Apparatus and method for controlling the operating temperature of lubricants
First Claim
1. Apparatus for controlling temperature of a lubricant contained within a housing, comprising:
- a) a cover plate attached to the housing, said cover plate including an air duct arrangement comprising;
i) an intake manifold,ii) a discharge, andiii) at least one air conduit extending between said intake manifold and said discharge, said at least one air conduit defined by an assembly that includes an outside surface portion of said cover plate; and
b) a fan positioned to force air into said manifold whereby said fan provides;
i) an airflow feed into said at least one air conduit, said airflow feed forced to communicate with said outside surface portion that defines said at least one air conduit to cause a heat transfer from the housing to said airflow feed, andii) an airflow exhaust from said discharge, said airflow exhaust expelling air heated by said heat transfer from the housing to said airflow feed to control the temperature of the lubricant contained in the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to apparatus and a method for controlling temperature of lubricant contained in, but not limited to, a differential housing. The apparatus includes a cover plate having an air duct arrangement that includes an intake manifold, a discharge and at least one air conduit that extends between the intake manifold and the discharge. The air conduit communicates with the outside surface of the cover plate, and a temperature responsive fan selectively forces air into the manifold to create an airflow along the air conduit. Heat is transferred from the cover plate surface to the air as the airflow moves through the air conduit and the heated air is expelled at the discharge to lower and control lubricant temperature.
49 Citations
48 Claims
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1. Apparatus for controlling temperature of a lubricant contained within a housing, comprising:
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a) a cover plate attached to the housing, said cover plate including an air duct arrangement comprising; i) an intake manifold, ii) a discharge, and iii) at least one air conduit extending between said intake manifold and said discharge, said at least one air conduit defined by an assembly that includes an outside surface portion of said cover plate; and b) a fan positioned to force air into said manifold whereby said fan provides; i) an airflow feed into said at least one air conduit, said airflow feed forced to communicate with said outside surface portion that defines said at least one air conduit to cause a heat transfer from the housing to said airflow feed, and ii) an airflow exhaust from said discharge, said airflow exhaust expelling air heated by said heat transfer from the housing to said airflow feed to control the temperature of the lubricant contained in the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 48)
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33. Apparatus for controlling temperature of lubricants in an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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a) a differential cover plate attached to a differential housing and having an outside surface that includes an air duct arrangement, said air duct arrangement having; i) an intake manifold, ii) a discharge, and iii) at least one air conduit extending between said intake manifold and said discharge, said at least one air conduit communicating with said outside surface of said cover plate; and iv) a fan having means to selectively force air into said manifold to create an airflow along said at least one air conduit that communicates with said outside surface of said cover plate, said airflow cooling said cover plate to control the lubricant temperature, said airflow being expelled at said discharge; b) a transmission cover plate attached to a transmission housing and having an outside surface that includes an air duct arrangement, said air duct arrangement having; i) an intake manifold, ii) a discharge, and iii) at least one air conduit extending between said intake manifold and said discharge, said at least one air conduit communicating with said outside surface of said cover plate; and iv) a fan having means to selectively force air into said manifold to create an airflow along said at least one air conduit that communicates with said outside surface of said cover plate, said airflow cooling said cover plate to control the lubricant temperature, said airflow being expelled at said discharge. c) an oil pan attached to an engine block and having an outside surface that includes an air duct arrangement, said air duct arrangement having; i) an intake manifold, ii) a discharge, and iii) at least one air conduit extending between said intake manifold and said discharge, said at least one air conduit communicating with said outside surface of said cover plate; and iv) a fan having means to selectively force air into said manifold to create an airflow along said at least one air conduit that communicates with said outside surface of said cover plate, said airflow cooling said cover plate to control the lubricant temperature, said airflow being expelled at said discharge. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for controlling temperature of a lubricant contained in a housing, the steps of the method comprising:
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a) providing an air duct arrangement having; i) an intake manifold, ii) a discharge, and iii) at least one air conduit extending between said intake manifold and said discharge, said at least one air conduit communicating with an outside surface of the housing; b) forcing air into said intake manifold in response to a temperature measurement of the lubricant contained in the housing; c) creating an airflow through said at least one air conduit, said airflow communicating with the outside surface of the housing to cause a heat transfer from the housing to said air; and d) expelling at said discharge said air heated by said heat transfer to control the temperature of the lubricant contained in the housing. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification