Flow-restricting plug and differential drive pinion having the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9927064-B2
Application number	US-201414202318-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2014
Priority date	Mar 10, 2014
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

A plug for restricting a flow of fluid within a passageway having an interior surface with a predetermined inner diameter is provided. The plug includes a plate member having an outer edge and a rim bounding the outer edge of the plate member. The rim extends generally normal from the plate member. The rim has a contact portion and an indented portion. The contact portion contacts the interior surface of the passageway to retain the position of the plug within the passageway. The indented portion is spaced apart from the interior surface on the passageway to allow fluid to bypass the plug when the plug is located within the passageway.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A plug for restricting a flow of a fluid within a passageway having an interior surface with a predetermined inner diameter, said plug comprising:
a planar plate member having an outer peripheral edge; and
a rim bounding the outer peripheral edge of the plate member, the rim extending generally normal from the outer peripheral edge of the plate member, the rim having a contact portion and an indented portion, the contact portion contacting the interior surface of the passageway to retain the position of the plug within the passageway, and the indented portion spaced apart from the interior surface of the passageway to allow fluid to bypass the plug when the plug is located within the passageway,
wherein the plate member and the rim are formed by bending a blank at a position interior of an outer edge to form the rim having the contact portion and the indented portion.

2. The plug of claim 1 , wherein the rim includes an outer surface, the outer surface of the rim corresponding to the contact portion contacts the interior surface of the passageway, and the outer surface of the rim corresponding to the indented portion is spaced apart from the interior surface of the passageway.

3. The plug of claim 2 , wherein the outer peripheral edge of the plate member includes a curved edge that corresponds to the contact portion of the rim, and wherein the curved edge has a curvature corresponding to the inner diameter of the interior surface of the passageway.

4. The plug of claim 3 , wherein the contact portion of the rim corresponds to the curved edge of the outer peripheral edge of the plate member.

5. The plug of claim 4 , wherein the outer peripheral edge of the plate member includes an indented edge spaced apart from the interior surface of the passageway, and wherein the indented portion of the rim is formed at the indented edge of the outer peripheral edge of the plate member.

6. The plug of claim 5 , wherein the indented edge is a linear edge, and wherein the indented portion extends parallel with the indented edge.

7. The plug of claim 6 , wherein the plug incudes a pair of contact portions and a pair of indented portions, each of the indented portions is positioned between the pair of contact portions.

8. The plug of claim 7 , wherein the pair of contact portions and the pair of indented portions are arranged symmetrically along the outer peripheral edge of the plate member.

9. The plug of claim 8 , wherein the plug includes two pair of opposing contact portions and two pair of opposing indented portions, the contact portions and the indented portions arranged symmetrically along the outer peripheral edge of the plate member.

10. A differential drive pinion gear for a transmission of a motor vehicle, the differential drive pinion gear rotatably supported on bearings lubricated by a lubricating fluid, the differential drive pinion gear comprising:
a hollow shaft having a passageway with an interior surface having a predetermined diameter, the hollow shaft rotating along a central axis of the passageway;
at least one gear provided on the exterior of the hollow shaft; and
a plug fixedly secured within the passageway, the plug restricts the flow of lubricating fluid through the hollow shaft, the plug having a planar plate member and a rim; the plate member having an outer peripheral edge, the rim bounding the outer peripheral edge of the plate member, the rim extending generally normal from the outer peripheral edge of the plate member, the rim having a contact portion and an indented portion, the contact portion contacting the interior surface of the passageway to retain the position of the plug within the passageway, and the indented portion spaced apart from the interior surface of the passageway to allow fluid to bypass the plug,
wherein the plate member and the rim are formed by bending a blank at a position interior of an outer edge to form the rim having the contact portion and the indented portion.

11. The differential drive pinion gear of claim 10 , wherein the rim includes an outer surface, the outer surface of the rim corresponding to the contact portion contacts the interior surface of the passageway, and the outer surface of the rim corresponding to the indented portion is spaced apart from the interior surface of the passageway.

12. The differential drive pinion gear of claim 11 , wherein the outer peripheral edge of the plate member includes a curved edge that corresponds to the contact portion of the rim, and wherein the curved edge has a curvature corresponding to the inner diameter of the interior surface of the passageway.

13. The differential drive pinion gear of claim 12 , wherein the contact portion of the rim corresponds to the curved edge of the outer peripheral edge of the plate member.

14. The differential drive pinion gear of claim 13 , wherein the outer peripheral edge of the plate member includes an indented edge spaced apart from the interior surface of the passageway, and wherein the indented portion of the rim is the indented edge of the outer peripheral edge of the plate member.

15. The differential drive pinion gear of claim 14 , wherein the indented edge is a linear edge, and wherein the indented portion extends parallel with the indented edge.

16. The differential drive pinion gear of claim 15 , wherein the plug incudes a pair of contact portions and a pair of indented portions, each of the indented portions are positioned between the pair of contact portions.

17. The differential drive pinion gear of claim 16 , wherein the pair of contact portions and the pair of indented portions are arranged symmetrically along the outer peripheral edge of the plate member.

18. The differential drive pinion gear of claim 17 , wherein the plug includes two pair of opposing contact portions and two pair of opposing indented portions, the contact portions and the indented portions arranged symmetrically along the outer peripheral edge of the plate member.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Rippelmeyer Luke Alan
• Gambatese Brady James

Classifications

• F16N27/005 Primary

  using restrictions · CPC title

• F16H57/043

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