Oil distributor, axle drive and motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12331827-B2
Application number	US-202318531123-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2023
Priority date	Jun 25, 2021
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

An oil distributor for an axle drive of a motor vehicle, having a first trough element with a first wall, a second trough element which is placed onto the first trough element and has a second wall, wherein the first trough element and/or the second trough element has an oil capture opening; wherein in an assembled state, the first trough element is fluidically connected to the second trough element, and the first trough element and the second trough element form a U-shaped outer contour at least in portions such that the first trough element and the second trough element may surround portions of a gear wheel of a gear mechanism; and an oil outlet opening formed in the first trough element and/or the second trough element, via which an oil may emerge from the oil distributor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oil distributor for an axle drive of a motor vehicle, the oil distributor comprising:
a first trough element having a first wall;
a second trough element having a second wall, the second trough element placed onto the first trough element;
an oil capture opening being part of the first trough element and/or the second trough element; and
an oil outlet opening formed in the first trough element and/or the second trough element, via which an oil emerges from the oil distributor;
a first inner wall portion being part of the first wall on a side facing the second trough element;
a second inner wall portion being part of the second wall on a side facing the first trough element; and
a plurality of fluidic connection openings, one of the plurality of fluidic connection openings formed in the first inner wall portion, another of the plurality of fluidic connection openings formed in the second inner wall portion, the fluidic connection opening of the first trough element further comprising:
a protrusion on an outside of the first inner wall portion;

wherein, in an assembled state, the first trough element is fluidically connected to the second trough element, the first trough element and the second trough element form a U-shaped outer contour at least in portions such that the first trough element and the second trough element surround portions of a gear wheel of a gear mechanism, and the protrusion engages in the fluidic connection opening of the second trough element.

2. The oil distributor of claim 1 , the protrusion further comprising a circumferential collar.

3. The oil distributor of claim 1 , the fluidic connection opening of the second trough element further comprising a protrusion on an outside of the second inner wall portion, wherein the protrusion engages in the fluidic connection opening of the first trough element.

4. The oil distributor of claim 3 , the protrusion further comprising a circumferential collar.

5. The oil distributor of claim 1 , further comprising:
an outer wall portion being part of the first trough element, the outer wall portion spaced apart from the first inner wall portion;
a fastening receiver formed in the outer wall portion for stationary fastening of the first trough element; and
a material cutout formed in the first inner wall portion aligned with the fastening receiver.

6. The oil distributor of claim 5 , further comprising:
a material protrusion formed on the outside of the second inner wall portion;
wherein the material protrusion in an assembled state engages in the material cutout.

7. The oil distributor of claim 1 , wherein the first trough element and/or the second trough element is made of plastic and/or at least partially comprises plastic.

8. The oil distributor of claim 1 , wherein the oil outlet opening is arranged and/or formed in the first wall, in the second wall, and/or in a trough base of the first trough element or a trough base of the second trough element.

9. The oil distributor of claim 1 , the oil outlet opening further comprising a plurality of outlet openings spaced apart from one another.

10. The oil distributor of any of claim 1 , the oil outlet opening further comprising an oil guide rail on a trough outside of the first trough element and/or the second trough element.

11. The oil distributor of claim 1 , the oil guide rail further comprising a U-shaped cross-section.

12. An axle drive of a motor vehicle, comprising:
at least one output shaft of a gear mechanism;
an oil distributor, further comprising:
a first trough element having a first wall;
a second trough element having a second wall, the second trough element placed onto the first trough element;
an oil capture opening being part of the first trough element and/or the second trough element;
at least one oil outlet opening formed in the first trough element and/or the second trough element, via which an oil emerges from the oil distributor, the oil outlet opening further comprising:
at least one oil guide rail on a trough outside of the first trough element and/or the second trough element;

a first inner wall portion being part of the first wall on a side facing the second trough element;
a second inner wall portion being part of the second wall on a side facing the first trough element; and
a plurality of fluidic connection openings, one of the plurality of fluidic connection openings formed in the first inner wall portion, another of the plurality of fluidic connection openings formed in the second inner wall portion, the fluidic connection opening of the first trough element further comprising:
a protrusion on an outside of the first inner wall portion;

wherein, in an assembled state, the first trough element is fluidically connected to the second trough element, the first trough element and the second trough element form a U-shaped outer contour at least in portions such that the first trough element and the second trough element surround portions of a gear wheel of a gear mechanism, and the protrusion engages in the fluidic connection opening of the second trough element;

wherein a gear wheel is arranged rotationally fixedly on the output shaft, and the oil distributor, wherein the oil distributor surrounds the gear wheel at least in portions.

13. The axle drive of claim 12 , the gear mechanism further comprising:
a first casing half; and
a second casing half;
wherein the first trough element is fastened in the first casing half and the second trough element is fastened in the second casing half.

14. The axle drive of claim 12 , the gear mechanism further comprising:
at least three different shafts spaced apart from one another such that each shaft is mounted rotatably about its respective longitudinal axis by two bearings; and
wherein the at least one oil outlet opening and/or the at least one oil guide rail are arranged and/or oriented such that oil is supplied to each bearing via the at least one oil outlet opening and/or the oil guide rail.

Assignees

• Vitesco Technologies Germany Gmbh

Inventors

• Krause Robert
• Kolbe Philipp

Classifications

• F16H57/0483

  Axle or inter-axle differentials · CPC title

• F16H57/0493

  Gearings with spur or bevel gears  (axle or inter-axle differentials with spur or bevel gears F16H57/0483) · CPC title

• F16H57/0457

  Splash lubrication · CPC title

• F16H2057/0056

  Mounting parts arranged in special position or by special sequence, e.g. for keeping particular parts in his position during assembly · CPC title

• F16H57/0423 Primary

  Lubricant guiding means mounted or supported on the casing, e.g. shields or baffles for collecting lubricant, tubes or pipes · CPC title