Lubrication Patents (Class 74/467)
  • Patent number: 5344101
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safeguard system for speed increasing/reducing mechanical assembly, especially of the helicopter "gear box" type, in case of lubricating oil loss, which comprises an additional cooling system the casing of the said mechanical assembly, with an inlet (1) and an outlet (2) arranged on the casing (3) of this mechanical assembly. The inlet (1) and the outlet (2) closed during normal operation and they open under the effect of a control device at a preset value of a parameter significant for lubricating oil loss, whereby this control device actuates simultaneously the additional cooling system, in order to provide a circulation of the coolant between the inlet (1) and the outlet (2) so that this coolant, loaded with the calories further to the warm-up caused by the lubricating oil loss, may evacuate the said calories outside via the outlet (2) of the additional cooling system, which is of the air circulation type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
    Inventor: Roland C. Francois
  • Patent number: 5341901
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved lubrication system for power transfer devices which increases the flow of lubrication along an axial bore formed within a rotating shaft. In the present invention, a rotor is disposed within the bore of a rotating shaft and secured to rotate with the shaft. The rotor acts to draw substantially more lubrication along the bore than would be drawn due to the centrifugal effect alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: New Venture Gear, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne E. Mueller, Wayne R. Coffey
  • Patent number: 5316106
    Abstract: In a driven axle assembly (12) for a motor vehicle that includes a differential housing located substantially in the center of the axle and tubes (16, 17) extending laterally from the differential, surrounding axle shafts (20) and opening into a lubricant reservoir (60) in the differential housing, a system for circulating and cooling axle lubricant includes a cover (26) for closing and sealing the housing having an aperture into the housing where a ring gear rotates through the lubricant reservoir. The aperture in the cover opens to a chamber that holds lubricant carried through the aperture by the rotating ring gear. Conduits (72, 74) connected by hydraulic fittings (76, 78) to the chamber have their opposite ends connected to the axle tubes at an outboard location distant from the differential housing. Lubricant flows through the conduits into the axle tubes and back to the housing reservoir, effectively cooling the lubricant without the addition of a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: William D. Baedke, Michael J. Alder
  • Patent number: 5314616
    Abstract: A fluid filter system for use with a positive displacement pump in an automatic power transmission having a main filter located on the suction side of the power transmission pump and an auxiliary bypass filter located on the pressure side of the pump wherein provision is made for controlling the fluid flow through the auxiliary filter whereby bypass flow path through the auxiliary filter is decreased when the flow demand on the pump is increased, the auxiliary filter being adapted to filter small particle sizes and the main filter being adapted to filter and to retain larger particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Lyle B. Smith
  • Patent number: 5309789
    Abstract: An automobile powertrain has at least an engine placed in an engine room and oriented so that its crankshaft is directed transversely, and a transmission placed in the engine room behind the engine. The transmission has input and output shafts arranged coaxially with each other and directed parallel to the crankshaft of the engine. An engine clutch is directly connected to the crankshaft, and a power transfer arrangement is disposed oppositely to the engine with respect to the engine clutch and operationally couples the engine clutch to the input shaft so as to transmit engine output to the transmission. The transmission, engine clutch and power transfer arrangement are independently accommodated in separate chambers of a single unit powertrain case. The transmission chamber and the power transfer chamber are connected to each other by an oil passage through which the input shaft extends from the transmission to the power transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kameda, Hitoshi Akutagawa, Junichi Okita, Ichiro Hirose
  • Patent number: 5305862
    Abstract: In a control mechanism for a frictionally engaged lock-up clutch of a hydrodynamic torque converter, a coupling element (8) is axially displaced for engaging and disengaging the lock-up clutch (7), face end actuation spaces (10, 11) being accordingly pressurized via regulating valves (15, 16). A lubricant line (28) leads via a radiator (39) to lubrication points (40) of a change-speed gear (6) rear-mounted on the torque converter (3), the lubricant line (28) being attached to a controlled return flow of the actuation space (11). To ensure there is a sufficient supply of lubricant to the lubrication points (40) and a sufficient cooling of the pressurized fluid or lubricant in all shift conditions of the lock-up clutch (7) via the radiator (39), a leg (34) of the main pressure line (13) is attached to the lubricant line (28) before the radiator (39) which feeds a missing amount of lubricant into the lubricant line (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshaften AG
    Inventor: Georg Gierer
  • Patent number: 5302158
    Abstract: A lubricant pump of the gerotor type is mounted concentrically over the output shaft of the leading axle in a tandem drive axle arrangement having in inter-axle power dividing differential. The outer rotor of the pump is connected by an annular drive band to the differential carrier to assure full time pump operation. Passages are provided for flow through an externally mounted filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Dale L. Kwasniewski
  • Patent number: 5299657
    Abstract: A recirculatory lubrication system for applying a film of lubricant to an open gear set having a pinion gear and a bull gear in meshing engagement with the pinion gear, the open gear set enclosed by a gear set cover having a lower portion for collecting lubricant therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Dale J. Hikes
  • Patent number: 5297452
    Abstract: A transmission system for a motor vehicle with two powered axles has an engine aligned perpendicular to the driving direction and a transmission parallel to the axis of the engine shaft and includes an angle gear housing flangemounted on the side of the transmission housing, both housings having a lubricant supply for centrifugal or splash lubrication of the corresponding gear parts. The lubricant supplies, which are separated from each other by a partition, are interconnected by at least one first partition opening which serves as a lubrication inlet and at least one second partition opening which serves as a lubrication return. The second partition opening is located not below a first horizontal plane which passes approximately through the lower edge of a shaft bearing arrangement in the partition for the connecting shaft and the first partition opening is located above a second horizontal plane which passes approximately through the uppermost second partition opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Roland Gruss, Klaus Wiese, Eberhard Diessner
  • Patent number: 5294350
    Abstract: A magnetic particle separator for a motor vehicle drive axle includes a slot in a wall of the drive axle and a magnet in the slot. The slot is located such that one side thereof defines a window open to a gear chamber of the drive axle. The slot has dovetail edges which define abutments for preventing dislodgement of the magnet into the gear chamber through the window. A cover of the drive axle closes and open side of the gear chamber and an open end of the slot to prevent dislodgement of the magnet through the open end. Ferromagnetic particles entrained in fluid lubricant circulating in the gear chamber are attracted by the magnet through the window and thereby separated from the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, General Motors of Canada Limited
    Inventors: Richard J. Murphy, Anthony J. Marlow
  • Patent number: 5288556
    Abstract: Improvements in gears and gear teeth structures for use in driving assemblies, such as machines, vehicles and the like, wherein the teeth portions of the gears and, in certain instances, other portions thereof, are coated with a hard synthetic diamond material deposited thereagainst as carbon atoms derived from a fluid, such as methane gas, when high energy radiation, such as microwave radiation, is beamed through the gas against the surfaces of the gears and gear teeth thereof. In certain instances, the hard diamond material coating the gear teeth and the spaces therebetween, is overcoated with a thin layer of chromium which serves to protect the diamond surfaces of the teeth during use so as to prevent destruction of the diamond layer by physical attrition caused by stress and abrasive particles engaging the teeth during use of the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Inventor: Jerome H. Lemelson
  • Patent number: 5282390
    Abstract: A cooling means for removing heat generated in a portion of a solid ball-and-screw shaft (27) provided for a screw mechanism accommodated in an industrial robot and engaged with a linear motion nut (28) accommodated in the linear motion mechanism. The cooling means permits a cooling medium, typically cooling air, to flow through a cooling medium passage (33) formed in an unthreaded end portion of the shaft (27) and having an end connected to a rotative drive motor (M), to flow through a radial hole (34) having one end connected to the cooling medium passage (33) and the other end opening into an annular space surrounding an external surface of the shaft formed with a screw thread (27a), and to flow through the annular space along the surface of the threaded portion of the shaft (27), to thereby remove heat generated at the threaded portion engaged with the linear motion nut (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobutoshi Torii, Akihiro Terada, Yasuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5279391
    Abstract: An improved lubrication system for a vehicular mechanical transmission (10) is provided. The transmission gearing (22-34) rotates in a dry sump (11) in the housing (12) and a reservoir (40) provides a sump of lubricant (42) below the level of the gearing. A pump (44) pumps lubricant from the reservoir through a filter (48) and into a distribution manifold (50) for filtered lubrication of the bearings (20) and/or other transmission elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Harold R. Ward
  • Patent number: 5273136
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a north-south transaxle includes a case having a passageway extending longitudinally and a cavity at one end of the passageway having an opening generally perpendicular to the passageway. The lubrication system also includes a transfer assembly disposed in the passageway and a differential assembly disposed in the cavity and engaging the transfer assembly. The lubrication system further includes means for delivering fluid in the cavity to the transfer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Berthold Martin, Steven A. Mikel, Michael A. Bartolino
  • Patent number: 5273492
    Abstract: A high pressure circuit is connected between a secondary pressure control valve and a lockup clutch control valve for actuating a lockup clutch of a torque converter. A low pressure circuit is connected between the lockup clutch control valve and a continuously variable transmission. A high relief valve is provided in the high pressure circuit for controlling the lockup clutch with high pressure. A low relief valve is provided in the low pressure circuit for lubricating a transmission belt so as to improve cooling efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hajime Kashiwase, Keiji Sato
  • Patent number: 5251725
    Abstract: A lubricator for large diameter open gearing utilizes a header having a series of orifices which direct streams of oil onto a deflector plate which produces a spray directed at the teeth of a drive pinion in close proximity to the point of first engagement on the approach side of the pitch point. Air turbulence generated by movement of the gear teeth is prevented from affecting the spray pattern by utilizing a collector for excess lubricant as a baffle and by utilizing the deflector plate to block the movement of air. Uniformity of spray pattern from the orifices is enhanced by providing a pressure relief valve remote from the feed points of the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Castrol Limited
    Inventor: Charles D. Barrett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5232291
    Abstract: A lubricating device for the inboard and outboard pinion bearings of a carrier comprises a pair of offset angularly disposed deflectors disposed within the carrier adjacent to the pinion shaft. One deflector is located in the lower portion of the carrier adjacent to the outboard pinion bearing and is angled to direct the flow of lubricant toward the inboard pinion bearing, while another deflector is in the upper portion of the carrier adjacent to the inboard pinion bearing and is angled to direct the flow of lubricant toward the outboard pinion bearing. The carrier lubricant is thereby directed along a generally one-way fluid path, minimizing the direct recirculation of high temperature oil through the outboard pinion bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Chia-Liu Kuan
  • Patent number: 5228355
    Abstract: A PTO unit for a transmission or the like includes a housing having an interior chamber. A PTO drive shaft, mounted in the housing, includes a first drive connection for connection to an auxiliary device to provide power thereto. The PTO drive shaft includes a second drive connection. A lubricating pump is connected to the second drive connection of the drive shaft to be in driving engagement therewith. A laterally shiftable gear is mounted on the drive shaft between the first and second drive connections. A gear shift mechanism is provided for laterally shifting the shiftable gear between the first and second positions. An idler shaft, spaced from and parallel to the drive shaft, is mounted in the housing, and a cluster gear is provided for rotation on the idler shaft. The cluster gear includes a transmission driven gear and a pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Wallace E. Smith, Ronald Kruger, Eric Anderson
  • Patent number: 5222418
    Abstract: A novel hydraulic system for an automotive automatic power transmission improves efficiency of working fluid supply for controlling transmission operation and for lubricating transmission components. The hydraulic system employs independently fabricated lubrication circuit for lubricating transmission components and a hydraulic control circuit for controlling operation of transmission components. The hydraulic system employs a first fluid pump connected to the hydraulic control circuit for supplying working fluid thereto, and a second fluid pump connected to the lubrication circuit for supplying working fluid thereto, and operative independently of the first fluid pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuya Murota
  • Patent number: 5220852
    Abstract: In a motor-equipped reduction gear device with a pre-stage, two covers, which have been indispensable in the past, namely a joint cover and a pre-stage cover, are integrated into a one-body cover (130). Also, the diameter (D1) of the addendum circle of the pinion (110) mounted on the tip of the motor shaft 108 is designed to be smaller than the diameter (D2) of the portion of the motor shaft (108) which extends into the one-body cover (130). This allows the one-body cover (130) to be mounted with the pinion (110) already attached to the tip of the motor shaft (108). The one-body cover (130) can freely and easily be attached to the motor (102) and the gear box (106). As a result, the number of parts is reduced and light weight and compactness are achieved, and accuracy of the center distance and parallelism are improved because cumulative machining errors can be avoided. Furthermore, cost down and improved rigidity are achieved and the number of factors which may cause oil leakage is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shinoda, Yoshikazu Chiba, Sepp G. Lachenmaier, Thomas Stapelfeldt
  • Patent number: 5213010
    Abstract: The driving power transmitting apparatus for use in twin shaft type extruder is constituted by a first screw driven by a power transmission shaft through a coupling member, and a second screw is driven by two parallel sets of idle plane gear, an idle shaft and an idle helical gear and a helical gear secured to the drive end. The two sets of idle plane gear are driven by a plane gear which is mounted on the power transmission shaft to be rotatable. The plane gear is driven by a prime mover through a coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hayafusa, Kuniaki Endoh, Mitsuoki Hatamoto, Tokushige Maeda, Akiyoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5211262
    Abstract: A drain path extending from a control valve mounted upper an oil pump is designed to make unit sizes small. The drain path is formed using a groove on a joint surface where an oil pump housing is secured to a transmission case. The drain path is formed without any extension around a bearing holding portion for a counter shaft while it overlaps the bearing holding portion as seen in the axial direction. Thus, the whole structure of an automatic transmission can be designed in smaller dimensions. A supply hole is formed in the bearing holding portion so as to allow hydraulic oil drained from the drain path to be delivered to the transmission. The bearing holding portion may be dislocated to another position corresponding to design change for a counter shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Jatco Corporation
    Inventor: Masaya Akiyama
  • Patent number: 5209321
    Abstract: The power transmission apparatus comprises a center differential gear, a first inner front wheel drive hub connected to the center differential gear, a second outer rear wheel drive hub also connected to the center differential gear coaxially with the first hub, a ring gear fixed to the second hub, a pinion gear coupled to a propeller shaft and in mesh with the ring gear at a gearing position above the axis of the ring gear, and in particular a lubrication structure including a rotary cover member fixed to the second hub and formed with plural oil stirring projections, an oil sump formed in an inner surface of an apparatus housing, and an oil passage formed in a pinion gear housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Sado
  • Patent number: 5193645
    Abstract: The cooling method consists of sucking up inside the reduction gear previously filtered air which, when traversing the reduction gear, is mixed with the spray of lubricating oil so as to collect its calories and reject it outside after having purified it from the oil it contains. The equipment incorporates one or several air intakes provided with filters and an extraction fan driven by the reduction gear and provided with means for collecting and draining the oil. The application of this method is for reduction gears lubricated with sprayed oil and particularly for helicopter gearboxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
    Inventor: Roland C. Francois
  • Patent number: 5189929
    Abstract: A transmission gearbox noise control system is operative during normal operations of a transmission system to effectively null temperature variations among selected localized areas of the transmission gearbox housing by utilizing oil jets for cooling/heating thereof, thereby reducing or eliminating differential thermal expansion effects or minor manufacturing errors among such localized areas wherein transmission vibration levels (noise) emanating from the gearbox are abated. The system includes one or more metering valves, a spray rod mounted in combination with each metering valve, an oil reservoir, a fluid pathway for fluidically interconnecting each metering valve to the oil reservoir, at least one pump for circulating oil through the fluid pathway, and a regulating subsystem that is automatically or manually operative to initiate/terminate the operation of each metering valve, to regulate the rate of fluid flow therethrough, and/or to adjust the impingement pattern of the fluid jet discharged therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony G. Chory
  • Patent number: 5176040
    Abstract: A transmission apparatus for four-wheel drive includes a transfer mechanism for adjusting for the difference between rotating forces applied to front and rear wheels of a vehicle. A differential gear is coupled with a transmission, and the transfer mechanism is coupled with the differential gear. An annular oil sealing portion is provided on a shaft of the transfer mechanism to partition and separate the transfer mechanism from the differential gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Kawabe
  • Patent number: 5176039
    Abstract: An automatic transmission with a reverse inhibit feedback passage between front and rear oil sumps. The transmission includes a case, a passage in the case for returning oil to the front sump from the rear sump and a flap valve for allowing the flow from rear sump to front sump while inhibiting oil flow in the reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Takeuchi, Yoshikazu Sakaguchi, Takahiro Yamashita, Akira Hoshino, Yutaka Taga, Yasuo Hojo, Yoshiharu Harada
  • Patent number: 5158152
    Abstract: A system for lubricating a transmission for a vehicle includes an auxiliary oil reservoir placed in the transmission case apart from transmission gears, an oil pump in the transmission case operated interlockingly with an output shaft of the transmission for pumping lubricating oil stored in the bottom of the case into the auxiliary oil reservoir, and a circulating means provided in the auxiliary oil reservoir for regulating the amount of oil circulated from the auxiliary oil reservoir into the transmission case, such that the amount of oil in the auxiliary oil reservoir is increased or decreased in accordance with a respective increase or decrease in the amount of oil discharged from the oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Nemoto, Kiyokazu Okubo, Sunao Ishihara, Takahito Takekawa
  • Patent number: 5157984
    Abstract: A sealing device has a torque converter housing, a transmission case, an oil pump disposed between the torque converter housing and the transmission case, an oil sealing member disposed between the oil pump and the pump impeller of the torque converter, and seal ring disposed between the oil pump and the torque converter. The oil pump has a protrution extending to the torque converter. The sealing member is disposed between the outer periphery of the protrusion and a flange of the torque converter housing. The seal ring is disposed between the protrusion and the pump impeller hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chihiro Hosono, Yoichi Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 5152185
    Abstract: An improved tram transmission (10) for transferring power produced by a tram motor (54) to a tram crawler chain (66) more efficiently than transmission of prior art. The improved tram transmission (10) includes a motor drive shaft receptacle (12) which is dimensioned for receiving the drive shaft (56) of a tram motor (54). A plurality of cooperating pairs of gears (70) are provided to cooperate with the motor drive shaft receptacle (12) such that the power produced by the motor (54) may be transferred to the crawler chain (66). A plurality of shafts (73) are included to support the gears (70) and are held in place with ball bearings (183). The main shaft (76) carries a hub (158) which includes a plurality of sprockets (166) for engaging the crawler chain (66). A housing (18) is provided for shielding the components (12, 70, and 183) from debris and moisture and for containing lubricant (68) for the gears (70), shafts (73) and bearings (183).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Inventor: John C. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5131498
    Abstract: An automatic transmission has a rotational shaft with an axial through-hole. The shaft is supported by a case through bearings at opposite ends thereof. In the hole, a cup-type plug with holes is engaged with the shaft at one end thereof. A lubricating means is disposed in the case facing the holes for distributing a lubricating hydraulic fluid to bearings disposed at each end of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoji Kato, Masaaki Nishida, Yoichi Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 5107718
    Abstract: A combined hydraulic motor and speed reducer intended to improve the service life of sealing members and bearings by cooling lubricating oil within a speed reducer case. The hydraulic motor includes a motor case (1) having a peripheral surface in which a pair of supply/discharge ports (18, 17) are formed in a diametrically opposite relationship and extend axially from one end of the motor case (1) so as to open to a speed reducer case (6). Cool lubricating oil is supplied to the interior of the speed reducer case, and at the same time, high temperature lubricating oil is discharged out of the motor. In this way, the lubricating oil within the speed reducer case is maintained at low temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventor: Makoto Inagawa
  • Patent number: 5099715
    Abstract: Method for lubricating vehicle gears, characterized in that the lubricating oil is injected directly into the areas to be lubricated by means of a plurality of injection elements (43) and the consumed oil is returned to said injection elements by means of a closed circuit (35, 37, 40, 43, 45, 47, 49), where defoaming and preparation takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Inventor: Walter Baiker
  • Patent number: 5092196
    Abstract: A gear mechanism has a plurality of gears provided on a shaft and is housed in a housing. Oil is filled into a lower part of the housing. The bottom of the housing is raised to conform to the contour of the gears and an oil return passage in the form of a groove extending in the direction of the row of the gears is formed in the bottom surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kameda, Takashi Matsugasako, Yuji Mori, Akira Kawata
  • Patent number: 5091078
    Abstract: A transmission includes a case having first and second case portions, an oil pump supported on the first case portion and a valve body supported on the second case portion. The valve body regulates the pressure of the oil discharged by the oil pump. The oil pump is provided with a pump manifold, and the manifold includes a filter which filters oil stored in an oil pan beneath the transmission. An oil intake passage is provided in the pump manifold, a starting end of the oil intake passage communicating with the oil pan, and a terminating end of the oil intake passage communicating with the oil pump through the filter. The pump manifold also includes an oil feed passage for feeding oil from the oil pump to the valve body, and an oil return passage for returning clean surplus oil from the valve body into the oil intake passage downstream of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Suzuki Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5085100
    Abstract: A shroud (20) for a gear train (12) disposed within a gear case (22) includes a plurality of meshing gears (14), each gear (14) having sides (14a, 14b), teeth (16) and an outer diameter (14c). The shroud (20) encircles the outer diameter (14c) of each gear (14) within the gear train (12) and for enclosing the sides (14a, 14b) adjacent to the outer diameter (14c) of each gear (14) within the gear train (12). The shroud (20) includes a pair of side walls (20a, 20b) and an end wall (20c). The walls (20a, 20b, 20c) enclosed the teeth (16) of each of the gears (14) within the gear train (12) for substantially minimizing cooling fluid present within the gear case (22) from contacting the gear train (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Charles L. Duello
  • Patent number: 5065850
    Abstract: An actuator comprising, in a casing, a mechanism which is controlled by a motor and which is adapted to control an output member. The mechanism including in particular a moveable thrust unit which is arranged generally for to and fro movement. The casing is liquid-tight, and incorporates a sump for containing a liquid lubricant. A pump is associated with this sump, the pump being arranged to be actuated by the moveable thrust unit. The suction port is in communication with the lower part or sump of the casing, while its delivery port is in communication with the mechanism in at least one region of the latter that is to be lubricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventors: Patrice Bertin, Christian Pankowiak
  • Patent number: 5053661
    Abstract: A geared motor having a gear case and a motor housing. The gear case contains reduction gears and a viscous grease which lubricates the reduction gears and fills the a gear case. An integrally formed main oil seal having a main lip and a dust lip and a sub oil seal having a sub lip are disposed between a rotor shaft of the motor and the motor housing. The sub oil seal is disposed between the gear case and the main seal to prevent the viscous grease and metal powder in the viscous grease resulting from wear of the gear (101) from jeopardizing the main seal. In some embodiments, a second grease is retained in a space formed between the sub lip and the main lip. An outer wheel of a ball bearing supports the rotor shaft and is fixed to the bottom of the motor housing so that the rotor shaft cannot move in its axial direction and so that the rotor shaft will be firmly sealed by the main oil seal and the sub oil seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitamura, Mizuo Komine
  • Patent number: 5050447
    Abstract: In an automatic transmission mounted on a front engine and front drive vehicle, a valve body is positioned not to be obstructed by a vehicle side subframe, and lower sections of the transaxle casing, transaxle housing and rear cover form an oil reservoir space. Also, the lower part of the front differential device is isolated from the oil reservoir space by an oil reservoir plate and a side weir formed on the transaxle housing, but oil flows partly between the isolated areas. By this structure, the oil reservoir space is formed extending generally over the lower part of the integrated casing, and, in particular, is formed from the large space below the transaxle casing and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youichi Hayakawa, Ryoichi Shirai
  • Patent number: 5048363
    Abstract: A lubrication retainer and distribution system for a worm gear and the mating worm. Porous pads saturated with lubricating fluid are attached to both sides of the worm gear and located so that they spread slightly and wipe the high ridges of the worm. To equalize the fluid distribution between the pads, at least one through hole is formed in the worm gear between the pads, and the hole's size is selected so that capillary action transfers the fluid between the pads as required. Also, to retain the lubricating fluid on the worm, "O" rings are fitted tightly upon the worm shaft just beyond the spiral thread of the worm to act as barriers to prevent fluid from escaping from the system along the worm shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Burle Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick R. Hughes, Carlton L. Rintz, Ronald G. Sergeant, Karl E. Zemlin
  • Patent number: 5042321
    Abstract: A transmission structure for an automotive vehicle having a power unit includes an engine and a transmission device, including a power transmitting device connected to an output shaft of the engine, for transfer from an output of the engine to the transmission device. A first housing for the power transmitting device, a second housing for the transmission device, connected to the first housing, a differential device, housed in the first housing and positioned so as to be offset from an output shaft of the engine, and a reinforcement element, having one end portion connected to an upper surface of the first housing and another end portion connected to both side surfaces of the second housing, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hongo, Hiroaki Deguchi, Nobuo Doi, Yoshitsugu Hanada
  • Patent number: 5040428
    Abstract: A swing reduction gear assembly for a swing device which prevents admission of grease into the same and in which the pressing force of grease squeezed out from between mutually meshing teeth of a pinion and an internal gear wheel thereof is reduced. The swing reduction gear assembly comprises a lower bearing for supporting an output shaft for rotation on a casing, a sealing collar fitted on an outer periphery of the output shaft and located above a pinion integrated with the output shaft, a retainer mounted on the casing below the lower bearing, and an oil seal fitted around the retainer and normally held in engagement with an outer periphery of the sealing collar. The oil seal has a lower face side lip portion formed thereon, and a disk-shaped plate is mounted on an outer periphery of the sealing collar such that the lower face side lip portion of the oil seal is normally held in contact with an upper face of the disk-shaped plate to prevent oil from entering the swing reduction gear drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyaoka, Shingo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5038631
    Abstract: A device for restricting the flow of lubricant from a locomotive traction motor gear case and along an armature drive shaft of the traction motor and into the drive shaft's bearing mounting assembly, portions of which extend into the gear case. The device may also restrict lubricant flow into a return drain port of the drive shaft's bearing mounting assembly as a result of gear generated splash within the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignees: Carol Ann Mackay, Helen Lou Kurtz
    Inventors: Richard J. Renk, George E. Boller, Richard M. Ebert
  • Patent number: 5038628
    Abstract: A synchronizer ring for a synchronous meshing type speed change gear has a substantially conical surface and is provided with a wet frictional material which covers a major portion of the conical surface axial length, having a small diameter end spaced from the small diameter end of the conical surface. The frictional material has at least one continuous groove formed on its frictional surface and communicating with opposite ends of the synchronizer ring for conducting a flow of lubricating oil, the groove being formed at a predetermined angle relative to the generatrix of the synchronizer ring. The ring is constructed such that upon frictional engagement with the speed change gear, the small diameter end of the conical surface projects axially outwardly from a corresponding end of a frictional engaging surface of the speed change gear by a predetermined amount, so as to facilitate receipt of oil into the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K. K.
    Inventor: Shigeoki Kayama
  • Patent number: 5035153
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a roller transmission having a sun roller, at least one row of planet rollers, and a surrounding ring roller. The lubrication system includes a fluid feed tube supplying lubricant to a distributing manifold. The manifold in turn supplies a plurality of cross feed tubes which direct fluid to the contacting surfaces between the adjacent rollers. The lubrication system also includes a lubrication conduit and connected cooling channels in the sun roller which feed lubricant to the interface between the sun roller and first row of planet rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Nastec, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Anderson, Algirdas Bielskus
  • Patent number: 5035155
    Abstract: Automotive engine leaking from a crankcase seal in a gear train housing can be collected and returned to the crankcase oil pan before it contaminates the transmission fluid by means of a device which serves to collect the leaked oil in a reservoir which is isolated from the transmission fluid and which is continuously drained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Inventor: Ismael L. Robledo
  • Patent number: 5018407
    Abstract: A lubricant filled drive assembly is disclosed having an insert to displace a portion of the required volume of lubricant. The insert is shaped so as to receive interchangeable or optional pieces of drive assembly equipment, and when certain pieces of equipment are not used, plugs are added to the assembly to occupy the empty space within the insert. By eliminating any unoccupied space, the plugs alleviate the need for additional lubricant which might otherwise be a cost of adding flexibility to the gear drive. The insert and plugs are preferably coated with a lubricant impermeable layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventor: Dietrich H. Hoecht
  • Patent number: 5017178
    Abstract: The existing couplings used for transmission of torque uses a combination of mechanical springs or a combination of dampening devices such as cylindrical openings having pistons spring-biased therein. The cylindrical openings also have viscous fluid introduced therein and dampen the torque applied thereto. A coupling apparatus is provided for resiliently transmitting torque including a pin assembly positioned in mechanical connection between an annular plate member and a gear member, dampening backlash motion including a pin assembly and a mechanism for biasing a piston into contact with one of the gear member or annular plate member, and lubricating the interface between the components having relative oscillation therebetween. An interface between the moving parts, the annular plate and the gear, is providing and a lubrication system is provided to lubricate the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Roger D. Krikke, Benny Ballheimer, Nelson A. Jones, Dwight V. Stone
  • Patent number: 5009117
    Abstract: A power transmission has a housing comprised of an end support, a casing, an end cover, a converter housing, an input shaft, an output shaft and a pair of identically dimensional countershafts. A bushing and oil feed sleeve are positioned on each end of each countershaft for cooperating with the end support connecting the housing for alignment therebetween and with the casing for alignment therebetween. Each countershaft has a pair of ratio gears rotatably disposed thereon and meshing with respective output gears rotatable with the output shaft and a friction clutch is provided for each ratio gear. Four of the friction clutches which are disposed on the countershafts are identical in construction. A fifth clutch assembly, in line with the input shaft, can be shortened, if desired, by the elimination of one friction plate and one reaction plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Ordo, Harry E. Latshaw
  • Patent number: 5005437
    Abstract: A process and device for cleaning lubricating oil in a gearbox with pressurized oil lubrication of bearings and gears is described wherein a lubricating oil pump delivers lubricating oil from a container, preferably the oil pan of the gearbox. In a shaft of the gearbox, preferably the input shaft, the lubricant channel is expanded into a rotation chamber. Flow velocity is thereby greatly reduced and the rotation of the outer surface of this chamber is imparted to the lubricating oil. As a result of this, the dirt particles are centrifuged onto the outer surface, where they form a firmly adhering film. The cleaned lubricating oil is drawn off in the center of the rotation chamber and conveyed in known manner via a bore provided in the main shaft to oil consumer parts, e.g. the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerd Furer, Karl-Fritz Heinzelmann, Kurt Osterloff