METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING AND LUBRICATING AN OFF-AXIS MOTOR/GENERATOR

• US 20080135339A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Sowul, Henryk, Miller, Kent A.
• Application Number:
  US11/561,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20080135339A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 184/6.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/003 with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0412 Cooling or heating; Control of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0421 on or within the casing, e.g. shields or baffles for collecting lubricant, tubes, pipes, grooves, channels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/043 within rotary parts, e.g. axial channels or radial openings in shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0434 relating to lubrication supply, e.g. pumps arrangement of pumps F16H57/0441; Pressure control grooves with pumping effect for supplying lubricant F16H57/0428; generation and variation of line pressure for transmission control F16H61/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/19 for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2189 Cooling

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for cooling and lubricating an off-axis motor/generator of a hybrid transmission. A transmission case at least partially defines a manifold. A transmission cover is mounted to the transmission case such that the off-axis motor/generator is retained therebetween. The transmission cover at least partially defines an oil passage. Oil is transferred through the manifold and onto a bearing device so that the bearing device is lubricated. Oil is also transferred through the oil passage and onto a torque transfer device such that the torque transfer device is lubricated. A corresponding apparatus for lubricating an off-axis motor/generator of a hybrid transmission is provided is similarly provided.

Claims

1. A method for lubricating an off-axis motor/generator of a hybrid transmission comprising:

providing a transmission case at least partially defining a manifold;

providing a transmission cover mounted to the transmission case such that the off-axis motor/generator is retained therebetween, said transmission cover at least partially defining an oil passage;

transferring oil through the manifold and onto a bearing device such that the bearing device is lubricated; and

transferring oil through the oil passage and onto a torque transfer device such that the torque transfer device is lubricated.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring oil through the manifold and onto a second bearing device such that the second bearing device is lubricated.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring oil through a hollow tube disposed along the central axis of a rotor before said transferring oil through the oil passage and onto a torque transfer device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said transferring oil through the oil passage and onto a torque transfer device includes transferring oil through the orifice configured to regulate the application of oil onto the torque transfer device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said transferring oil through the manifold and onto a bearing device includes transferring oil through the manifold and onto a bearing device adapted to rotatably support a rotor drum.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said transferring oil through the manifold and onto a second bearing device includes transferring oil through the manifold and onto a second bearing device adapted to rotatably support a rotor hub.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said transferring oil through the oil passage and onto a torque transfer device includes transferring oil through the oil passage and onto a chain configured to transfer off-axis motor/generator output to a transmission output shaft.

8. A method for cooling and lubricating an off-axis motor/generator having a rotor and a stator disposed with a stator housing, said method comprising:

providing a transmission case at least partially defining a manifold;

providing a transmission cover mounted to the transmission case such that the off-axis motor/generator is retained therebetween, said transmission cover at least partially defining an oil passage;

transferring oil into a coolant chamber defined between the transmission case and the stator housing in order to cool the off-axis motor/generator;

transferring oil through the manifold and onto a first bearing such that the first bearing is lubricated;

transferring oil through the manifold, through a hollow tube disposed along the central axis of the rotor, through the oil passage, and onto a torque transfer device such that the torque transfer device is lubricated; and

transferring oil through the manifold, through the hollow tube, and onto a second bearing such that the second bearing is lubricate.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said transferring oil through the manifold, through a hollow tube disposed along the central axis of the rotor, through the oil passage, and onto a torque transfer device includes transferring oil through an orifice configured to regulate the application of oil onto the torque transfer device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said transferring oil through the manifold and onto a first bearing device includes transferring oil through the manifold and onto a first bearing device adapted to rotatably support a rotor drum.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said transferring oil through the manifold, through the hollow tube, and onto a second bearing device includes transferring oil through the manifold, through the hollow tube, and onto a second bearing device adapted to rotatably support a rotor hub.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said transferring oil through the manifold, through a hollow tube disposed along the central axis of the rotor, through the oil passage, and onto a torque transfer device includes transferring oil through the manifold, through a hollow tube disposed along the central axis of the rotor, through the oil passage, and onto a chain configured to transfer off-axis motor/generator output to a transmission output shaft.

13. A hybrid transmission comprising:

a transmission cast at least partially defining a manifold;

a transmission cover mounted to the transmission case, said transmission cover at least partially defining an oil passage; and

an off-axis motor/generator disposed between the transmission case and the transmission cover, said off-axis motor/generator comprising;

a generally cylindrical stator disposed with a stator housing;

a generally cylindrical rotor circumscribed by the stator;

a hollow tube disposed along the central axis of the rotor;

a rotor drum mounted to the rotor and a rotor hub mounted to the rotor drum;

a first bearing configured to rotatably support the rotor drum, wherein oil is transferred through the manifold in order to lubricate the first bearing;

a second bearing configured to rotatably support the rotor hub, wherein oil is transferred through the manifold, and through the hollow tube in order to lubricate the second bearing; and

a torques transfer device coupled to the rotor hub such that output from the off-axis motor/generator can be transferred to a transmission output shaft, wherein oil is transferable through the manifold, through the hollow tube, and through the oil passage in order to lubricate the torque transfer device.

14. The hybrid transmission of claim 13, further comprising a coolant chamber defined between the transmission case and the stator housing wherein oil is transferable into the coolant chamber to cool the off-axis motor/generator.

15. The hybrid transmission of claim 13, wherein the rotor drum defines a tapered internal surface adapted to limit oil accumulation within the rotor drum.

16. The hybrid transmission of claim 13, wherein the torque transfer device is a chain.

17. The hybrid transmission of claim 13, wherein the torque transfer device is a transfer gear.