Shield for transmission fluid sump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9958054-B2
Application number	US-201414289783-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2014
Priority date	May 29, 2013
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

A transmission has a float level sensor in a fluid sump of the transmission case. A shield having a first panel and a second panel connected to and generally perpendicular with the first panel. The first panel cooperates with a first wall of the transmission case in the sump. The second panel cooperates with a second wall and a bottom wall of the transmission case in the sump. The first and second panels are adapted to cooperate with the first wall, the second wall, and the bottom wall of the transmission case to form a generally stagnant well within the fluid sump surrounding the fluid level sensor to decrease fluid motion adjacent to the sensor. The generally stagnant well and the sump are in fluid communication with one another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transmission comprising:
a transmission case forming a main sump for transmission fluid having a corner region formed by a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall of the case, the transmission case forming an intermediate wall that is spaced apart from the second side wall and extends outwardly from the bottom wall;
a fluid level sensor assembly supported within the corner region by one of the first and second side walls of the case, the sensor assembly positioned between the intermediate wall and the second side wall;
a pump inlet connected to the bottom wall and adjacent to the sensor assembly wherein the intermediate wall is positioned between the pump inlet and the sensor assembly; and
a shield positioned within the main sump and having a first panel with an edge positioned adjacent to the bottom wall, the shield having a second panel connected to the first panel and opposed to the edge of the first panel, the second panel extending from the first panel towards the first side wall, wherein the sensor assembly is positioned between the first panel and the first side wall and between the second panel and the bottom wall;
wherein the shield partitions a secondary sump into the main sump and surrounds the sensor assembly to decrease fluid motion adjacent to the sensor assembly, the secondary sump in fluid communication with the main sump by fluid flow between the shield and the case.

2. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the first and second panels substantially cover a volume defined by the first and second side walls, the intermediate wall, and the bottom wall.

3. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the shield reduces a force on a float in the fluid level sensor assembly by acting as a barrier between a sensor of the sensor assembly and a vortex formed by the pump inlet, the force being opposed to a buoyancy force of the float.

4. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the edge of the first panel is spaced apart from the bottom wall by a gap to provide fluid flow between the secondary sump and the main sump, wherein the gap is sized such that fluid flow through the gap is a function of viscosity, wherein fluid flow through the gap is approximately zero at a low temperature threshold for transmission operation.

5. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the first and second panels of the shield are generally perpendicular to one another.

6. The transmission of claim 1 further comprising a fluid distribution tube, wherein the shield is supported by the distribution tube; wherein the shield has at least one mounting flange extending from the second panel and adapted to connect to the distribution tube to support the shield.

7. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the sensor assembly and the shield are generally positioned at a fore/aft dynamic fluid volumetric centroid of the transmission.

8. A transmission comprising:
a transmission case forming a main sump for transmission fluid having a corner region formed by a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall of the case;
a fluid level sensor assembly supported within the corner region by one of the first and second side walls of the case; and
a shield positioned within the main sump and having a first panel with an edge positioned adjacent to the bottom wall, the shield having a second panel connected to the first panel and opposed to the edge of the first panel, the second panel extending from the first panel towards the first side wall, wherein the sensor assembly is positioned between the first panel and the first side wall and between the second panel and the bottom wall, wherein the edge of the first panel is spaced apart from the bottom wall by a gap to provide fluid flow between the secondary sump and the main sump, wherein the gap is sized such that fluid flow through the gap is a function of viscosity, wherein fluid flow through the gap is approximately zero at a low temperature threshold for transmission operation;
wherein the shield partitions a secondary sump into the main sump and surrounds the sensor assembly to decrease fluid motion adjacent to the sensor assembly, the secondary sump in fluid communication with the main sump by fluid flow between the shield and the case.

9. The transmission of claim 8 wherein the transmission case forms an intermediate wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall, the intermediate wall spaced apart from the second side wall; and wherein the sensor assembly is positioned between the intermediate wall and the second side wall.

10. The transmission of claim 9 wherein the first and second panels substantially cover a volume defined by the first and second side walls, the intermediate wall, and the bottom wall.

11. The transmission of claim 9 further comprising a pump inlet connected to the bottom wall and adjacent to the sensor assembly, the intermediate wall positioned between the pump inlet and the sensor assembly.

12. The transmission of claim 11 wherein the shield reduces a force on a float in the fluid level sensor assembly by acting as a barrier between a sensor of the sensor assembly and a vortex formed by the pump inlet, the force being opposed to a buoyancy force of the float.

13. A transmission comprising:
a transmission case forming a main sump for transmission fluid having a corner region formed by a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall of the case;
a fluid level sensor assembly supported within the corner region by one of the first and second side walls of the case;
a shield positioned within the main sump and having a first panel with an edge positioned adjacent to the bottom wall, the shield having a second panel connected to the first panel and opposed to the edge of the first panel, the second panel extending from the first panel towards the first side wall, wherein the sensor assembly is positioned between the first panel and the first side wall and between the second panel and the bottom wall; and
a fluid distribution tube, wherein the shield is supported by the distribution tube; wherein the shield has at least one mounting flange extending from the second panel and adapted to connect to the distribution tube to support the shield;
wherein the shield partitions a secondary sump into the main sump and surrounds the sensor assembly to decrease fluid motion adjacent to the sensor assembly, the secondary sump in fluid communication with the main sump by fluid flow between the shield and the case.

14. The transmission of claim 13 wherein the transmission case forms an intermediate wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall, the intermediate wall spaced apart from the second side wall; and wherein the sensor assembly is positioned between the intermediate wall and the second side wall.

15. The transmission of claim 14 wherein the first and second panels substantially cover a volume defined by the first and second side walls, the intermediate wall, and the bottom wall.

16. The transmission of claim 14 further comprising a pump inlet connected to the bottom wall and adjacent to the sensor assembly, the intermediate wall positioned between the pump inlet and the sensor assembly.

17. The transmission of claim 16 wherein the shield reduces a force on a float in the fluid level sensor assembly by acting as a barrier between a sensor of the sensor assembly and a vortex formed by the pump inlet, the force being opposed to a buoyancy force of the float.

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Craft Robert B
• Weddington Michael C

Classifications

• F16H57/0449 Primary

  Sensors or indicators for controlling the fluid level · CPC title

• F16H57/0453

  Section walls to divide a gear sump · CPC title