Lubrication system and transfer case incorporating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9366334-B2
Application number	US-201414270463-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2014
Priority date	May 6, 2014
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transfer case ( 16 ) lubrication system ( 42 ) that includes a housing ( 44 ) defining a chamber and having a lower portion ( 58 ). A partition ( 46 ) extends from the lower portion ( 58 ) and is disposed in the chamber so as to define a reservoir for oil, adjacent to the partition ( 46 ) and spaced from the chamber. First and second sprocket ( 50 )s are supported in the chamber, with the first sprocket ( 48 ) being spaced from the reservoir. The system also includes a pump assembly ( 52 ) having an oil pump ( 78 ), a pickup ( 80 ) in fluid communication with the pump and at least partially disposed in the reservoir, and a spray bar ( 82 ) in fluid communication with the pump for directing oil from the reservoir to a predetermined location within the chamber. A chain ( 54 ) connects the sprockets and is spaced from the partition ( 46 ) so as to generate a windage force for transferring oil from the chamber to the reservoir in operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lubrication system ( 42 ) for use in a transfer case ( 16 ) of motor vehicle drivetrain ( 10 ), said lubrication system ( 42 ) comprising:
a housing ( 44 ) defining an inner chamber ( 56 ) and having a lower portion ( 58 );
a partition ( 46 ) extending from said lower portion ( 58 ) of said housing ( 44 ) and disposed in said inner chamber ( 56 ) so as to define a reservoir chamber ( 66 ) for oil adjacent to said partition ( 46 ) and spaced from said inner chamber ( 56 );
a first sprocket ( 48 ) rotatably supported in said inner chamber ( 56 ) and spaced from said reservoir chamber ( 66 );
a second sprocket ( 50 ) rotatably supported in said inner chamber ( 56 );
a pump assembly ( 52 ) having:
an oil pump ( 78 ),
a pickup ( 80 ) in fluid communication with said oil pump ( 78 ) and at least partially disposed in said reservoir chamber ( 66 ),
a spray bar ( 82 ) in fluid communication with said oil pump ( 78 ) for directing oil pumped ( 78 ) from said reservoir chamber ( 66 ) to a predetermined location within said inner chamber ( 56 ); and

an endless chain ( 54 ) connecting said first sprocket ( 48 ) to said second sprocket ( 50 ), said chain ( 54 ) being spaced from said partition ( 46 ) so as to generate a windage force for transferring oil from said inner chamber ( 56 ) to said reservoir chamber ( 66 ) in operation; and wherein said partition ( 46 ) extends to a terminal edge ( 74 ) disposed in said inner chamber ( 56 ) of said housing ( 44 ), said terminal edge ( 74 ) being spaced closer to said second sprocket ( 50 ) and said oil pump ( 78 ) than to said first sprocket ( 48 ).

2. The lubrication system ( 42 ) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said partition ( 46 ) defines an acute angle ( 70 ) with said lower portion ( 58 ) of said housing ( 44 ) adjacent to said reservoir chamber ( 66 ).

3. The lubrication system ( 42 ) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said partition ( 46 ) is substantially parallel to at least a portion of said endless chain ( 54 ) disposed between said first sprocket ( 48 ) and said second sprocket ( 50 ).

4. The lubrication system ( 42 ) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said inner chamber ( 56 ) of said housing ( 44 ) includes a curved pocket portion ( 72 ) adjacent to said first sprocket ( 48 ).

5. The lubrication system ( 42 ) as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said housing ( 44 ) merges with said partition ( 46 ) adjacent to said curved pocket portion ( 72 ).

6. The lubrication system ( 42 ) as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said housing ( 44 ) is spaced at a substantially constant distance from said endless chain ( 54 ) along said curved pocket portion ( 72 ) of said inner chamber ( 56 ).

7. The lubrication system ( 42 ) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said partition ( 46 ) merges with said lower portion ( 58 ) of said housing, with said terminal edge ( 74 ) spaced further from said lower portion ( 58 ) of said housing ( 44 ) than a maximum oil level of said reservoir chamber ( 66 ).

8. The lubrication system ( 42 ) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first sprocket ( 48 ) is rotatably supported by and concentrically aligned with a shaft ( 84 ), said oil pump ( 78 ) spaced from and in rotational communication with said shaft ( 84 ).

9. The lubrication system ( 42 ) as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said oil pump ( 78 ) is a gerotor pump, and wherein said pump assembly ( 52 ) further includes a bypass valve ( 90 ) for regulating said oil pump ( 78 ) based on flow.

10. The lubrication system ( 42 ) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said spray bar ( 82 ) directs oil to one of said first sprocket ( 48 ) and said endless chain ( 54 ).

11. A transfer case ( 16 ) for transmitting rotational torque from a transmission to differentials of a motor vehicle, said transfer case ( 16 ) comprising:
a housing ( 44 ) defining an inner chamber ( 56 ) and having a lower portion ( 58 );
a partition ( 46 ) extending from said lower portion ( 58 ) of said housing ( 44 ) and disposed in said inner chamber ( 56 ) so as to define a reservoir chamber ( 66 ) for oil adjacent to said partition ( 46 ) and spaced from said inner chamber ( 56 );
a first sprocket ( 48 ) rotatably supported in said inner chamber ( 56 ), and spaced from said reservoir chamber ( 66 );
a second sprocket ( 50 ) rotatably supported in said inner chamber ( 56 );
a pump assembly ( 52 ) having:
an oil pump ( 78 ),
a pickup ( 80 ) in fluid communication with said oil pump ( 78 ) and at least partially disposed in said reservoir chamber ( 66 ),
a spray bar ( 82 ) in fluid communication with said oil pump ( 78 ) for directing oil pumped from said reservoir chamber ( 66 ) to a predetermined location within said inner chamber ( 56 ); and

an endless chain ( 54 ) connecting said first sprocket ( 48 ) to said second sprocket ( 50 ), said chain ( 54 ) being spaced from said partition ( 46 ) so as to generate a windage force for transferring oil from said inner chamber ( 56 ) to said reservoir chamber ( 66 ) in operation; and wherein said partition ( 46 ) extends to a terminal edge ( 74 ) disposed in said inner chamber ( 56 ) of said housing ( 44 ), said terminal edge ( 74 ) being spaced closer to said second sprocket ( 50 ) and oil pump ( 78 ) than to said first sprocket ( 48 ).

12. The transfer case ( 16 ) as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said partition ( 46 ) defines an acute angle ( 70 ) with said lower portion ( 58 ) of said housing ( 44 ) adjacent to said reservoir chamber ( 66 ).

13. The transfer case ( 16 ) as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said partition ( 46 ) is substantially parallel to at least a portion of said endless chain ( 54 ) disposed between said first sprocket ( 48 ) and said second sprocket ( 50 ).

14. The transfer case ( 16 ) as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said inner chamber ( 56 ) of said housing ( 44 ) includes a curved pocket portion ( 72 ) adjacent to said first sprocket ( 48 ).

15. The transfer case ( 16 ) as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said housing ( 44 ) merges with said partition ( 46 ) adjacent to said curved pocket portion ( 72 ).

16. The transfer case ( 16 ) as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said housing ( 44 ) is spaced at a substantially constant distance from said endless chain ( 54 ) along said curved pocket portion ( 72 ) of said inner chamber ( 56 ).

17. The transfer case ( 16 ) as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said partition ( 46 ) merges with said lower portion ( 58 ) of said housing, with said terminal edge ( 74 ) spaced further from said lower portion ( 58 ) of said housing ( 44 ) than a maximum oil level of said reservoir chamber ( 66 ).

18. The transfer case ( 16 ) ( 42 ) as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said first sprocket ( 48 ) is rotatably supported by and concentrically aligned with a shaft ( 84 ), said oil pump ( 78 ) spaced from and in rotational communication with said shaft ( 84 ).

19. The transfer case ( 16 ) ( 42 ) as set forth in claim 18 , wherein said oil pump ( 78 ) is a gerotor pump, and wherein said pump assembly ( 52 ) further includes a bypass valve ( 90 ) for regulating said oil pump ( 78 ) based on flow.

20. The transfer case ( 16 ) as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said spray bar ( 82 ) directs oil to one of said first sprocket ( 48 ) and said endless chain ( 54 ).

Assignees

• Borgwarner Inc

Inventors

• Pritchard Larry A

Classifications

• F16H57/0436

  Pumps · CPC title

• F16H57/046

  Oil-mist or spray lubrication · CPC title

• F16H57/05 Primary

  of chains · CPC title

• F16H57/0453

  Section walls to divide a gear sump · CPC title

• F16H7/06

  with chains · CPC title