Lubrication system and method of lubricating an internal-combustion engine

• US 20030196510A1
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fegg, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 6,910,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/606.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/02 using lubricating pumps pumps in general F04; lubricating pumps per se F16N
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 9/10 Lubrication of valve gear or auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/0203 the gearbox is associated or combined with a crank case of an engine
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0423 Lubricant guiding means mounted or supported on the casing, e.g. shields or baffles for collecting lubricant, tubes or pipes means for guiding lubricant into an axial channel of a shaft F16H57/0426; lubrication by injection, injection nozzles or tubes therefore F16H57/0456
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0424 Lubricant guiding means in the wall of or integrated with the casing, e.g. grooves, channels, holes means for guiding lubricant into an axial channel of a shaft F16H57/0426
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0468 Shift rods or shift forks
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0475 Engine and gearing, i.e. joint lubrication or cooling or heating thereof electric machines and gearing F16H57/0476
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0478 Synchromesh devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0494 with variable gear ratio or for reversing rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/32 Gear shift yokes, e.g. shift forks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19251 Control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/194 Selective
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19991 Lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2186 Gear casings

Abstract

An apparatus and method for lubricating an internal-combustion engine includes a shaft extending through a gearbox, a gear and a sliding sleeve coupled to rotate with the shaft and adapted to move axially along the shaft, a gearshift fork in mating engagement with the sliding sleeve and moveable parallel to the shaft, a rib in the gearbox adjacent the shaft, and a duct extending into the gearbox. The duct preferably directs a lubricant onto the gearshift fork and the sliding sleeve. Preferably, the rib directs the lubricant from the duct onto the gearshift fork and the sliding sleeve. In an alternative embodiment, at least some of the lubricant flung from the shaft, gear, and sliding sleeve contacts the rib and is directed onto the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork. Further preferably, a projection extends from the rib to direct the lubricant onto the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork.

Claims

1. A gearbox for a transmission including a shaft adapted to extend through the gearbox, the shaft having a longitudinal axis, a gear coupled to the shaft to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the gear adapted to move axially along the shaft, a sliding sleeve coupled to the shaft to rotate with the shaft about the longitudinal axis, the sliding sleeve being adapted to move axially along the shaft, and a gearshift fork in mating engagement with the sliding sleeve, the gearshift fork being movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis to move the sliding sleeve axially along the shaft, the gearbox comprising:

a wall defining a cavity, the wall adapted to at least partially enclose the transmission; and

a duct extending through the wall, the duct adapted to be in fluid communication with a supply of lubricant and with the cavity, the duct adapted to direct the lubricant onto at least one of the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork.

2. A gearbox as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an intake channel extending into the wall; and

a transverse bore within the wall, the transverse bore in fluid communication with the intake channel, the transverse bore in fluid communication with the duct so that the lubricant can flow through the intake channel, the transverse bore, and the duct.

3. A gearbox as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission includes a second sliding sleeve coupled to the shaft to rotate with the shaft about the longitudinal axis, the second sliding sleeve being adapted to move axially along the shaft, and a second gearshift fork in mating engagement with the second sliding sleeve, the second gearshift fork being movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis to move the second sliding sleeve axially along the shaft, and wherein the gearbox further comprises:

a second duct extending through the wall, the second duct adapted to be in fluid communication with a supply of lubricant and the cavity, the second duct adapted to direct the lubricant onto at least one of the second sliding sleeve and the second gearshift fork.

4. A gearbox as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a rib extending from the wall into the cavity, the rib adapted to direct the lubricant from the duct onto the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork.

5. A gearbox as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rib includes a projection extending into the cavity, the projection adapted to direct the lubricant from the rib onto at least one of the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork.

6. A gearbox for a transmission including a shaft adapted to extend through the gearbox, the shaft having a longitudinal axis, a gear coupled to the shaft to rotate with the shaft about the longitudinal axis, the gear being adapted to move axially along the shaft, a sliding sleeve coupled to the shaft to rotate with the shaft about the longitudinal axis, the sliding sleeve being adapted to move axially along the shaft, and a gearshift fork in mating engagement with the sliding sleeve, the gearshift fork being movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis to move the sliding sleeve axially along the shaft, the gearbox comprising:

a wall defining a cavity, the wall adapted to at least partially enclose the transmission; and

a rib extending from the wall into the cavity, the rib adapted so that at least some of a lubricant flung from the shaft, the gear, and the sliding sleeve contacts the rib, the rib being adapted to direct the lubricant onto at least one of the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork.

7. A gearbox as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rib includes a projection extending into the cavity, the projection adapted so that at least some of the lubricant flung from the shaft, the gear, and the sliding sleeve contacts the projection, the projection adapted to direct the lubricant onto at least one of the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork.

8. A gearbox as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rib is adapted to be substantially parallel to the shaft.

9. A gearbox as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rib is adapted to be contoured to at least partially surround the sliding sleeve.

10. A gearbox as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a duct extending through the wall, the duct adapted to be in fluid communication with the cavity and a supply of a second lubricant, the duct adapted to direct the second lubricant onto one of the sliding sleeve and the gearshift fork.

11. A gearbox as claimed in claim 10, further comprising

an intake channel extending into the wall;

and

a transverse bore within the wall, the transverse bore in fluid communication with the intake channel, the transverse bore in fluid communication with the duct so that the second lubricant can flow through the intake channel, the transverse bore, and the duct.