Transmission for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12078240-B2
Application number	US-202118009468-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2021
Priority date	Jun 10, 2020
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

A transmission (1) for a motor vehicle (2) includes a transmission housing (3) with an interior space (4) and an oil sump (6). At least one rotating transmission component (5a) is arranged in the interior space (4) of the transmission housing (3). At least one compensating tank (7) is configured for collecting oil from the interior space (4). The compensating tank (7) is fluidically connected to the oil sump (6) via at least one return (8). The particular return (8) delivers a predefined flow back into the oil sump (6) as a function of a power throughput of the transmission (1).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transmission ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle ( 2 ), comprising a transmission housing ( 3 ) with an interior space ( 4 ) and an oil sump ( 6 );
at least one rotating transmission component ( 5 a ) arranged within the interior space ( 4 ) of the transmission housing ( 3 );
at least one compensating tank ( 7 ) configured for collecting oil from the interior space ( 4 ) of the transmission housing ( 3 ), the at least one compensating tank ( 7 ) fluidically connected to the oil sump ( 6 ) via at least one return ( 8 ); and
a valve ( 9 ) arranged at the at least one return ( 8 ),
wherein the return ( 8 ) delivers a predefined oil flow back into the oil sump ( 6 ) as a function of a rotational speed and a torque of the at least one rotating transmission component ( 5 a ) during operation of the transmission ( 11 ) via opening of the valve ( 9 ), and
wherein the valve ( 9 ), in a resting state when the at least one transmission component ( 5 a ) is not rotating, switches into a closed condition in order to limit draining of the at least one compensating tank ( 7 ).

2. The transmission ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the valve ( 9 ) is a proportional valve.

3. The transmission ( 1 ) of claim 2 , wherein the oil flow back into the oil sump ( 6 ) is adjustable as a function of an oil temperature.

4. The transmission ( 1 ) of claim 3 , further comprising at least one temperature sensor ( 10 ) arranged at the oil sump ( 6 ).

5. The transmission ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the valve ( 9 ) is a pulsed valve.

6. The transmission ( 1 ) of claim 5 , wherein the oil flow back into the oil sump ( 6 ) is adjustable as a function of an oil temperature.

7. The transmission ( 1 ) of claim 6 , further comprising at least one temperature sensor ( 10 ) arranged at the oil sump ( 6 ).

8. The transmission ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein an outlet ( 11 ) of the at least one compensating tank ( 7 ) connected to the at least one return ( 8 ) is arranged above the oil sump ( 6 ) in a direction of gravity.

9. The transmission ( 1 ) of claim 8 , wherein the at least one compensating tank ( 7 ) is connected to the interior space ( 4 ) of the transmission housing ( 3 ) via an opening ( 12 ) formed at the transmission housing ( 3 ).

10. The transmission ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one compensating tank ( 7 ) is arranged within the transmission housing ( 3 ).

11. A motor vehicle ( 2 ) comprising the transmission ( 1 ) of claim 1 .

12. The transmission ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the valve ( 9 ), in the resting state when the at least one transmission component ( 5 a ) is not rotating, limits draining of the at least one compensating tank ( 7 ) such that an oil level in the oil sump is lower at a beginning of the operation of the transmission ( 1 ) than when all oil has collected in the oil sump.

13. The transmission ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the valve ( 9 ), in the resting state when the at least one transmission component ( 5 a ) is not rotating, retains oil in the at least one compensating tank ( 7 ) to reduce churning losses at a beginning of the operation of the transmission ( 1 ).

14. The transmission ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
the valve ( 9 ) is configured to close in response to the transmission ( 1 ) adjusting to the resting state; and
the valve ( 9 ) is configured to adjust oil flow through the return ( 8 ) to the predefined oil flow as the function of the rotational speed and the torque of the at least one rotating transmission component ( 5 a ) only during operation of the transmission ( 1 ).

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Kessler Andreas
• König Johannes
• Günes Nihat

Classifications

• F16H57/0447

  Control of lubricant levels, e.g. lubricant level control dependent on temperature · CPC title

• F16H57/0452

  Oil pans · CPC title

• F16H57/0449

  Sensors or indicators for controlling the fluid level · CPC title

• F16H57/0421

  on or within the casing, e.g. shields or baffles for collecting lubricant, tubes, pipes, grooves, channels or the like · CPC title

• F16H57/0409 Primary

  characterised by increasing efficiency, e.g. by reducing splash losses · CPC title