CN1727733A

CN1727733A - Transmission case for lube return and method

Info

Publication number: CN1727733A
Application number: CNA2005100637627A
Authority: CN
Inventors: W·S·里德; B·D·洛夫
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 2004-03-22
Filing date: 2005-03-22
Publication date: 2006-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-22
Also published as: CN1734133A; CN1701996A; CN100439759C; CN100460723C; CN100436883C; CN1702346A; CN1721741A; CN100433506C; CN1722572A; CN1722571B; CN1707143B; CN100521369C; CN100436892C; CN1722571A; CN1744411A; CN1702355A; CN100416132C; CN1722575A; CN100550579C; CN1727732A

Abstract

The invention provides a transmission case shell, which comprises a back shell partly closing the transmission case around a center axial line. One end of the back shell is hermetically connected with the main shell, and the other end of the back shell is hermetically connected with the extension part of a driving device. The back shell has an axial passage which is approximately in parallel with the central axial line, and a cross passage which is basically in direct cross with the axial passage. The cross passage and the axial passage are communicated in a fluid mode in order to allow fluid to be discharged into the main shell from the extension part of the driving device. The invention also provides a method of enabling the fluid to flow back into a transmission case crankcase oil tray.

Description

Be used for gear box casing and method that lubricant oil refluxes

Technical field

The application requires to enjoy in the preference of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application of submitting on March 22nd, 2,004 60/555141, and this application is integrally incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a kind of gear box casing and the lubrication flow of process therefrom.

Background technique

Oilhole or belt carcass that current gearbox requires to have very long compound inclined holes drilling to be got out are cast the oilhole that is cast out, so that oil (promptly lubricated and cooling fluid) is back to the oil sump from rear end bearing, axle bush and output Sealing.This is necessary, so that the guiding oil return is mobile around the clutch of being located at rear end, and prevents that oil is deposited on output Sealing place.

Summary of the invention

A kind of gear box casing and method that allows oil (promptly cool off and lubricate and use fluid) from the novelty of gearbox rear portion discharge is provided.Within the scope of the invention, gear box casing comprises rear case, and it has partly sealed the gearbox parts round central axis.Rear case links to each other with the main casing sealed type at one end, links to each other with the extension sealed type of drive unit at the other end place.Rear case has the axial passage that is roughly parallel to central axis, and the cross aisle that is substantially normal to this axial passage.This cross aisle and axial passage fluid communication are so that allow fluid to be discharged into the main casing from the drive unit extension.

In one aspect of the invention, when rear case links to each other with the drive unit extension, between them, formed depression (well).This depression and axial passage fluid communication, so fluid can be discharged via axial passage from depression.This axial passage can be arranged on the rear case, so that make the fluid in the depression remain on predetermined liquid level, thus the lubricated output Sealing of being located on the drive unit extension.Fluid can also lubricate the bearing in the drive unit extension.

In another aspect of this invention, rear case has formed the first inner depression and the second inner depression at least in part, and fluid type links to each other via cross aisle for they.Be discharged into fluid in the main casing first and second inner depressions of flowing through via axial passage.The gearbox parts preferably include the Parking engaging gear that is contained in the first inner depression.Rear case preferably also has second axial passage of fluid communication between cross aisle and main casing, to be used for discharging the fluid in to main casing (for example from the second inner depression).Second axial passage can be cast in the rear case.

Because rear case has utilized axial passage with vertical cross aisle and be combined with the inside depression that is formed in the rear case, therefore can avoid leakage problem relevant with the inclined hole drilling and the expensive problem relevant with the discharge passage of sand casting process.Therefore, rear case preferably forms by die casting.Axial passage and cross aisle can get out after casting technique, perhaps form during die casting according to its size and position.

Therefore, the present invention also provides a kind of method of fluid reflux in the gear box oil drain pan that makes in the gearbox.This method comprises the casting rear case, and it can have the shape of frustum roughly (promptly by the top of a cone is cut away and the cross section is parallel to the shape that the awl end forms).This method also is included in and gets out roughly axial passage (promptly being roughly parallel to the passage of gearbox central axis) in the rear case, and gets out another passage that is approximately perpendicular to this axial passage in rear case.This method comprises rear case is linked to each other with main casing, makes the gearbox parts to be contained in the rear case.This method also comprises the drive unit extension is linked to each other with rear case, thereby formed depression between them.At last, this method comprises that the output Sealing to linking to each other with the drive unit extension is lubricated, and the fluid that will be used for lubricating in the depression of exporting Sealing is discharged in the oil sump via axial passage and cross aisle.The casting step can be included in and form the first inner depression and the second inner depression in the rear case, makes cross aisle link to each other with these depression fluid types.In addition, the casting step also can be included in formation another axial passage adjacent with the second inner depression in the rear case, is used for fluid is emptied to main casing from rear case.

From the following detailed description of implementing best mode of the present invention, also in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, can be easily aware of above-mentioned feature and advantage of the present invention and other feature and advantage.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the schematic cross sectional views that includes the electromechanical transmission of main casing and rear case;

Fig. 2 is the partial sectional view of a gearbox part shown in Figure 1, has shown the drive unit extension that links to each other with rear case;

Fig. 3 is the perspective schematic view of part dotted line, and the partial sectional view of rear case illustrated in figures 1 and 2; With

Fig. 4 is the partial sectional view of rear case inboard shown in Fig. 1-3.

Embodiment

Referring to accompanying drawing, similar in the drawings label is represented similar parts, and Fig. 1 has shown the hybrid electro-mechanical gearbox 10 with central axis 12.In gearbox 10, be provided with the first motor/generator assembly 14 and the second motor/generator assembly 16 round central axis 12.Each motor/

generator assembly

14,16 comprises rotor 17A separately, 17B, stator 18A separately, 18B, and

motor casing

19A, 19B (each rotor and stator are to being motor/generator).Motor/generator assembly 14,16 (being designated as A and B) can combine in many ways, so that motor, abrupt deceleration vehicle that acceleration and moving vehicle, starting link to each other with gearbox, and the battery charge to linking to each other with

assembly

14,16.

Main shaft 20 longitudinally is provided with and can be around central axis 12 rotation.Be provided with some interior axles as interior axle 22 with one heart round main shaft 20, they also can rotate around central axis 12.Be provided with input shaft 24 before main shaft 20, it can be operated so that power is delivered to the gearbox 10 from the motor (not shown).Be located at the joint of the one or more clutches in a plurality of clutches (being shown as first clutch 26, second clutch 28, three-clutch 30 and four clutches 32) in the gearbox 10 and the one or more interconnection in first planetary gear set 34, second planetary gear set 36 and the third line star gear train 38, so that under different gear ratio, give output member 39 with transmission of power.

Main casing 40 has surrounded motor/

generator assembly

14,16 and

clutch

26,28 and

planetary gear set

34,36 substantially.Two electric machine assemblies 14,16 are set in gearbox 10 requires to make main casing 40 just in time to end at after the motor 16 at rear more.This is necessary, can the relative opening from main casing be installed by two motor/

generator assemblies

14,16 so that allow.Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 again, rear case 42 is installed on the gearbox main casing 40 at its front end 43 places, surrounded most of functional part of gearbox, the park pawl engaging gear 44 (other parts such as actuator in the park pawl system are not shown), three-clutch 30 and the four clutches 32 that comprise the park pawl system, and the third line star gear train 38.The gearbox lubricating fluid is with from three-clutch piston 46 and four clutches piston 48, three-clutch bag 50 and four clutches bag 52 and support axle bush 54A, and the form of the residual fluid in the lubricating fluid of 54B and thrust-bearing 56 is present in the rear end of gearbox.On 59 (see figure 1)s of the rear end of rear case 42 bolted joints drive unit extension 58.Drive unit extension 58 is to hold parts, and it has held output member 39, and is configured to can interact with other driving system structure (not shown) and give the wheel (not shown) with transmission of power, and this is that those skilled in the art is well-known.Referring to Fig. 2, between rear case 42 and drive unit extension 58, formed depression 60.The remaining cooling fluid that needs some moderate amount lubricates the gearbox output Sealing 62 that supports axle bush 54B (it is the drive system axle bush) and link to each other with drive unit extension 58, thereby with drive unit extension 58 guiding be sealed on other driving device structure (not shown) with output member 39 splined joint, thereby finished the drive system of gearbox.Shown the corresponding configuration that is suitable for two-wheel drive among the figure, but the present invention can be equally applicable to the corresponding configuration of four-wheel drive.Yet,, therefore need the method that remaining lubricating fluid is refluxed because the unnecessary fluid of gearbox rear end can damage the performance (by increasing spin loss and pumping loss) of gearbox.Owing to be packaged in the clutch 30 of gearbox 10 rear end, 32 and planetary gear set 38 do not allow remaining lubricating fluid directly to reflux (i.e. the passage that is got out via the inclined hole drilling) in oil sump 64, so rear case 42 must provide and can make these fluids get back to path in the oil sump 64.That is to say, because rear case 42 has surrounded most of functional part of gearbox, the residual fluid of therefore exporting Sealing 62 places is not enough closely can utilize used lubricating fluid to be back to conventional method in the oil sump 64 (for example inclined hole drilling or belt carcass sand casting process are made passage) apart from oil sump 64.

Referring to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, rear case 42 comprises short axial passage or the opening 70 (only being shown among Fig. 3) that is parallel to gearbox central axis 12, and its depression 60 that will export Sealing 62 places links to each other with the cylindrical depression 72 that has held Parking engaging gear 44 shown in Figure 2.Article one, the horizontal cross aisle 74 of quadrature enters depression 76 with the bottom of Parking engaging gear depression 72 and Parking engagement systems in the rear case 42 and links to each other.The size of park pawl engagement systems depression 76 is made for can hold park pawl actuator (not shown).Park pawl engagement systems depression 76 is walked around three-clutch 36 by second axial passage 80 of preferably casting formation and is linked to each other with oil sump 64 (see figure 2)s with four clutches 38, and the hole and the belt carcass that do not need long inclined hole drilling to be got out are cast the hole that is cast out.

Fig. 4 has shown the view of looking backward from the inside of rear case 42.First axial passage 70, Parking engaging gear depression 72, cross aisle 74, Parking engagement systems enter depression 76 and second axial passage 80 and have formed fluid return path from depression 60 (see figure 2)s to main casing 40 together.Referring to Fig. 2, an additional advantage of this oil drainback system is, accumulates in the liquid level L that lubricating fluid 82 on the gearbox output Sealing 62 can be set to optimum by the position that will export the axial passage 70 that Sealing depression 60 links to each other with Parking engaging gear depression 72.If the return flow path that has used typical long inclined hole drilling to be got out, the passage that got out of this inclined hole drilling may interfere with park pawl engaging gear depression 72 and the 4th piston hole 86 before discharging via the part 88 of rear case 42 so.This path is undesirable, and this is because the 4th piston 48 will stop up discharging, and near the engaging zones of the edge of rear case 42 (position 88 among Fig. 4) will suffer damage.

Suppose that rear case 42 made by die casting, and has the relatively short straight channels that gets out or cast out 70,74, so with have the typical case be used for will the output depression the compound slotted hole that gets out that is discharged in the oil sump of oil compare, the present invention can reduce because of not being inconsistent the quantity of the discarded rear case of leakproof requirement.Can also reduce and comprise that extra leakproof is tested, the dipping repairing is done over again, checked and the relevant cost of extra waste material.

Another alternative structure of the slotted hole that compound drilling got out is the passage that belt carcass casts out, and it requires rear case to make by sand casting process.Sand casting process can increase the cost of rear case significantly.Since the present invention utilized one group short get out passage and inner depression, so the belt carcass casting is optional, can avoid and the relevant expensive cost of belt carcass casting.

Referring to shown in Fig. 1-4 and described content, make the fluid reflux in the gearbox 10 comprise casting rear case 42 to the method in the gear box oil drain pan 64.This method also is included in and gets out roughly axial passage 70 in the rear case 42, and gets out another passage 74 that is approximately perpendicular to axial passage 70.Then rear case 42 is linked to each other with main casing 40, and drive unit extension 58 is connected on the rear case 42, thereby between them, form a depression 60.At last, the drive system axle bush 54B in output Sealing 62 and the drive unit extension 58 is lubricated, from depression 60, is discharged in the oil sump 64 via

passage

70,74 with being used for lubricating the fluid of exporting Sealing 62 and drive system axle bush 54B.

Implement best mode of the present invention though described in detail, however be familiar with those skilled in the art in the invention can recognize belong to the claims scope interior be used to implement multiple alternative design of the present invention and embodiment.

Claims

1. gear box casing comprises:

Rear case, it can partly seal the gearbox parts round central axis, and links to each other with the main casing sealed type at one end, links to each other with the extension sealed type of drive unit at the other end place;

Wherein, described rear case has the axial passage that is roughly parallel to central axis, and is substantially normal to the described axial passage and the cross aisle of fluid communication with it, so that fluid is discharged into the described main casing from described drive unit extension.

2. gear box casing according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, when described drive unit extension is connected on the described rear case, described rear case and described drive unit extension compounding practice and formed depression at least in part, described depression and described axial passage fluid communication make fluid to discharge via described axial passage from described depression.

3. gear box casing according to claim 2 is characterized in that, described axial passage is arranged to the fluid in the described depression to be remained on predetermined liquid level, thus the lubricated output Sealing of being located on the described drive unit extension.

4. gear box casing according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described rear case has formed the first inner depression and at least in part via the second inner depression of the described cross aisle and the described first inner depression fluid communication; With

Be discharged into fluid in the described main casing the flow through described first inner depression and the second inner depression via described cross aisle.

5. gear box casing according to claim 4 is characterized in that, described gearbox parts comprise the Parking engaging gear; The described first inner depression has held described Parking engaging gear.

6. gear box casing according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described axial passage is first axial passage; Described first axial passage is between described drive unit extension and the described cross aisle; Described rear case has second axial passage of fluid communication between described cross aisle and described main casing, to be used for discharging the fluid in to described main casing.

7. gear box casing according to claim 1 is characterized in that described rear case forms by die casting.

8. gear box casing according to claim 7 is characterized in that, described axial passage and described cross aisle form by described die casting.

9. gear box casing according to claim 7 is characterized in that, described axial passage and described cross aisle are got out after described die casting.

10. gear box casing according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described rear case is the shape of frustum roughly.

11. a hybrid electro-mechanical gearbox comprises:

Input component;

Output member;

Be operatively coupled on first and second motor/generators between described input component and the described output member, be used to described output member that power optionally is provided and optionally store power;

Basically sealed the main casing of described first and second motor/generators;

With the rear case that described main casing links to each other, it is between described main casing and the described output member, and has further sealed described first and second motor/generators;

Link to each other with described rear case and round the drive unit extension of described output member;

The Sealing that links to each other with described drive unit extension;

Wherein, between described rear case and drive unit extension, formed depression; With

Described rear case has the axially open that the fluid that is positioned to make in the described depression remains on predetermined fluid level, is used for lubricated described Sealing and the fluid that is higher than described predetermined fluid level of described depression is discharged in the described main casing.

12. hybrid electro-mechanical gearbox according to claim 11, it is characterized in that, described rear case also comprises and is substantially normal to the described axial passage and the cross aisle of fluid communication with it, so that the fluid in the described drive unit extension is discharged in the described main casing.

13. hybrid electro-mechanical gearbox according to claim 12 is characterized in that, described rear case has formed the first inner depression and at least in part via the second inner depression of the described cross aisle and the described first inner depression fluid communication; Be discharged into fluid in the described main casing described first and second inner depressions of flowing through via described axial passage; Described gearbox parts comprise the Parking engaging gear; The described first inner depression has held described Parking engaging gear.

14. hybrid electro-mechanical gearbox according to claim 10 is characterized in that described rear case forms by die casting, described axial passage and described cross aisle get out in described and cast out in the rear case.

15. one kind makes the method for fluid reflux in the gear box oil drain pan in the gearbox, described method comprises:

The casting rear case;

Get out roughly axial passage in described rear case, wherein said axial passage is roughly parallel to the central axis of described gearbox;

In described rear case, get out another passage that is approximately perpendicular to described axial passage;

Described rear case is linked to each other with main casing, make the gearbox parts be contained in the described rear case;

The drive unit extension is linked to each other with described rear case, thereby between them, form depression;

Adopt the fluid in the described depression to come the output Sealing that links to each other with described drive unit extension is lubricated; With

The fluid that is used in the described depression of lubricated described output Sealing is discharged in the oil sump via described axial passage and described cross aisle.

16. method according to claim 15 is characterized in that, described casting step comprises:

In described rear case, form the first inner depression and the second inner depression, described another passage links to each other the described first inner depression with the described second inner depression fluid type, wherein, be discharged into fluid in the described oil sump described first and second inner depressions of flowing through.

17. method according to claim 15 is characterized in that, described casting step comprises:

In described rear case, get out another axial passage with the second inner depression fluid communication, be used for described fluid is emptied to described main casing from described rear case.

18. method according to claim 15 is characterized in that, has connected the drive system axle bush on described drive unit extension; Described lubricated step also comprises lubricated described drive system axle bush; Described drain steps comprises that also discharging is used for lubricating the fluid of described drive system axle bush.