CN1727734A - Transmission lubrication system and method of use thereof while being towed - Google Patents

Abstract

A transmission lubrication system for a vehicle transmission includes a fluid collection chamber positioned to collect fluid thrown by a rotatable member within the transmission. Structure forming a flow passage extending from the fluid collection chamber is in fluid communication with a transmission component so that the collected fluid flows from the fluid collection chamber via the flow passage to the transmission component to lubricate the transmission component.

Description

Transmission lubrication system and using method thereof when being drawn

Related invention

The application requires to enjoy the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/589 that submitted on July 20th, 2004,281 preference, and the content of this application is incorporated by reference in this article.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of lubrication system of power transmission system, the lubrication system when especially being drawn.

Background technique

The power transmission system of vehicle comprises the moving part that many requirements are lubricated.Typical transmission lubrication system comprises the lubricant oil of pumping circulation.The power of pump is provided by the motor of vehicle.When tail-off, as when vehicle is subjected to drawing, pump does not turn round, and at this moment can not arrive transmission system by the pumping lubricating fluid.

Summary of the invention

Propose a kind of transmission lubrication system of vehicle drive system, its Castor Oil driving component is especially closed the driving component that moves when vehicle is subjected to drawing when the power source of vehicle.The transmission lubrication system comprises: driving component; Form the structure of fluid collection cavity, the relative driving component in its position can be collected the fluid that the rotating component by transmission system throws away.Structure as transmission case has formed the fluid passage of extending from the fluid collection cavity, is communicated with the driving component fluid, can make the fluid of collection flow into driving component from the fluid collection cavity by the fluid passage by gravity.

In one aspect of the invention, rotating component can be discharging chain or gear, is positioned at the inner space of transmission system, and is connected to power source and wheel.When power source was connected, rotating component rotated by drive power source, closed vehicle when power source and was drawn when mobile, can rotate by the drive of rotating-wheel.Fluid in rotating component and the transmission system contacts, and can throw away fluid, makes it collect the fluid collection cavity.The fluid collection cavity has the characteristic of overflowing, and when the fluid of collecting reached predetermined level, the fluid that allows to collect overflowed the fluid collection cavity.

In another aspect of this invention, the housing of transmission system comprises the extension, can make to splash into the fluid collection cavity then from the extension in the lubricating fluid cladding extension of injecting.

In still another aspect of the invention, the fluid passage comprises valve, but limit fluid flows when the drive power source vehicle; When power source not (when vehicle is drawn) during powered vehicle, optionally open and allow fluid to flow to driving component from the fluid collection cavity.

Of the present invention also have one aspect, branched bottom extends from the fluid passage, allows fluid to flow to another driving component from the fluid passage, and it is lubricated.Valve can be positioned at branched bottom, when the pressure of fluid passage reaches predeterminated level, optionally opens the permission fluid and flow to another driving component.

A kind ofly be subjected between period of traction the method for lubricated vehicle drive system at vehicle, described method comprises: towing vehicle makes the wheel of vehicle.The rotation of response wheel, the rotating component that is positioned at transmission system rotates by the transmission system lubricating fluid, and lubricating fluid is thrown away rotating component.This method also comprises collects the fluid that throws away.At last, this method comprises that the fluid that guiding is collected flows to driving component, is lubricated it.

Perhaps, this method can comprise that also after said twisting step, fluid cladding housing that throws away and the fluid that throws away drip from the housing of cladding, collect the fluid that drips.

Below by with reference to the accompanying drawings and the detailed introduction that the Implementation Modes of the best of the present invention is carried out, can be to above-mentioned feature and advantage of the present invention, and other feature and advantage have clearer understanding.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 has shown by the schematic representation of second vehicle towed first vehicle;

Fig. 2 is the perspective schematic view of transmission lubrication system, comprising the rotating component of the transmission system that is pulled vehicle of oiling chart 1; With

Fig. 3 is part perspective view and the partial cross section figure that has schematically shown the transmission lubrication system of Fig. 2, does not wherein show rotating component.

Embodiment

With reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein identical mark is represented identical parts.Fig. 1 has shown and has been pulled the traction that vehicle 100 is subjected to towing vehicle 101.Be pulled vehicle 100 and comprise power source, as motor 102, in driven operation period driving transmission system 104, to drive wheel 108.Rotating component as discharging chain 106, drives the box of tricks (not shown), and it is connected to wheel 108, under normal circumstances drives wheel.Perhaps replace discharging chain 106, rotating component can be the gear 143 (or a plurality of gear) that shows with hachure, rotates around same axle I, as the axle in chain 106 left sides.During the driven operation, the pump (not shown) that is subjected to motor 102 drivings provides lubricated inside moving part to transmission system 104, to prevent frictional heat infringement parts.Be subjected between period of traction, pump is not activated, and therefore lubricated moving part to transmission system 104 can not be provided.

With reference to figure 2, transmission lubrication system 110 comprises fluid collection cavity 112, and this paper also is called fuel tank.The structure of any fluid that can collect herein to be introduced, no matter whether it has box structure, can be as the fluid collection cavity in the scope of the present invention.Fuel tank 112 is installed to or the whole inner shell body wall 114 (showing with hachure) that is formed at transmission system 104.Fuel tank 112 generally is positioned at chain 106 tops.When chain when the clockwise direction of arrow A indication rotates, the fluid 117 of transmission system bottom is collected in bottom 116 contacts of chain 106.When chain is rotated further, centrifugal force throws away chain 106 with some fluids.The fluid that throws away can be splashed to wall 114, cladding wall 114, or leave wall 114 and enter in the fuel tank 112, shown in the path of arrow B.The throwing away fluid and can collect extension 118 (as ratchet) of cladding wall 114, it is formed at or is installed on wall 114, and its position can make the fluid of collection splash into following fuel tank 112.(should be noted that lubrication system 110 also can work when chain 106 inhour is rotated, as the vehicle 100 of Fig. 1 in the face of with shown in the opposite direction of direction of traction.In this case, fluid throws away from chain 106 with different mode, but still is collected in fuel tank 112).Fuel tank 112 has formed and has overflowed lip 120, and when fluid reached predetermined level (as the bottom of lip 120), the fluid 132 of collection can overflow from fuel tank, so that the fluid in the fuel tank 112 keeps being no more than predetermined level.

With reference to figure 3, pipeline 122 extends downwards from the opening 124 of fuel tank 112, and is connected to structure 126, and pipeline 122 and structure 126 have formed first fluid passage 128 jointly.Structure 126 can be other structures of the formation fluid passage in transmission system housing or the transmission system.First ball check valve 130 when motor 102 powered vehicle, can prevent that fluid from flowing at first flow 128; When motor 102 not during powered vehicle, valve open allows fluid to flow (by gravity from pipeline 122 to structure 126), at this moment wheel turns (when promptly being drawn).The fluid 132 of collecting fuel tank 112 flows to first fluid passage 128 downwards, and the following connecting passage 134 that forms along structure 126 moves, and arrives driving component, as the bearing 136 (fluid flows and represents with the arrow in each passage) of chain 106.Lower channel 134 can use when driven is operated, and lubricating fluid is transferred to bearing 136 from pump 138.But as discussed above, pump 138 is not activated between period of traction, can not help lubricating bearings or other driving components (as gear, bearing, packing ring, clutch plate and sleeve pipe) between period of traction.

Branched bottom 140 fluids are connected to first fluid passage 128.Second ball check valve 142, preferably spring-loaded, be positioned at branched bottom 140.When the pressure of the first fluid passage 128 in first safety check, 130 downstreams reached predetermined level, second safety check 142 allowed fluids by branched bottom 140, surpasses valve 142, flows to other driving component 144.

Therefore, lubrication system 110 flows through first flow channel 128 being subjected to (during the tail-off) when vehicle towed by the fluid that allows to be collected in the fuel tank 112, makes driving component be lubricated.In addition, the branched structure 140 Castor Oil driving components 136 and 144 of flow channel 128, these driving components can be positioned on the different axis of transmission system 104.

Although at length introduced preferred forms of the present invention, the those skilled in the art it should be understood that various embodiment of the present invention and various design belong in the scope of claims.

Claims (20)

1. A transmission lubrication system for a vehicle transmission system, comprising: Transmission Parts; a structure forming a fluid collection chamber arranged to collect fluid thrown off by the rotating parts of the transmission system; structure, forming a fluid channel extending from the fluid collection cavity, in fluid communication with the transmission member, so that collected fluid flows from the fluid collection cavity through the fluid channel to the transmission member, thereby lubricating the transmission member . 2. The transmission lubricating system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes wheels, and a power source, which can drive the transmission parts connected to the transmission system, and the transmission lubrication system also includes: The rotating member is connected to the power source and the wheels. When the power source drives the transmission system, the rotating member rotates under the drive of the power source; when the vehicle is towed, the rotation of the wheel drives the rotating member turn. 3. The transmission lubrication system of claim 2, wherein the transmission member is a sleeve connected to the rotating member, the sleeve rotating when the rotating member rotates during traction. 4. The transmission lubrication system of claim 2, wherein the rotating member is one of an output chain and a gear. 5. The transmission lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a power source, and the transmission lubrication system further comprises: a valve mounted within the fluid passage, operable to restrict fluid flow within the fluid passage when the vehicle is being powered by the power source; selectively openable to allow fluid to collect from the fluid passage when the vehicle is not being powered by the power source chamber flow to the transmission member. 6. The transmission lubrication system according to claim 1, further comprising: A branch channel, extending from the fluid channel, allows fluid to flow from the fluid channel through the branch channel to another transmission member. 7. The transmission lubrication system according to claim 6, further comprising: A check valve, located in the branch passage, can be selectively opened to allow fluid to flow through the branch passage to the other transmission member when the pressure of the fluid passage reaches a predetermined level. 8. The transmission lubrication system of claim 7, wherein the valve in the branch passage is a spring loaded check ball valve. 9. The transmission lubrication system of claim 1 wherein said fluid collection chamber includes an overflow feature that allows collected fluid to overflow said fluid collection chamber when said chamber collects a predetermined level of fluid. 10. The transmission lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission system comprises a transmission box; Wherein, the structure forming the fluid channel is a transmission box. 11. A vehicle driveline having a power source and wheels, said driveline comprising: a housing forming an interior space configured to accommodate a lubricating fluid; a rotating member, located in the inner space, contactable with lubricating fluid, and connected to the power source and the wheels, when the power source drives the transmission system, the rotating member can be driven to rotate by the power source , when the vehicle is moved by traction, it can be driven by the wheels to rotate, wherein when driven by the wheels to rotate, the rotating parts throw out lubricating fluid; transmission parts; and The fluid collection cavity is located in the inner space and is in fluid communication with the transmission member, which can collect the lubricating fluid flung out, transmit the lubricating fluid to the transmission member, and lubricate it. 12. The transmission system according to claim 11, further comprising: A structure, forming a fluid channel extending from the fluid collection chamber, is in fluid communication with the fluid collection chamber and the transmission member when the fluid collection chamber is located in the inner space. 13. The transmission system of claim 12, further comprising: another transmission part; A branch channel, extending from the fluid channel, allows fluid to flow from the fluid channel to lubricate the other transmission member. 14. The transmission system of claim 13, further comprising: A check valve, located in the branch passage, is selectively openable to allow fluid to flow through the branch passage to the other transmission member when the pressure in the fluid passage reaches a predetermined level. 15. The power transmission system of claim 11, wherein the housing forms a fluid channel extending from the fluid collection chamber for fluid communication with the fluid collection chamber when the fluid collection chamber is located in the interior space. The collection cavity and the transmission member. 16. The transmission system of claim 15, further comprising: a valve mounted in the fluid passage, capable of restricting fluid flow in the fluid passage when the power source is driving the vehicle; selectively openable to allow fluid flow when the power source is not driving the vehicle flow within the fluid channel. 17. The transmission system of claim 11, wherein the fluid collection chamber includes an overflow feature that allows collected fluid to overflow the fluid collection chamber when fluid collected in the chamber reaches a predetermined level. 18 . The transmission system according to claim 11 , wherein the housing includes an extension portion, so that the injected lubricating fluid wraps around the extension portion and drips into the fluid collection chamber. 19. A method of lubricating a driveline of a vehicle, the driveline containing a lubricating fluid, during traction of the vehicle, the method comprising: Towing a vehicle so that the wheels of the vehicle turn; rotating a rotatable member located in said driveline through a lubricating fluid in response to rotation of a wheel, throwing lubricating fluid into said driveline; Collect the flung fluid; and Directs the collected fluid to the transmission, lubricating it. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the transmission system includes a housing, the method further comprising: After the rotating step, the flung fluid envelops the housing; and The flung fluid drips from the sheathing casing, and the dripping fluid is collected.