MULTI-COMPONENT FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

• US 20150285368A1
• Filed: 04/07/2015
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: MCLAUCHLAN, Raymond Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 9,810,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 57/046 Oil-mist or spray lubrication

Abstract

A multi-component fluid distribution system includes a first substrate component having an inlet for receiving fluid and an internal channel for communicating lubricant. A second substrate component is interlocked to the first substrate component. The second substrate component includes an inlet to receive fluid from the first component. The fluid distribution system also includes an over-molded portion sealing a joint between the first and second substrate components. The fluid distribution system further includes at least one outlet nozzle connected to the second substrate component to discharge fluid to a predetermined fluid receiving component.

Claims

1. A multi-component fluid distribution system comprising:

a first substrate component having an inlet for receiving fluid and an internal channel for communicating lubricant;

a second substrate component interlocked to the first substrate component, the second substrate component including an inlet to receive fluid from the first component;

an over-molded portion sealing a joint between the first and second substrate components; and

at least one outlet nozzle connected to the second substrate component to discharge fluid to a predetermined fluid receiving component.

2. The fluid distribution system of claim 1 wherein the second substrate component is press fit to the first substrate component over an annular ring.

3. The fluid distribution system of claim 1 wherein the first substrate component defines a recessed keyway portion and the second substrate component defines a protruding key portion configured to insert into the keyway portion at an alignment position between the first and second substrate components.

4. The fluid distribution system of claim 1 wherein the over-molded portion mechanically retains the second substrate component to the first substrate component.

5. The fluid distribution system of claim 1 wherein the at least one outlet nozzle comprises a nozzle cap that is interlocked to an outlet protrusion extending from the second substrate component and the over-molded portion seals a joint between the outlet protrusion and the second substrate component.

6. The fluid distribution system of claim 1 wherein the outlet nozzle is over-molded about an outlet protrusion of the second substrate component.

7. The fluid distribution system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second substrate components is formed by an interlocked pair of symmetrical halves.

8. The fluid distribution system of claim 7 wherein the pair of symmetrical halves define a seam having a tongue portion on one of the pair of symmetrical halves inserted into a groove portion on another of the pair of symmetrical halves.

9. The fluid distribution system of claim 1 wherein the fluid is a transmission lubricant, and the predetermined fluid receiving component is a traction component within a transmission.

10. A lubrication distribution system comprising:

a plurality of hollow substrate components connected in series and receiving lubricant from an inlet;

a plurality of nozzles disposed along the substrate components in fluid communication with the inlet, the plurality of nozzles positioned to discharge lubricant to targeted traction components within a transmission; and

an over-molded portion formed about a connection between two adjacent substrate components.

11. The lubrication distribution system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the plurality of substrate components comprises a tee connector having a first end to receive lubricant, an outlet to discharge lubricant to one of the plurality of nozzles, and a second end to communicate lubricant to another of the plurality of substrate components.

12. The lubrication distribution system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the plurality of nozzles is integrally formed with at least one of the plurality of substrate components.

13. The lubrication distribution system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the plurality of nozzles is formed by over-mold material and extends laterally from an orifice in one of the plurality of substrate components.

14. The lubrication distribution system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the plurality of nozzles is snap fit onto a protrusion extending laterally from at least one of the plurality of substrate components.

15. The lubrication distribution system of claim 10 wherein the over-molded portion creates a fluid seal at a connection between a nozzle and a substrate component.

16. The lubrication distribution system of claim 10 wherein each of the plurality of nozzles includes an outlet orifice arranged to discharge lubricant in a solid stream pattern or a fan spray pattern onto a traction component of the transmission.

17. A transmission fluid distribution system comprising:

a first hollow component having a first end in fluid communication with an inlet and a second end for discharging fluid;

a second hollow component having a first end in fluid communication with the second end of the first hollow component and a nozzle for discharging fluid to a targeted fluid receiving component; and

an over-molded portion sealing at least one of an interface between the first and the second hollow components, and an interface between the second hollow component and a nozzle.

18. The transmission fluid distribution system of claim 17 wherein the first hollow component is formed by an interlocked pair of symmetrical halves.

19. The transmission fluid distribution system of claim 17 further comprising at least one nozzle cap attached to a terminal end of a nozzle for determining a fluid flow stream pattern of discharged fluid.

20. The transmission fluid distribution system of claim 17 wherein the second end of the first hollow component defines one of a key or a keyway portion and the first end of the second hollow component defines another of a key or a keyway portion such that the key and keyway portions cooperate to prevent misalignment between the first and second hollow components.