Four-wheel drive clutch lubrication system

• US 4,560,056 A
• Filed: 11/18/1983
• Issued: 12/24/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Stockton, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Leonard E.
• Application Number:
  US06/553,205
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 192/113 B, 192/48.8, 192/49, 192/50, 184/6.12, 184/11.1, 184/11.2, 184/11.3, 74/650, 74/467, 418/94, 418/88
• US Class Current: 192/113.32
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2021/0669 Hydraulically actuated clutches with two clutch plates
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 21/06 at least two driving shafts or two driven shafts being concentric
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/10 Clutch systems with a plurality of fluid-actuated clutches arrangements or mounting of clutches in vehicles B60K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/105 the intermediate members being of circular cross-section, of only one size and wedging by rolling movement not having an axial component between inner and outer races, one of which is cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 43/02 actuated entirely mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/204 Control of arrangements for suppressing differential actions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/346 using a linear motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/16 with freewheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/19 consisting of two linked clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/24 using positive clutches or brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/30 using externally-actuatable means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/34 using electromagnetic or electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/40 characterised by features of the rotating cases
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0428 Grooves with pumping effect for supplying lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0483 Axle or inter-axle differentials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19991 Lubrication

Abstract

A drive mechanism of a front-wheel drive vehicle adapted to selectively drive the rear wheels includes an overrunning clutch mounted coaxially with the rear axleshafts. The clutch and drive mechanism are lubricated by way or ports formed in the casing that carry lubricant thrown radially outward by a bevel pinion rotating through the oil bath to a chamber that is baffled to permit only a portion of the lubricant to flow from the chamber through bearings that support the rear axleshafts. Helical recesses are formed on a portion of the axleshafts and pump lubricant from the chamber axially inward into interior abutting surfaces of members that rotate relative to adjacent members. The pressure head produced by the hydraulic pump, according to this invention, forces the fluid through the roller-race assembly and through spline connections radially outward against a drag connection between the race and a ground connector. The lubricant is pumped radially outward and carried in that direction toward the oil ports formed in the casing by a bevel pinion rotating within the oil sump.

Claims

1. A system for circulating lubricating oil in a clutch drive mechanism comprising:

a casing adapted to hold a reserve volume of oil, defining a space in which the drive mechanism is located, having a radially directed oil passage;

an axleshaft rotatably supported on the casing extending outward from the casing, having an oil pumping portion located within the casing that includes multiple helical grooves formed on the outer surface of the axleshaft, adapted to pump oil along the axleshaft as it rotates;

a first chamber communicating with the casing oil passage surrounding the axleshaft and located adjacent the pumping portion;

a bearing fitted within the casing; and

a member mounted for rotation about the axis of the axleshaft for rotation relative to the axleshaft, extending into and passing through the oil reserve within the casing as said member rotates, having a first surface on which the bearing is mounted and a second surface on which the pumping portion of the axleshaft is journalled, whereby oil is pumped axially along the pumping portion from the first chamber and lubricates the surface on which the pumping portion is journalled.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

first baffle means located between the bearing and the first chamber for partially restricting the flow of oil from the first chamber to the bearing;

second baffle means located on the axially opposite side of the bearing from that of the first baffle means, having a first axially extending flange mounted on the casing and a second flange overlapping the first flange mounted on the rotating member, the baffles providing a restriction therebetween that impedes the radial outward flow of oil that passes through the bearing and directing said oil flow axially inward from the bearing.

3. The system of claim 2 further including:

a passage formed in the rotating member adjacent the second baffle means through which oil from the bearing flows to the axially opposite side of the rotating member; and

a clutch having an outer race connected to the rotating member, an inner race driveably connected to the axleshaft inboard of the pumping portion, and rollers located between the outer and inner races inboard of the rotating member and adjacent the passage formed in the rotating member, whereby oil is directed through said oil passage and through the space between the inner and outer races.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a clutch having an inner race driveably connected to the axleshaft inboard of the pumping portion, an outer race surrounding the inner race providing an annular space therebetween, the inner race and rotating member forming an oil passage therebetween that connects the inboard end of the pumping portion with the space between the outer race and the inner race.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the inner race of the clutch is driveably connected by spline teeth to the outer surface of the axleshaft, an oil passage formed between the inner race and the axleshaft by missing spline teeth, whereby oil pumped from the pumping portion is carried through said oil passage.

6. A system for lubricating a clutch drive mechanism comprising:

a casing adapted to hold a reserve quantity of oil, defining a space within which the drive mechanism is housed having a first radially directed oil passage;

an axleshaft rotatably supported on the casing and extending outward from the casing, having an oil pumping portion located within the casing in the form of helical grooves on its outer surface, adapted to pump oil along the axleshaft as it rotates, one axial end of the pumping portion communicating with the first oil passage;

a ground connector;

a first member mounted for rotation about the axis of the axleshaft having a surface adjacent the surface of the pumping portion of the axleshaft on which the helical grooves are formed, extending into and passing through the oil reserve within the casing as said member rotates, having a surface on which the ground connector is journalled; and

a second oil passage communicating the end of the pumping portion that is axially opposite the end of the pumping portion that communicates with the first oil passage with the surface on which the ground connector is journalled, whereby oil is pumped axially across the pumping portion and through the second oil passage.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a clutch having an outer race driveably connected to the rotating member, an inner race located within the outer race, rollers located between the outer and inner races and a cage within which the rollers are retained having an arm resiliently biased into contact with the ground connector; and

a driving connection between the axleshaft and the inner race located adjacent the inboard end of the pumping portion including mating spline teeth formed on the outer surface of the axleshaft and on the inner surface of the inner race, having at least one missing spline tooth that provides a passage through which oil exiting the pumping portion can flow axially inward.

8. A system for lubricating a clutch drive mechanism comprising:

a casing adapted to hold a reserve volume of oil defining a space in which the drive mechanism is located and having radially directed oil passages located at opposite sides of the casing;

first and second axleshafts rotatably supported on the casing and extending outward from the casing, each axleshaft having an oil pumping portion located within the casing that includes at least one helical groove on the outer surface of the axleshaft adapted to pump oil along the pumping portion as the axleshaft rotates, the outer axial end of the pumping portion hydraulically communicating with an oil passage in the casing;

first and second bearings fitted within the casing;

a first rotating member mounted for rotation about the axis of the axleshafts extending into the reserve oil volume within the casing, having a first surface on which the first bearing is mounted and a second surface on which the pumping portion of the first axleshaft is supported; and

a second rotating member mounted for rotation about the axis of the axleshafts having a first surface on which the second bearing is mounted and a second surface on which the pumping portion of the second axleshaft is supported;

whereby oil pumped axially along the pumping portion lubricates the outer surfaces of the pumping portions and the surfaces of the first and second rotating members on which the pumping portions are supported.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

first and second baffle means located adjacent the first and second bearings for partially restricting hydraulic communication between the ends of the pumping portions of the first and second axleshafts that communicate with the oil passages of the casing and the first and second bearings, respectively.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising third baffle means located on the axially opposite side of the bearing from that of the first baffle means, having a first axially extending flange mounted on the casing and a second flange overlapping the first flange mounted on the first rotating member for at least partially restricting the radially outward flow of oil that passes through the bearing and directing said oil flow axially inward from the bearing.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

an oil passage formed in the first rotating member adjacent the third baffle means, hydraulically connecting the axially inner end of the first bearing with the axially inner side of the first rotating member; and

a clutch having an outer race driveably connected to the first rotating member, first and second inner races driveably connected inboard of the pumping portions to the first and second axleshafts, respectively, and rollers located between the outer and inner races inboard of the first and second rotating members and adjacent the oil passage of the first rotating member;

whereby oil is directed through said oil passage and through the space between the inner and outer races.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a clutch having first and second inner races driveably connected inboard of the pumping portions to the first and second axleshafts, respectively, an outer race surrounding the inner race and defining an annular space therebetween, the first and second inner races and first and second rotating members, respectively, forming oil passages therebetween that hydraulically connect the inboard ends of the pumping portions of the first and second axleshafts with the space between the outer race and inner races.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising spline connections between the first and second races of the clutch and the first and second axleshafts, respectively, each connection having at least one missing spline tooth that provides an oil passage between the respective races and axleshafts for communicating the oil outlet end of the pumping portions with the axially inner portions of the axleshafts.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising a ground connector journalled on the second rotating member, and wherein the second rotating member has an oil passage communicating the oil outlet end of the pumping portion of the second axleshaft with the journalled surfaces of the second rotating member and ground connector.