WO2021070166A1

WO2021070166A1 - A tail shaft housing for integrating transmission and transfer case of a vehicle powertrain

Info

Publication number: WO2021070166A1
Application number: PCT/IB2020/059598
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pradipta CHATTERJEE; Mukesh Kumar GUPTA; Rahul Soni
Original assignee: Mahindra Defence Systems Limited
Priority date: 2019-10-12
Filing date: 2020-10-13
Publication date: 2021-04-15

Abstract

The present disclosure envisages a tail shaft housing (6, 50). The tail shaft housing (6, 50) is configured to integrate transmission case (3) and transfer case (2) of a vehicle powertrain. The housing (6, 50) comprises a tail shaft (40), a support bearing (10), a speed sensor toner ring (20), a cutout portion (30). The support bearing (10) is configured to secure the tail shaft (40) with the housing (6, 50). The support bearing (10) is further configured to eliminate potential unsupported vibrations of the tail shaft (40). The housing (6, 50) optimizes power train layout and eliminates the need of a rear end cover oil sealing and an output shaft speed sensing arrangement in the power train transmission. The housing (6, 50) further reduces the weight of an independent mounting arrangement of transfer case used in four-wheel drive vehicle power train.

Description

A TAIL SHAFT HOUSING FOR INTEGRATING TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE OF A VEHICLE POWERTRAIN

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of vehicle power train. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to tail shaft housing.

BACKGROUND

The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.

Generally, power train of a four-wheel drive vehicle includes an engine, a transmission, and a transfer case for powering front and rear axles. In general practice, two types of transfer case mounting arrangements are used i.e. a remote mounting transfer case arrangement and a direct mounted transfer case arrangement. In remotely mounted transfer case arrangement, the transfer case is mounted on the chassis frame and an intermediate shaft to transfer drive is connected between the transmission output and the input of the transfer case. The intermediate shaft needs universal joints or a suitable mechanism to compensate the movement of transfer case with transmission assembly. However, in the remote mounted transfer case arrangement, the transmission requires an end cover with an oil seal to prevent splashing of oil therefrom, which increases the cost of this arrangement. This also increases the length, weight and cost of the transmission.

In directly mounted transfer case arrangement, the transfer case is mounted on the transmission housing with an adapter housing (or an adapter in certain cases). The transmission output shaft connects directly with the input shafts of the transfer case or via a small adapter shaft. However, the longer length of the adapter shaft increases unsupported vibrations of the adapter shaft on the arrangement.

Therefore, there is felt a need of a tail shaft housing for integration of transmission and transfer case for mitigating the aforesaid drawbacks. OBJECTS

Some of the objects of thel present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a tail shaft housing for integration of transmission and transfer case of four-wheel drive vehicle power train.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a tail shaft housing that optimizes power train layout.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a tail shaft housing that eliminates the need of a rear end cover, oil sealing and an output shaft speed sensing arrangement in the power train transmission.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a tail shaft housing that reduces the weight of independent mounting arrangement of the transfer case used in four-wheel drive vehicle power train.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure envisages a tail shaft housing for integrating transfer case and transmission of a vehicle powertrain. The housing comprises a support bearing, a tail shaft, a speed sensor toner ring, and a cutout portion. The support bearing is configured to secure the tail shaft with the housing. The speed sensor toner ring is mounted on the tail shaft. The cutout portion is configured to receive the speed sensor toner ring therein. The housing is configured to eliminate potential unsupported vibrations of the tail shaft.

In an embodiment, the transfer case sis configured to be positioned with respect to the vehicle ramp over angle and propeller shaft angle. In an embodiment, the ramp over angle is in the range 25° to 35°. In another embodiment, the propeller shaft angle is in the range 1° to 10°.

In an embodiment, the housing includes an integrated oil partition wall along with an oil seal is configured thereon to prevent accumulation of oil in the housing via the transmission case. In an embodiment, the partition wall creates oil barrier with the oil seal on the tail shaft.

In an embodiment, the housing allows a power train to mount thereon.

In an embodiment, the housing is configured to hold the transfer case at a predetermined position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWING

The tail shaft housing for integration of transmission and transfer case of a vehicle powertrain, of the present disclosure, will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a typical remote mounting arrangement of a transfer case; Figure 2 illustrates a side view of a typical direct mounting arrangement of the transfer case;

Figure 3 illustrates an enlarged view of the tail shaft housing, showing a transmission output shaft speed sensor and a toner ring mounted on a tail shaft;

Figure 4 illustrates a side view of a powertrain position in vehicle layout in reference to vehicle ramp over angle and propeller shaft angle i.e. A & B; Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tail shaft housing; and

Figure 6 illustrates an isometric view of a powertrain mounted on the tail shaft housing of

Figure 3.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND DRAWING A - Vehicle ramp over angle B - Propeller shaft angle

1 - Drive Shaft

2 - Transfer case

3 - Transmission case 4 - Adapter plate

5 - Adapter shaft

7 - Torque converter housing

8 - Engine 10 - Support bearing

20 - Speed sensor toner ring 30 - Cutout portion 40 - Tail shaft 6/ 50 - Housing 60 - Mount

70 - Partition wall 80 - Oil seal

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.

The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The ter s "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, elements, and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

When an element is referred to as being “mounted on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element.

Terms such as “inner”, “outer”, “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.

Figure 1 depicts a typical remote mounting arrangement of a transfer case 2. The transfer case 2 as shown in Figure 1 is mounted on a chassis frame (or equivalent structural frame) with/without anti-vibration mounts (AVM). A driveshaft 1 transfers power from a transmission 3 to the transfer case 2. Since, the engine transmission assembly is generally isolated from structural frame by means of Anti vibration mounts (AVM), the drive shaft 1 is required to have suitable arrangement to damp the vibrations. However, in the remotely mounted transfer case arrangement, the transmission requires an end cover with an oil seal to prevent splashing of oil therefrom. This increases the cost of this arrangement. Figure 2 depicts a typical direct mounting arrangement of a transfer case. In this arrangement the transfer case 2 is directly mounted on the transmission housing 3 via an adapter housing/adapter plate 4 and a small adapter shaft 5 that drives the transfer case. However, the longer length of the adapter shaft 5 increases unsupported vibrations on the direct mounting arrangement. Therefore, the present disclosure envisages a tail shaft housing for integrating a transmission and a transfer case of a vehicle powertrain that alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks. The tail shaft housing for integrating the transmission and transfer case of a vehicle powertrain (herein after referred to as “housing (6, 50)”) is described with reference to Figure 3 through Figure 6. Figure 3 depicts, the design of the tail shaft housing (6, 50) of the present disclosure. The housing (6, 50) is a single unit configured to optimize the power train layout of a four-wheel drive vehicle. The housing (6, 50) comprises a tail shaft 40, a support bearing 10, cut out portion 30, and a speed sensor toner ring 20. The housing (6, 50) is configured to integrate the transmission 3 with the transfer case 2.

Figure 4 depicts a vehicle power train layout mounted with the tail shaft housing (6, 50) as shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows the importance of the positioning of the transfer case 2 in a vehicle layout with reference to vehicle ramp over angle (A) and propeller shaft angle (B). The utility for the unique tail shaft housing (6, 50) design can be realized by comparing the position of the transmission 3 and the transfer case 2. Figure 4 depicts one end of a torque converter housing 7 coupled with an engine 8 and the other end coupled with the transmission 3. In an embodiment, the vehicle ramp over angle (A) is typically in the range 25° to 35°. In an embodiment, the propeller shaft angle (B) is typically in the range 1° to 10°.

The design of the housing (6, 50) includes a partition wall 70 and the oil seal 80. The partition wall 70 and the oil seal 80 are integrated in the housing (6, 50) such that they prevent the oil from the transmission 3 from getting accumulated in tail shaft housing (6, 50). This facilitates the use of the transmission 3 without the need of a rear end closing cover. Figure 5 shows that the partition wall 70 of the tail shaft housing (6, 50) that creates oil barrier with an oil seal 80 on the tail shaft 40, and provides bearing support 10 to the tail shaft 40 from the tail shaft housing (6, 50). The partition wall 70 is an integrated projection of tail shaft housing (6, 50) only.

The Figure 3 shows that a support bearing 10 is on the tail shaft 40 of the housing (6, 50). The speed sensor toner ring 20 is mounted on the tail shaft 40 and the sensor toner ring 20 is configured on the cutout portions 30 of the housing (6, 50).

Figure 6 depicts the position of a power train mount 60 on the tail shaft housing (6, 50) and the mounting arrangement of the same in the vehicle frame. Also, the housing (6, 50) helps in reducing bending load on transmission 3 as compared to the conventional arrangement.

The incorporation of an integrated transmission via a shaft 40 along with the speed sensing toner ring 20 in the tail shaft housing (6, 50) eliminates the need to have tail shaft 40 speed sensing arrangement in the transmission 3. The tail shaft 40 is secured with the tail shaft housing (6, 50) by support bearing 10. The design of the housing (6, 50) eliminates the potential risk of unsupported vibration on the tail shaft 40. Further, the housing (6, 50) helps in reducing any direct bending load on transmission 3 as compared to the conventional arrangements.

The housing (6, 50) eliminates the need of transmission end cover with oil seal and output shaft speed sensing arrangement. The tail shaft housing (6, 50) holds the transfer case 2 in designated position. The housing (6, 50) eliminates separate and bulky transfer case 2 mounting arrangement with chassis frame used for remote mounting of transfer cases.

The tail shaft housing (6, 50) design as illustrated in the present disclosure reduces bending load on transmission 3. The bearing support 10 to the tail shaft 50 from the housing (6, 50) eliminates potential unsupported vibration of long & heavy tail shaft 40 used in tail shaft housing (6, 50).

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS

The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a tail shaft housing for integration of transmission and transfer case of a vehicle power train, which:

• optimizes power train layout;

• eliminates the need of a rear end cover, oil sealing and an output shaft speed sensing arrangement in the power train transmission; and

• reduces the weight of an independent mounting arrangement of transfer case used in four-wheel drive vehicle power train.

ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE One of the objects of the Patents Law is to provide protection to new technologies in all fields and domains of technologies. The new technologies shall or may contribute to the country’s economic growth by way of involvement in manufacturing the same in India.

Protection of new technologies by way of patenting the product or process will contribute significantly to innovation development in the country. Further by granting patent, the patentee can contribute to manufacturing the new product or new process of manufacturing by himself or by technology collaboration or through the licensing.

The applicant submits that the present disclosure will contribute to the country’s economy, which is one of the purposes to enact the Patents Act, 1970. The product in accordance with present invention will be in great demand in the country and worldwide due to its novel technical features. The present invention provides a technical advancement in the field of vehicle power trains, particularly tail shaft housing. The technology in accordance with present disclosure will provide product cheaper, and result in saving in time of total process of manufacturing. The saving in production time will improve the productivity, and cost cutting of the product, which will directly contribute to economy of the country.

The product will contribute new concept in powertrains, wherein patented process/product will be used. The present disclosure will replace the whole concept of integrating transmission case and transfer case of a vehicle power train. The product is developed in the national interest and will contribute to country economy.

The economy significance details requirement may be called during the examination. Only after filing of this Patent application, the applicant can work publicly related to present disclosure product/process/method. The applicant will disclose all the details related to the economic significance contribution after the protection of invention.

The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments, which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.

The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.

The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A tail shaft housing (6, 50) for integrating transmission case (3) and transfer case (2) of a vehicle powertrain, said housing (6, 50) comprising: a. a support bearing (10); b. a tail shaft (40), said support bearing (10) configured to secure said tail shaft (40) with said housing (6, 50); c. a speed sensor toner ring (20) mounted on said tail shaft (40); and d. a cutout portion (30) configured to receive said speed sensor toner ring (20) therein, wherein said housing (6, 50) configured to eliminate potential unsupported vibrations of said tail shaft (40).

2. The tail shaft housing (6, 50) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transfer case (2) is configured to be positioned with respect to the vehicle ramp over angle (A) and propeller shaft angle (B).

3. The tail shaft housing (6, 50) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ramp over angle (A) is in the range 25° to 35°.

4. The tail shaft housing (6, 50) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said propeller shaft angle (B) is in the range 1° to 10°.

5. The tail shaft housing (6, 50) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing (6, 50) includes an integrated oil partition wall (70) along with an oil seal (80) configured thereon to prevent accumulation of oil in said housing (6, 50) via the transmission case (3).

6. The tail shaft housing (6, 50) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said partition wall (70) creates oil barrier with said oil seal (80) on the tail shaft (40).

7. The tail shaft housing (6, 50) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing (6, 50) allows a power train to mount thereon.

8. The tail shaft housing (6, 50) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing (6, 50) is configured to hold the transfer case (2) at a predetermined position.