DEVICE FOR LUBRICATION OF A GEAR

• US 20060207370A1
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Hedman, Anders
• Granted Patent: US 7,220,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/468
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0482 Gearings with gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19995 Teeth

Abstract

An arrangement for lubrication of a gear including a first gearwheel (402, 602, 702) in engagement with a second gearwheel (404), the teeth of the first gearwheel having an axial extent longer than the entire axial extent of the teeth of the second gearwheel. A first tooth surface of the first gearwheel is in engagement with the teeth of the second gearwheel. A second tooth surface of the first gearwheel (402, 602, 702) constitutes a part in a spline joint together with corresponding internal teeth of a gear element (423, 623, 723, 823). A lubricant duct (429, 629, 729, 829) is arranged so as to conduct lubricant to the first tooth surface. The lubricant duct (429, 629, 729, 829) consists of a space between a tooth tip and a corresponding tooth root in the spline joint. The gear element (423, 623, 723, 823) consists of a coupling ring. The first gearwheel (402, 602, 702) consists of a sun wheel. Both the coupling ring and the sun wheel form part of a range gearbox with planetary gear stages.

Claims

1. An arrangement for lubricating a gear, said arrangement comprising:

a first gearwheel (402, 602, 702) in engagement with a second gearwheel (404);

teeth of the first gearwheel having an axial extent longer than the entire axial extent of teeth of the second gearwheel;

a first tooth surface of the first gearwheel being in engagement with the teeth of the second gearwheel;

a second tooth surface of the first gearwheel (402, 602, 702) constituting a part in a spline joint together with corresponding internal teeth of a gear element (423, 623, 723, 823); and

a lubricant duct (429, 629,729, 829) arranged to conduct lubricant to the first tooth surface and said lubricant duct (429, 629, 729, 829) formed as a space between a tooth tip and a corresponding tooth root in the spline joint.

2. The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the lubricant duct (429, 629, 729, 829) consists of a space between the tooth tip of the gear element (423, 623, 723, 823) and the corresponding tooth root of the first gearwheel.

3. The arrangement as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

an inside diameter of the tooth tips of the gear element, at the lubricant duct mouth next to the second gearwheel (404), being smaller along a part of the axial extent of the tooth tips compared with the inside diameter of the remaining axial extent of the tooth tips.

4. The arrangement as recited in claim 3, wherein the tooth tips of the gear element with the smaller inside diameter constitute a relatively small part of a total axial extent of the teeth of the gear element.

5. The arrangement as recited in claim 2, wherein an all-round groove on a third tooth surface between the first and second tooth surfaces holds a ring (831) in such a way that the ring (831), together with the tooth root of the first gearwheel, constitutes an extension of the lubricant duct (429, 629,729, 829) and so that the ring (831) obstructs the mouth of the lubricant duct for the purpose of obtaining a smaller mouth.

6. The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein spaces between the tooth roots of the first gearwheel and tooth tips of the gear element constitute a plurality of lubricant ducts (429, 629, 729, 829).

7. The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the gear element (423, 623, 723, 823) consists of a coupling ring and the first gearwheel (402,602, 702) consists of a sun wheel, and both the coupling ring and the sun wheel forming part of a range gearbox with planetary gear stages.