TRANSFER CASE WITH A REGULATED LUBRICATION

• US 20140094333A1
• Filed: 10/02/2013
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Powertrain AG
• Original Assignee: Magna Powertrain AG & Company KG (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: EBNER, Philipp, QUEHENBERGER, Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 9,322,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 474/91
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/344 having a transfer gear
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0427 on rotary parts, e.g. using baffles for collecting lubricant by centrifugal force
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0447 Control of lubricant levels, e.g. lubricant level control dependent on temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/045 Lubricant storage reservoirs, e.g. reservoirs in addition to a gear sump for collecting lubricant in the upper part of a gear case
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0457 Splash lubrication characterised by the problem reducing losses, e.g. splash losses F16H57/0409
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/05 of chains

Abstract

A distribution gear mechanism with a torque transmission device having a clutch, a fluid sump configured to receive a lubricating fluid, wherein a lower cog is configured to engage in the fluid sump such that the lubricating fluid is conveyed from the fluid sump in the direction of an upper cog by way of a chain drive, a fluid reservoir configured to collect the lubricating fluid and which is fluidically connected to the fluid sump, an adjustment mechanism configured to open and close an outlet opening of the fluid reservoir to the fluid sump, and an actuating mechanism configured to simultaneously activate the adjustment mechanism and the clutch.

Claims

1. A distribution gear mechanism comprising:

a torque transmission device having a clutch;

a fluid sump configured to receive a lubricating fluid, wherein a lower cog is configured to engage in the fluid sump such that the lubricating fluid is conveyed from the fluid sump in the direction of an upper cog by way of a chain drive;

a fluid reservoir configured to collect the lubricating fluid and which is fluidically connected to the fluid sump;

an adjustment mechanism configured to open and close an outlet opening of the fluid reservoir to the fluid sump; and

an actuating mechanism configured to simultaneously activate the adjustment mechanism and the clutch.

2. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 1, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises a hydraulic actuating mechanism.

3. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 2, wherein the hydraulic actuating mechanism comprises a fluid pump.

4. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 3, wherein a suction side of the fluid pump is operatively connected to the adjustment mechanism.

5. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 4, wherein the actuating mechanism has a piston configured to provide a piston-travel-dependent fluid stream in a direction of the fluid pump.

6. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 3, further comprising a non-return valve configured to operatively connect the fluid pump to the adjustment mechanism.

7. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a shut-off mechanism having a flap configured to close the fluid reservoir from the fluid sump.

8. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 7, wherein the flap is operatively connected to a bias mechanism such that, under force of the bias mechanism, the flap closes the fluid reservoir from the fluid sump.

9. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 8, wherein the adjustment mechanism has an adjustment actuator which is operatively connected to the flap.

10. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 9, wherein the adjustment actuator has a piston which comprises an overflow device.

11. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 10, wherein the overflow device is configured to guide overflowing fluid out of the distribution gear mechanism.

12. A distribution gear mechanism, comprising:

a clutch;

a fluid sump;

a fluid reservoir configured to collect lubricating fluid and which is fluidically connected to the fluid sump;

an actuating mechanism operatively connected to the clutch and the adjustment mechanism and configured to simultaneously activate the adjustment mechanism and the clutch;

a shut-off mechanism configured to fluidically connect and disconnect the fluid reservoir and the fluid sump; and

a shut-off actuator configured to actuate the shut-off mechanism.

13. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 12, wherein the fluid reservoir is arranged radially offset to the fluid sump.

14. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 12, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises a pump.

15. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 14, a suction side of the pump is operatively connected to the shut-off actuator.

16. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 15, wherein the shut-off mechanism comprises a flap moveable via force of a bias mechanism between a first flap position which fluidically disconnects the fluid reservoir and the fluid sump and a second flap position which fluidically connects the fluid reservoir and the fluid sump.

17. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 12, further comprising an overpressure valve arranged between the clutch and the fluid reservoir.

18. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 15, further comprising a non-return valve configured to operatively connect the fluid pump to the shut-off mechanism.

19. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 18, wherein the non-return valve is arranged at the suction side of the pump and configured to allow a build-up of pressure to build up on the suction side such that the pump activates the shut-off actuator.

20. The distribution gear mechanism of claim 12, wherein the shut-off actuator has a piston which comprises an overflow device configured to guide overflowing lubricating fluid out of the distribution gear mechanism.