliding sleeve and moveable parallel to the shaft, a rib in the gearbox adjacent the shaft, and a duct extending into the gearbox. The duct preferably directs a lubricant onto the gearshift fork and the sliding sleeve. Preferably, the rib directs the lubricant from the duct onto the gearshift fork and the sliding sleeve. In an alternative embodiment, at least some of the lubricant flung from the shaft, gear, and sliding sleeve contacts the rib and is directed onto the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork. Further preferably, a projection extends from the rib to direct the lubricant onto the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Fegg
  • Patent number: 6634246
    Abstract: A recirculating-ball nut and screw set mounted with a lubrication device effective in improving the sliding characteristic and also realizing maintenance-free lubrication. The lubrication device is mainly comprised of a lubricating plate accommodated in a holder attached to a ball nut. The lubricating plate is made with a tongue that will come into sliding engagement with a helical groove formed around a screw shaft. The lubricating plate is made of a sintered resinous component of porous structure in which cells are impregnated with lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasumasa Ohya, Toyohisa Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6616432
    Abstract: A fluid pump cowling for attachment to at least a pair of helical drivetrain gears having teeth and lands. The cowling has a pair of sidewalls adapted to extend at least partially over the lands of a first of the pair of drivetrain gears and a curved sump wall extending between the sidewalls that corresponds generally to the outermost circumference of the first gear. A sump channel is defined between the sidewalls on the sump wall adjacent a distal end of the sump wall. The sump channel has a generally frustoconical shape and leads to a fluid outlet opening defined in one of the sidewalls. The cowling is positioned such that the teeth of the pair of helical gears mesh in an area in fluid communication with the sump channel to create an area of high fluid pressure upon rotational movement of the gears with a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald S. Szczepanski, Jonathan M. Adler
  • Patent number: 6604608
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for lubricating an internal-combustion engine includes a shaft extending through a gearbox, a gear and a sliding sleeve coupled to rotate with the shaft and adapted to move axially along the shaft, a gearshift fork in mating engagement with the sliding sleeve and moveable parallel to the shaft, a rib in the gearbox adjacent the shaft, and a duct extending into the gearbox. The duct preferably directs a lubricant onto the gearshift fork and the sliding sleeve. Preferably, the rib directs the lubricant from the duct onto the gearshift fork and the sliding sleeve. In an alternative embodiment, at least some of the lubricant flung from the shaft, gear, and sliding sleeve contacts the rib and is directed onto the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork. Further preferably, a projection extends from the rib to direct the lubricant onto the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Harley Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Fegg
  • Patent number: 6568508
    Abstract: A ball screw and nut linear actuator incorporates an axially extending screw and a nut received on the screw to provide a helical raceway with recirculating load bearing balls. An axially extending member carried by the nut on a surface of the nut radially outboard of the raceway has ball return passages opening to the screws groove extending axially to span different turns of the screw groove. The ports lead to the ball return passages and are supplied with a liquid lubricant by a distributor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Thomson Saginaw Ball Screw Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Ryan B. West, David A. Lange, John E. Kinney
  • Patent number: 6516789
    Abstract: A centrifugal supercharger includes a case presenting a compressor chamber and a transmission chamber. An impeller in the compressor chamber is mounted to a shaft that extends into the transmission chamber. The impeller shaft is drivingly connected to a power input shaft by intermeshing gears provided on the shafts. A portion of the transmission chamber defines a fluid reservoir in which lubrication fluid is held. The intermeshing gears, as well as the bearing assemblies supporting the shafts, are located outside the fluid reservoir portion of the transmission chamber. A rotatable fluid-propelling element partly submerged in the lubrication fluid contained within the reservoir portion ensures that sufficient but not excessive lubrication fluid is supplied to the intermeshing gears and the bearing assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Accessible Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel W. Jones
  • Publication number: 20020189396
    Abstract: A cane harvester base cutter assembly includes a gearbox provided with an upper horizontal section that joins a pair of transversely spaced cylindrical wells. Each well has a bottom wall in which an upper drive shaft section of a base cutter leg is mounted for rotation. Each shaft section is received in a collar which is press fit into a hole in the associated well bottom wall and a seal is mounted on the shaft for preventing leakage along the interface between the shaft section and the sleeve. Ferric contaminants are prevented from falling onto the seals by ring-shaped contaminant collectors, including magnets, that are respectively mounted for rotation with the shafts at locations directly above the seals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation
    Inventor: Michael Lynn Hinds
  • Patent number: 6474444
    Abstract: A lubricating structure for an automatic transmission includes a dam defining an oil reservoir for storing a lubricating oil and lubricating a taper roller bearing. The oil reservoir is located in an annualr space between a non-rotational hollow cylindrical member and a boss of an output gear. The taper roller bearing is located axially between the output gear and the dam. The dam has such a height as to immerse part or all of the end of each taper roller at a lowest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Jatco Transtechnology Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 6464040
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-speed gear with oil lubrication, with oil-recycling ducts (8) leading out of the labyrinth chambers of contactless shaft seals (6) to the crankcase (5) of the gear casing (3). According to the invention, the oil-recycling ducts (8) terminate in regions (10) in which a vacuum is automatically established during running operation, independently of the direction of rotation of the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Rail Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Hallmann, Erwin Skumawitz
  • Patent number: 6408749
    Abstract: A gear transmission for driving a printing press, with a plurality of gear pairs formed of mutually meshing gearwheels disposed operationally in a power-flow, at least one of the gear pairs being more heavily loaded than the rest thereof during operation, includes a case wherein the gearwheels forming the at least one, more heavily loaded gear pair are enclosed, the rest of the gear pairs being disposed outside the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Frank Schaum
  • Patent number: 6374949
    Abstract: A transmission for the drive of generators by turbines. The transmission casing is under a partial vacuum, and the operation of the transmission is monitored and protected by special safety devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Renk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Helmut Schwertberger
  • Publication number: 20020023512
    Abstract: A ring-like lubricant supply device 6 is fitted into a recess 4 of a nut member 2. The lubricant supply device 6 contains a lubricant and is formed in an outer peripheral surface with notches 7. Tubular members 8 each having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the notch 7 are inserted into the notches, pushing and widening the notches 7 in a circumferential direction. One end of the tubular member 8 is fitted into a recess 9b of a retaining ring 9 and the retaining ring 9 is fixed to a nut member 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Tsukada, Soichiro Kato
  • Patent number: 6318501
    Abstract: In a transmission, an oil chamber is formed between one end of an input shaft and one end of an output shaft which ends are facing each other. A first oil guide is provided at the end of the input shaft such that the cylindrical portion of the first oil guide is positioned in a lubrication passage which is provided in the input shaft. In the same way, a second oil guide is provided a: the end of the output shaft such that the cylindrical portion is provided at the end of the output shaft such that the cylindrical portion of the second oil guide is positioned in a lubrication passage which is provided in the output shaft. In addition, the input shaft is provided with a release passage which opens to the outside of the input shaft while the output shaft is provided with a release passage which opens to the outside of the output shaft. With this arrangement, lubrication oil is supplied sufficiently to members such as bearings and gears which are disposed on these rotating shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Udou, Kyoji Kitajima, Kiyokazu Ohkubo, Toshiharu Kumagai
  • Publication number: 20010013714
    Abstract: The sunroof driving device includes an electric motor, a worm gear provided on an armature shaft of the electric motor, a worm wheel gear meshing with the worm gear, an output shaft coupled with the worm wheel gear, and a drive gear which is provided on the output shaft and which meshes with a wire for driving a roof panel. A panel-position detecting mechanism for detecting the position of the roof panel and a tool hole for manually driving the roof panel in emergency are disposed coaxially with the output shaft. The tool hole is formed in the main shaft of the panel-position detecting mechanism. Also, the armature shaft is constituted so as to slide from the output shaft side, thus coupling the worm wheel gear and the output shaft with each other without any clutch interposed therebetween. The output shaft is provided with a fitting hole which provides the body-side manual operation section for manually driving the roof panel in emergency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: Takao Ochiai, Yasushi Yoshida, Masayuki Oota
  • Patent number: 6267203
    Abstract: An improved method of removing heat from a lubricant in an axle housing includes the use of a deflector in the axle housing. The deflector is positioned on a cover secured to the housing bowl. Lubricant is thrown against the deflector by a ring gear in the bowl. The lubricant is directed by the deflector outwardly to the axle ends of the axle assembly. In this way, the lubricant is exposed to a greater surface area, and the cooling efficiency of this system is greatly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald N. Brissette, Christopher S. Keeney, Dennis A. Kramer, Jack R. McKenzie, Brian J. Mueller, Dale Bell
  • Patent number: 6263752
    Abstract: A transmission for automobiles comprising a casing, an input shaft and an output shaft, a power transmission member on the driving side, a power transmission member on the driven side, and a bearing comprising an outer ring, an inner ring, a plurality of balls between the outer and inner rings, and seal rings provided on the opposite ends of the bearing and having an inner peripheral edge fixed to the inner ring and an outer peripheral edge to form a small gap for a labyrinth seal between the outer peripheral edge and the outer ring whereby particle matter can go out of the bearing through the small gap during rotation of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6247556
    Abstract: The present invention discloses screw bolt and nut with lubricant oil contained ball bush bearing. There is a deep oil storage hole formed in the nut parallel to axial direction of the bolt for storing the lubricant oil. An oil nipple or an oil packing is provided at one end of the deep oil storage hole for preventing leakage of the lubricant oil. A threaded oil dripping hole intersecting the deep oil storage hole with an oil containing member therein is formed in the nut thereby causing the lubricant oil to drip gradually into the spiral grooves and lubricate the rolling balls thereof. The oil containing member can be made of felt, wool, cotton (cloth or thread) or the like. Furthermore, an oil adjusting screw is provided with the oil dripping hole for controlling the flow rate of lubricant oil into the spiral grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Kuan-Chun Chen
  • Patent number: 6241038
    Abstract: A remote drop box can be provided for tractor hydraulic drives; however, a system for providing lubrication to and cooling of the remote drop box is necessary. Maximum drawbar pull and maximum road speed capability are both desirable when a variable hydrostatic motor defines the working range. The hydrostatic motor must be operated very close to its maximum rated operating speed during roading, which leaves very little margin for overspeeding that occurs when the tractor is roading downhill. An improved overspeed control is also desirable. A problem encountered when a hydrostatic drive is used with a high torque engine in that, as the engine speed drops, the available charge pump flow also drops and eventually reaches a point where the required servo pressure to maintain the hydraulic pump in stroke cannot be maintained. Such a condition needs to be alleviated to provide an effectively operating hydrostatic drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Young, Vladimir M. Kowalyk
  • Patent number: 6225265
    Abstract: In a miniature electric motor with reduction worm gear unit, a reduction worm gear unit is mounted on a motor portion and an output of the motor portion is subjected to a speed reduction through the unit. In lubricant for lubricating worm gears of the unit, fine silica grain is added and mixed to base oil, and a content of the fine silica grain is in a range of about 3 to about 10 wt. %. It is possible to always maintain reverse rotation proof while always keeping a desired gear transmission efficiency in a wide environmental temperature range. As a result, it is possible to miniaturize a motor and also to increase a life cycle number to prolong service life of the motor. The motor may be applied to an electric window device of an automotive vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Shibuya, Junya Kurata
  • Patent number: 6189655
    Abstract: A transmission having an integral lubrication (stem for delivering lubrication fluid to transmission components is provided. The lubrication system has a housing with a sump portion for holding the fluid. The lubrication system also includes a pump assembly with inlet and outlet chambers wherein the pump assembly moves the fluid from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber. The housing has a collection system with an inlet passageway which interconnects the inlet chamber and the sump to provide fluid communication between them. The housing has a distribution system with a plurality of fluid distribution ports for delivering the fluid to the transmission components. The distribution system interconnects said distribution ports and said outlet chamber to provide fluid communication between them. First, second, and third passageways are integrally formed within various portions of the housing and deliver the fluid to bearing portions of the shafts and to the transmission gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: ZF Meritor L.L.C.
    Inventors: Patrick L. Scheib, Peggy M. Garrett, Kenneth T. Picone
  • Patent number: 6125717
    Abstract: An adapter assembly for rotationally joining a first rotational member to a second rotational member is provided including a first adapter, a first bearing within the first adapter, a second adapter, a second bearing within the second adapter, and a connecting assembly. A power transmission assembly is provided, suitable for use with any one of a family of motors of different sizes, the assembly including a motor selected from the family, a speed reducer, a first adapter, a first bearing, a second adapter, a second bearing, and a connecting assembly. The first adapter is sized for use with at least two of the motors, and the first bearing is chosen from a family of bearings of different sizes, each sized for use with a corresponding one of the motors within the family. The first bearing is sized for use with the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Allyn E. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6063001
    Abstract: Featured is a gearbox that is used to interconnect an electric motor to a deep oil well tube pump such as an eccentric worm pump. The gearbox includes a drive shaft mechanically interconnected to the pump, a reduction gear assembly mechanically interconnected to the drive shaft and the electric motor, a bearing system that axially and radially supports rotating members of the reduction gear assembly, a lubrication system and a compensator that is fluidly coupled to the lubrication system. The lubrication system provides a lubricating fluid to the bearing system and the gear reduction assembly for lubrication and cooling. The compensator includes a reservoir of cooled lubricating fluid for the lubrication system and also provides pressure compensation between the pressure external to the gearbox and the lubrication system and the internal pressure of the lubrication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Franz Morat KG (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Richard G. Suhling, Hans K. Wefers
  • Patent number: 6058793
    Abstract: A speed reducer for a mixing apparatus having a gear train mounted within a housing such that the output shaft is supported by upper and lower bearings mounted within the upper portion and base of the housing, respectively. The lower output shaft bearing preferably is mounted within a recess in the underside of the housing base below a dry well containing the output shaft. The dry well forms a lubricant sump within the housing and preferably is unitary with the housing base. By placing the output shaft bearing below the dry well in the base of the housing, the diameter of the bearing can be increased to bear larger loads without being restricted by the dry well and is better able to transmit bending and radial loads to a relatively massive portion of the housing, and is placed closer to the load, thereby minimizing the amount of unsupported output shaft projecting from the reducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Chemineer, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Pasley, Ronald G. Stogdill
  • Patent number: 6044931
    Abstract: A lubrication system is provided for a transmission including a lubrication pump driven by a reverse idler gear. The lubrication pump is supported by a partition plate having an inlet passage and an outlet passage formed therein for communicating with the lubrication pump. The outlet passage communicates with an input shaft extending through the partition plate for supplying lubrication fluid to a central passage in the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Richard G. Reed, Jr., Donald L. Carriere