Lubrication – Systems – Splash
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-17
2001-05-01
Hannon, Thomas R. (Department: 3682)
Lubrication
Systems
Splash
C184S006120, C184S011100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223858
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a transmission lubricating device which supplies transmission oil selectively to high-speed and low-speed gearing in the transmission, depending on engine speed.
A transmission, or a similar device, is used in a vehicle to supply a force from the vehicle's engine to the wheels that depends on the driving conditions. The transmission can be set to one of several settings or “speeds”. The transmission includes an input shaft and a counter shaft situated in parallel. For each speed of the transmission, an input gear on the input shaft engages a corresponding counter gear on the counter shaft. A final drive gear, mounted at the end of the counter shaft near the engine, engages a final ring gear mounted on a differential case of a differential gearing. While rotating, the final ring gear scoops up transmission oil inside the transmission case, and sends the oil to lubricating devices which supply oil to the input and counter gears. Each input and counter gear is equipped with a lubricating device.
Examples of this type of transmission lubricating device are disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication Number 5-10856 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication Number 5-8120. Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication Number 5-10856 discusses a transmission in which the differential gear case is integrated with the transmission case. An oil guide on the side of a differential drive gear guides the transmission oil scooped up by the differential drive gear to the upper portion of the differential gear case. An oil tank stores the oil received from the oil guide. The change gear and bearings can be adequately lubricated, and the surface of oil in storage in the differential gear case during driving can be lowered.
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication Number 5-8120 describes a transmission lubricating device wherein a speed change gear, located on the lower part of the transmission case, always remains engaged. An oil guide on the side of speed change gear guides transmission oil scooped up by the speed change gear to the upper part of transmission case. The guided transmission oil flows through an oil pathway into an oil supply pathway formed in the core of gear shift. The oil surface of the transmission oil in storage can be lowered, and the speed change gear and bearings remain adequately lubricated.
However, with the transmission lubricating device of the prior art, an oil pump and many pipes are necessary to supply transmission oil to each speed gear. Mechanical energy losses are large when the oil pump is driven, thereby reducing fuel efficiency. The transmission's cost is high due to the pump and the pipes, but also due to the large amount of space necessary for the layout.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a transmission lubricating device that overcomes the limitations of the prior art.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a transmission lubricating device which automatically supplies oil to high-speed and low-speed gearing, depending on vehicle speed.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a transmission lubricating device which employs first and second oil gutters. The first gutter is preferentially supplied with oil at low speed and the second gutter is preferentially supplied with oil at high speed. Oil from the first gutter lubricates low-speed gearing, while oil from the second gutter lubricates high-speed gearing.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides a transmission lubrication system in which high and low speed gears of a vehicle transmission are selectively lubricated by transmission oil flung by a final ring gear. A first oil gutter directs the transmission oil to low speed gears when the transmission oil is flung at low speed. At higher speed, the transmission oil is flung past the first gutter to be received by a second gutter from which it flows to lubricate high speed gears.
According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a transmission lubricating device, comprising: an input shaft for driving by an engine, a counter shaft parallel to the input shaft, a first plurality of gears on the input shaft, a second plurality of gears on the counter shaft, the second plurality being selectively engageable with the first plurality to produce desired gear ratios, a final drive gear at an end of the counter shaft, a final ring gear engaging the final drive gear, the final ring gear being positioned to scoop up and fling transmission oil during rotation thereof, a first oil gutter adjacent the final ring gear receiving transmission oil scooped up by the final ring gear, a second oil gutter further away from the final ring gear than the first oil gutter, the first oil gutter including a first surface directing oil during low speed operation to low speed gears, the first oil gutter including a second surface directing oil to the second oil gutter during high speeds, and the second oil gutter including a receptacle for feeding oil received therein to high speed gears.
According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a transmission lubricating device comprising: a gear, the gear being rotatable at a speed related to a vehicle speed, the gear being positioned to scoop up and fling transmission oil during operation of the vehicle, a first gutter, the first gutter being positioned to receive transmission oil and to direct the transmission oil to low speed gears when the transmission oil is flung at low speed, a second gutter, and the second gutter being positioned to receive transmission oil and to direct the transmission oil to high speed gears when the transmission oil is flung at high speed.
The above, and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2049234 (1936-07-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 2053542 (1936-09-01), Vandervoort
patent: 3192788 (1965-07-01), Fodrea
patent: 4222283 (1980-09-01), Nagy
patent: 4227427 (1980-10-01), Dick
patent: 4896561 (1990-01-01), Hayakawa et al.
patent: 5456129 (1995-10-01), Tane et al.
patent: 58120 (1993-02-01), None
patent: 510856 (1993-02-01), None
Ubagai Toshikazu
Yoneda Shinobu
Hannon Thomas R.
Hansen Colby
Morrison Law Firm
Suzuki Motor Corporation
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