Lubrication and cooling system for rotatable components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12480576-B2
Application number	US-202218705057-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2022
Priority date	Oct 27, 2021
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

A fluid flow system for a rotatable shaft assembly includes a first fluid flow device installed in a rotatable shaft, and a second fluid flow device installed in the rotatable shaft, spaced axially apart from the first fluid flow device. The first fluid flow device includes a wall portion having a radial dimension that retains oil in the rotatable shaft. The second fluid flow device includes a wall portion having a radial dimension that facilitates discharge of oil from the radial shaft. The first and second fluid flow devices each include a plurality of baffles on the respective wall portions thereof. The plurality of baffles drive the flow of fluid in an axial direction, from the first fluid flow device toward the second fluid flow device, as the first and second fluid flow devices rotate together with the rotatable shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fluid flow system for a rotatable shaft assembly, the fluid flow system comprising:
a first fluid flow device configured to be coupled in a first portion of a rotatable shaft, wherein an output shaft extends inside the rotatable shaft, the first fluid flow device including at least one physical feature configured to retain fluid in the rotatable shaft and guide a flow of the fluid in an axial direction in the rotatable shaft; a second fluid flow device configured to be coupled in a second portion of the rotatable shaft, spaced axially apart from the first fluid flow device, the second fluid flow device including at least one physical feature configured to guide the flow of the fluid axially through the rotatable shaft, from the first fluid flow device toward the second fluid flow device, wherein the fluid is discharged along at least one discharge path from the rotatable shaft; wherein the first fluid flow device includes: a wall portion with an opening formed in a central portion thereof, the wall portion defining a first physical feature of the first fluid flow device; a rim portion extending from a circumferential portion of the wall portion, the rim portion defining a mating surface configured to be coupled to a mating surface of the rotatable shaft such that the first fluid flow device rotates together with the rotatable shaft; and a plurality of baffles arranged circumferentially along the rim portion and corresponding portions of the wall portion, the plurality of baffles defining a second physical feature of the first fluid flow device; and wherein the second fluid flow device includes: a wall portion with an opening formed in a central portion thereof; a rim portion extending from a circumferential portion of the wall portion, defining a mating surface configured to be coupled to a mating surface of the rotatable shaft such that the second fluid flow device rotates together with the rotatable shaft; a plurality of baffles arranged circumferentially along the rim portion and corresponding portions of the wall portion, the plurality of baffles defining a first physical feature of the second fluid flow device; and a plurality of channels formed in the wall portion, in fluid communication with the opening, the plurality of channels defining a second physical feature of the second fluid flow device.

2 . The fluid flow system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one physical feature of the first fluid flow device includes:
the first physical feature defining an inlet for introducing the fluid into the rotatable shaft, and for retaining the fluid in the rotatable shaft; and the second physical feature configured to guide the flow of the fluid in the axial direction in the rotatable shaft; and the at least one physical feature of the second fluid flow device includes: the first physical feature configured to guide the fluid axially through the rotatable shaft, from the first fluid flow device toward the second fluid flow device; and the second physical feature configured to discharge the fluid along the at least one discharge path from the rotatable shaft.

3 . The fluid flow system of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the wall portion defines an inlet for introducing fluid into the rotatable shaft, and wherein a radial dimension of the wall portion inhibits a backflow of fluid out of the rotatable shaft.

4 . The fluid flow system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of baffles of the first fluid flow device extend radially inward along the wall portion, from the rim portion toward the opening, wherein the plurality of baffles of the first fluid flow device are configured to guide the flow of the fluid in an axial direction toward the second fluid flow device in response to rotation of the rotatable shaft.

5 . The fluid flow system of claim 1 , wherein a radial dimension of the wall portion of the second fluid flow device allows fluid to flow in the axial direction through the opening of the second fluid flow device to an adjacent bearing for discharge from the rotatable shaft.

6 . The fluid flow system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of baffles of the second fluid flow device extend radially inward along the wall portion of the second fluid flow device, from the rim portion of the second fluid flow device toward the opening of the second fluid flow device, wherein the plurality of baffles of the second fluid flow device are configured to guide the fluid in the axial direction from the first fluid flow device in response to rotation of the rotatable shaft.

7 . The fluid flow system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of channels of the second fluid flow device are configured to receive a portion of the fluid flowing in the axial direction through the opening of the second fluid flow device, and to direct the portion of the fluid to an inner surface of the rotatable shaft for discharge from the rotatable shaft.

8 . The fluid flow system of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid flow device is configured to be transition fit in the rotatable shaft, assembled between a first outer bearing and a first inner bearing, and the second fluid flow device is configured to be transition fit in the rotatable shaft, assembled between a second inner bearing and a second outer bearing, spaced apart from the assembled first outer bearing, first fluid flow device and first inner bearing.

9 . The fluid flow system of claim 8 , wherein the fluid flow system is configured to circulate the fluid between the first fluid flow device and the second fluid flow device for at least one of cooling or lubrication of differential components in a space formed between the first fluid flow device and the second fluid flow device.

10 . A fluid flow system, comprising:
a first fluid flow device coupled in a first portion of a rotatable shaft assembly in which an output shaft extends inside a rotatable shaft, the first fluid flow device including: a wall portion; an inlet defined in a central portion of the wall portion for introduction of cooling media into the rotatable shaft assembly, the wall portion being configured to retain the cooling media in the rotatable shaft assembly; and a rim portion extending along a circumferential portion of the wall portion, the rim portion defining a mating surface configured to be coupled to a mating surface of an outer shaft of the rotatable shaft assembly; and a second fluid flow device in a second portion of the rotatable shaft assembly, spaced axially apart from the first fluid flow device, the second fluid flow device including: a wall portion; an opening defined in a central portion of the wall portion, the opening being configured to guide the cooling media to at least one discharge path for discharge from the rotatable shaft assembly; and a rim portion extending along a circumferential portion of the wall portion, the rim portion defining a mating surface configured to be coupled to a mating surface of the outer shaft of the rotatable shaft assembly; wherein the first fluid flow device includes at least one baffle at a portion of the rim portion and a corresponding portion of the wall portion of the first fluid flow device, wherein the at least one baffle is configured to guide the cooling media axially through the rotatable shaft assembly toward the second fluid flow device; and wherein the second fluid flow device includes at least one baffle at a portion of the rim portion and a corresponding portion of the wall portion of the second fluid flow device, extending radially inward from the rim portion toward the opening of the second fluid flow device, wherein the at least one baffle is configured to guide the cooling media axially through the rotatable

Assignees

• Atieva Inc

Inventors

• Abosch Michael
• Dlala Emad
• Lewis Barnaby James Gerard
• Mahmoudi Mohammad
• Suleimenov Azat
• Tebbe Michael
• Palfai Balazs
• Wu Jiajun
• Biskup Richard J
• Mayer Jeremy

Classifications

• F16H57/0471

  Bearing · CPC title

• F16H57/043

  within rotary parts, e.g. axial channels or radial openings in shafts · CPC title

• B60K11/02

  with liquid cooling · CPC title

• B60K2001/006

  the electric motors · CPC title

• F16H57/0427

  on rotary parts, e.g. using baffles for collecting lubricant by centrifugal force · CPC title