Lubricating device for transmissions or the like in starting condition

• US 4,169,519 A
• Filed: 02/24/1978
• Issued: 10/02/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hurth Getriebe und Zahnrader GmbH
• Original Assignee: CARL Hurth Maschinen- und Zahnradfabrik GmbH & Company (Gleason)
• Inventors: Leiber, Wolfgang, Hirt, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, David H.
• Application Number:
  US05/880,900
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 184/6.3, 184/6.1, 184/6.12, 184/6 R, 184/7 R, 184/13 R, 184/11 R, 184/11 A, 74/467, 123/196 S
• US Class Current: 184/6.3
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0417 Heat exchangers adapted or integrated in the gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0441 Arrangements of pumps
• 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 57/0456 Lubrication by injection; Injection nozzles or tubes therefor oil mist or spray lubrication F16H57/0458
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0495 with fixed gear ratio

Abstract

A lubricating device for use with transmission gearing, particularly in the starting phase of the transmission. A pair of oil reservoirs are provided with one being located higher than the other. The upper reservoir contains the transmission gearing therein. A pair of vertically spaced outlets are provided in the upper reservoir with both outlets being connected in fluid circuit with the lower reservoir. The fluid circuit for the lower outlet includes a valve controlling the flow of oil between the upper and lower reservoirs in response to the fluid pressure produced by a pump. The transmission gearing is immersed in the oil when the lower outlet is blocked by the valve, which will occur when the pump is off. When the pump is activated, the valve is opened in response to the pressure produced by the pump and the oil level in the upper reservoir will drop due to a gravity feed thereof to the lower reservoir through the valve to the level of the lower outlet so that the gearing will no longer be immersed in oil. By this time, however, the pump will be supplying adequate oil to lubricate the transmission gearing through a nozzle arrangement. The volume of oil in the nozzle arrangement is sufficient, when the pump is deactivated, to fill the upper reservoir up to the upper outlet level to again immerse the gearing in oil in readiness for a new start-up operation for the transmission gearing.

Claims

1. A lubricating device for lubricating gears in a transmission housing during an initial starting condition phase of operation thereof, said lubricating device comprising:

a storage tank housing lubricant therein;

an oil pump having an inlet port and an outlet port, said inlet port being connected in fluid circuit with said storage tank;

a normally closed pressure responsive valve having control means responsive to a fluid pressure from said pump above a predetermined threshold value to effect an opening of said valve, said control means being connected in fluid circuit with said outlet port;

sump means in said transmission housing;

a first overflow pipe connecting said sump means to said storage tank and including first means establishing an upper lubricant level into which at least one gear is rotated;

a second overflow pipe connecting said sump means to said storage tank and including second means establishing a lower lubricant level below the level of said one gear;

third means connecting said outlet port to a further location adjacent said one gear in said transmission housing, said pump effecting a pumping of said lubricant from said storage tank into said transmission housing to effect a pressurized spray of lubricant onto said one gear; and

said pressure responsive valve being connected in line of said second overflow pipe, said valve becoming opened in response to a fluid pressure from said outlet port of said pump attaining and exceeding said predetermined threshold value to effect a connection between said sump and said storage tank to cause a lowering of the level of lubricant in said transmission housing to said lower lubricant level.

2. A lubricating device according to claim 1, wherein said pressure responsive valve includes fourth means for adjusting the pressure response level thereof.

3. A lubricating device according to claim 1, wherein said outlet port of said pump is connected to fourth means arranged to house a specific volume of lubricant above said transmission housing, said specific volume of lubricant entering said transmission housing following a stopping of said pump, such that the difference between said second and said first lubricant levels is filled.

4. A lubricating device according to claim 3, wherein said pressure responsive valve effects a lubricant flow from said sump means to said storage tank through a free gravity fall.