Lubricating device for a vehicle driveline

Abstract

The present application relates to a lubricating device for a vehicle drive system. In a catch tank, a partition wall is formed which extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction and divides the catch tank in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle mounted state. This helps to prevent the oil in the catch tank from flowing unevenly to one of the first and second spaces even when the oil surface is tilted during, for example, cornering of the vehicle. As a result, the appropriate amount of oil required for lubrication is supplied through the second lubricating hole regardless of whether the vehicle is tilted or the vehicle is cornering.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a lubrication device included in a vehicle transmission system. Background Technology

[0002] To date, numerous structures have been proposed as lubrication devices for lubricating components, such as gears and bearings, housed within a vehicle's transmission system that require lubrication. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-89860 (JP 2016-89860A) discloses a structure in which oil carried by gears is temporarily stored in a collection box, and the oil in the collection box is supplied to the components requiring lubrication through lubrication holes. Summary of the Invention

[0003] When the oil surface in the catch tank tilts due to vehicle tilting or the centrifugal force applied during vehicle turning, the lubrication device, including catch tanks like those in JP 2016-89860A, may have difficulty supplying the required amount of oil to the parts that need lubrication.

[0004] The present invention was designed in the context of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a structure for a lubrication device for a vehicle transmission system including a collection box, which can supply a suitable amount of oil to the parts that require lubrication even when the oil surface in the collection box is tilted during vehicle operation.

[0005] The key points of the present invention are as follows: (a) A lubrication device for a vehicle transmission system, comprising a predetermined gear housed within a housing and a collection box disposed above the predetermined gear within the housing in a vehicle-mounted state, and having a structure in which oil swirled up by the rotation of the predetermined gear is collected by the collection box, wherein: (b) the collection box has a shape extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction in the vehicle-mounted state; (c) a partition wall is formed in the collection box, which extends along the vehicle longitudinal direction and divides the collection box in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle-mounted state; (d) when the collection box is divided by the partition wall inside, A first space and a second space separated in the vehicle width direction are formed; (e) a first lubrication hole communicating with the first space and a second lubrication hole communicating with the second space are formed on the side of the collection box in the longitudinal direction opposite to the side where oil flows in by the predetermined gear; and (f) on the side of the collection box in the longitudinal direction opposite to the side where oil flows in by the predetermined gear, an inclined portion is formed in at least one of the portion forming the first space and the portion forming the second space, the inclined portion extending away from the partition wall in the vehicle width direction while tilting downward in the vertical direction.

[0006] According to the present invention, a partition wall is formed in the collection tank, which extends along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and divides the collection tank in the vehicle width direction when the vehicle is installed. This helps to prevent the oil in the collection tank from flowing unevenly into one of the first and second spaces, even when the oil surface in the collection tank is tilted, for example, during vehicle turning. Furthermore, at least one of the portions of the collection tank forming the first space and the portions forming the second space has an inclined portion that extends away from the partition wall in the vehicle width direction and tilts downward in the vertical direction, such that even when the oil surface in the collection tank is tilted, for example, during vehicle turning, the oil is at least kept in the space on the side where the inclined portion is formed. As a result, even when the oil surface in the collection tank is tilted during driving, oil can be supplied to the parts requiring lubrication through the first and second lubrication holes. Attached Figure Description

[0007] The features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

[0008] Figure 1 This is a schematic view showing the interior of a vehicle transmission system to which the present invention is applied;

[0009] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the differential gear ring viewed from the rear in the direction of vehicle travel;

[0010] Figure 3 It is a perspective view of the trap; and

[0011] Figure 4 From and Figure 3 Perspective views of the trap from different angles. Detailed Implementation

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments, the drawings may be simplified or modified as needed, and the parts may not necessarily be accurately depicted in terms of their size ratios, shapes, etc.

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic view showing the interior of a vehicle transmission system 10 (hereinafter referred to as "transmission system 10") to which the present invention is applied. Figure 1 The top side of the page corresponds to the vertical top side when the vehicle is installed. Figure 1 The right side of the page corresponds to the front of the vehicle when it is mounted. Perpendicular to... Figure 1 The orientation of the page corresponds to the width of the vehicle in its mounted state. The vehicle mounted state in this manual refers to the state when the vehicle is on a flat road.

[0014] The transmission system 10 is applied, for example, to a battery-electric vehicle having an electric motor (not shown) as a prime mover. Within the housing 12 of the transmission system 10, an output gear 14, a reverse gear 16, and a differential ring gear 18 are housed. The differential ring gear 18 corresponds to a predetermined gear of the present invention.

[0015] Output gear 14 is connected to, for example, an electric motor (not shown) so that power can be transmitted, and is configured to rotate about rotational axis CL1. Reverse gear 16 is configured to rotate about rotational axis CL2. Differential ring gear 18 is configured to rotate about rotational axis CL3. Reverse gear 16 and differential ring gear 18 mesh with each other. Differential ring gear 18 engages with a known differential device 22 (see [reference needed]). Figure 2 The differential housing 22a is integrally formed.

[0016] The capture box 20 is vertically positioned above the reverse gear 16 and the differential ring gear 18 in the vehicle-mounted state. The capture box 20 is positioned along a portion of the outer periphery of the reverse gear 16 and a portion of the outer periphery of the differential ring gear 18, and has a shape that extends in the vehicle's longitudinal direction in the vehicle-mounted state.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the differential gear ring 18 as viewed from the rear side in the direction of vehicle travel, with the vehicle in its installed state. Figure 2 As shown, the capture box 20 is vertically positioned above the differential ring gear 18 in the vehicle mounting state. In this embodiment, the dimensions of the differential ring gear 18 in the vehicle width direction and the dimensions of the capture box 20 in the vehicle width direction are substantially equal.

[0018] return Figure 1 Oil is stored in the lower vertical portion of housing 12, and when the differential ring gear 18 rotates clockwise as indicated by the black arrow during forward travel, the oil stored in the lower portion of housing 12 is rolled up by the differential ring gear 18. The white arrow indicates the flow of the rolled-up oil. The oil is captured by the capture box 20 as it drains through the gap between the inner wall surface of housing 12 and the capture box 20. The oil captured by the capture box 20 moves towards the front of the vehicle. The oil is then discharged through the first lubrication hole 32a and the second lubrication hole 32b, indicated by the dashed lines. The discharged oil is supplied to parts requiring lubrication, such as gears and bearings. The first lubrication hole 32a and the second lubrication hole 32b are through holes formed in and extending through wall portions formed at both ends in the vehicle width direction (the wall portions of the second vertical wall 30, described later). The first lubrication hole 32a and the second lubrication hole 32b are formed in the lower part of the vertical direction of the collection box 20 when the vehicle is installed.

[0019] Figure 3and Figure 4 These are all perspective views of the capture box 20. Figure 3 and Figure 4 Both the vehicle width direction and the vehicle front-to-back direction indicated in the middle indicate the direction when the vehicle is installed.

[0020] The collection box 20 consists of a guide portion 20a that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle when installed in the vehicle, and a box portion 20b connected to one end of the guide portion 20a in the longitudinal direction. The box portion 20b extends toward both sides in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0021] The guide section 20a is formed by a first bottom wall 24 formed in the lower part of the vertical direction in the vehicle mounting state and a pair of first vertical walls 26a, 26b that stand vertically upward from the two edges of the first bottom wall 24 in the vehicle width direction.

[0022] The first bottom wall 24 is vertically disposed above the reverse gear 16 and the differential ring gear 18 in the vertical direction when the vehicle is installed, and has a shape conforming to the outer periphery of the reverse gear 16 and the outer periphery of the differential ring gear 18. The first bottom wall 24 has a predetermined dimension in the vehicle width direction.

[0023] The pair of first vertical walls 26a and 26b rise vertically upwards from the two edges of the first bottom wall 24 in the vehicle width direction. The pair of first vertical walls 26a and 26b extend along the edges of the first bottom wall 24 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The pair of first vertical walls 26a and 26b are formed facing each other. When the pair of first vertical walls 26a and 26b are formed, oil caught by the rotation of the differential ring gear 18 flows from the front end of the guide 20a into the collection box 20. In other words, the caught oil is collected by the collection box 20.

[0024] The housing portion 20b is connected to the guide portion 20a on the side opposite to the side where the rolled-up oil flows in the longitudinal direction. The housing portion 20b extends laterally in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle-mounted state. The housing portion 20b includes a second bottom wall 28 formed in the lower vertical direction in the vehicle-mounted state, and a second vertical wall 30 erected vertically to surround the outer edge of the second bottom wall 28. The second bottom wall 28 corresponds to the bottom wall of the present invention.

[0025] The second bottom wall 28 has a rectangular shape that extends along the width direction of the vehicle in the vehicle-mounted state. The central portion of the second bottom wall 28 in the width direction is connected to the end portion of the first bottom wall 24.

[0026] Except for the portion where the first bottom wall 24 and the second bottom wall 28 are connected to each other, the second vertical wall 30 surrounds the outer edge of the second bottom wall 28. Of the two end portions of the second vertical wall 30 in the surrounding direction, one end portion is connected to the first vertical wall 26a, and the other end portion is connected to the first vertical wall 26b. As a result, a T-shaped space is formed inside the collection box 20 by the guide portion 20a and the box portion 20b. Figure 1 The first lubrication hole 32a and the second lubrication hole 32b shown are respectively formed in the wall portions of the second vertical wall 30 formed at the two ends in the vehicle width direction.

[0027] A first protrusion 35a covering the opening of the first lubrication hole 32a and a second protrusion 35b covering the opening of the second lubrication hole 32b are formed on the second vertical wall 30. Oil flowing into the collection tank 20 passes through the guide portion 20a and the tank portion 20b, and then exits to the outside of the collection tank 20 through the first lubrication hole 32a and the second lubrication hole 32b, and is supplied to lubricated parts such as gears and bearings housed in the housing 12. Therefore, the lubrication device 42 that supplies oil to those parts that require lubrication is configured to include the collection tank and the differential gear ring 18.

[0028] For example, when the vehicle turns, the oil in the collection box 20 may flow unevenly to one side in the vehicle width direction, and the oil may not be supplied through one of the first lubrication holes 32a and the second lubrication hole 32b. As a countermeasure, a partition wall 34 is formed at the center of the guide portion 20a and the box portion 20b in the vehicle width direction, dividing the interior of the collection box 20 in the vehicle width direction.

[0029] In the vehicle-mounted state, the partition wall 34 rises vertically from the first bottom wall 24 and the second bottom wall 28. The partition wall 34 is formed to extend along the vehicle's longitudinal direction and divide the interior of the collection box 20 in the vehicle-mounted state. Because the interior of the collection box 20 is divided by the partition wall 34, a first space 36 and a second space 38, separated in the vehicle's width direction, are formed inside the collection box 20. Each of the first space 36 and the second space 38 is an L-shaped space. In this relationship, the first space 36 communicates with the first lubrication hole 32a, and the second space 38 communicates with the second lubrication hole 32b. The first lubrication hole 32a is formed in the wall portion of the second vertical wall 30 located on the side of the first space 36 and facing the partition wall 34, and the second lubrication hole 32b is formed in the wall portion of the second vertical wall 30 located on the side of the second space 38 and facing the partition wall 34.

[0030] The partition wall 34 helps prevent oil stored in the collection tank 20 from flowing unevenly to one side of the tank section 20b in the vehicle width direction, even when the oil surface is tilted, for example, while the vehicle is moving to turn. Therefore, it helps prevent situations where oil cannot be supplied through either the first lubrication hole 32a or the second lubrication hole 32b.

[0031] Here, as Figure 2 As shown, a helix angle α is formed in the differential ring gear 18. Therefore, when oil is caught by the differential ring gear 18, the oil is caught along the tooth surface of the differential ring gear 18, and thus... Figure 2 The oil is distributed in the direction indicated by the arrow in the diagram. As a result, the amount of oil flowing into the first space 36, located on the side of the oil distribution that is rolled up by the differential ring gear 18 in the vehicle width direction, becomes greater than the amount of oil flowing into the second space 38, located on the side opposite to the oil distribution side in the vehicle width direction.

[0032] As a countermeasure, to balance the amount of oil flowing into the first space 36 and the second space 38, a portion of the partition wall 34 located on the side where the oil flows in the longitudinal direction is rolled up is offset relative to the center of the pair of first vertical walls 26a, 26b located at the two ends of the trap box 20 in the vehicle width direction toward the first space 36 (or the first vertical wall 26a). Furthermore, in this embodiment, the portion of the partition wall 34 located on the side where the oil flows in the longitudinal direction is rolled up is offset relative to the centerline CLG of the differential ring gear 18 in the vehicle width direction toward the first space 36 (or the first vertical wall 26a). The first vertical walls 26a, 26b correspond to the walls of the present invention located at the two ends of the trap box in the vehicle width direction.

[0033] Therefore, as Figure 2 As shown, on the side of the guide portion 20a where oil flows in the longitudinal direction, the oil inflow width w1 in the first space 36 becomes smaller than the oil inflow width w2 in the second space 38. This results in an increase in the amount of oil flowing into the second space 38 as part of the oil caught by the differential ring gear 18. In this relationship, the ratio between the oil flowing into the first space 36 and the oil flowing into the second space 38 can also be balanced. The offset of the partition wall 34 is obtained in advance through experimentation or design. For example, the offset is set to a value that makes the ratio between the oil flowing into the first space 36 and the oil flowing into the second space 38 substantially equal.

[0034] In addition, such as Figure 3As shown, in the portion forming the second space 38, specifically in the portion of the collection box 20b that forms the second space 38, an inclined portion 40 is formed on the side of the collection box 20 opposite to the side where oil flows in in the longitudinal direction. This inclined portion 40 extends away from the partition wall 34 in the vehicle width direction while tilting downward in the vertical direction. Specifically, an inclined portion 40 that extends away from the partition wall 34 in the vehicle width direction and tilts downward in the vertical direction is formed in the second bottom wall 28 of the collection box 20 towards the second lubrication hole 32b. Therefore, the second bottom wall 28 extending from the partition wall 34 towards the second lubrication hole 32b in the vehicle width direction is located further downward in the vertical direction as it extends further away from the partition wall 34.

[0035] In this configuration, even when the amount of oil flowing into the second space 38 side decreases, the oil remains in the tank portion 20b on the second space 38 side, ensuring that the oil discharged through the second lubrication hole 32b is protected. Consequently, even when the amount of oil flowing into the second space 38 tends to be smaller than the amount flowing into the first space 36, it is possible to ensure that the oil remains in the second space 38. In this relationship, the lubrication performance of the lubrication device 42 can be ensured, and the size of the collection tank 20 can also be reduced. The tilt angle θ formed by the inclined portions 40 intersecting each other in the vehicle-mounted state and the horizontal plane (see...) Figure 4 The predetermined angle β (θ≥β) is set to be equal to or greater than a predetermined angle obtained in advance through experimentation or design. For example, the predetermined angle β is set as a lower threshold within an angle range in which an amount of oil equal to or greater than a predetermined amount will be maintained in the box 20b on the side of the second space 38, even if the oil becomes uneven due to the turning or tilting of the vehicle.

[0036] As described above, according to this embodiment, a partition wall 34 is formed in the collection tank 20 that extends in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and divides the collection tank 20 in the vehicle's width direction when the tank is mounted. This helps prevent oil in the collection tank 20 from flowing unevenly into either the first space 36 or the second space 38, even when the oil surface is tilted, for example, during vehicle cornering. Furthermore, an inclined portion 40 is formed in the portion of the collection tank 20 that forms the second space 38. This inclined portion extends away from the partition wall 34 in the vehicle's width direction and tilts downwards in the vertical direction, ensuring that even when the oil surface in the collection tank 20 is tilted, for example, during vehicle cornering, the oil is retained in the second space 38 located on the side where the inclined portion 40 is formed. As a result, even when the oil surface in the collection tank 20 is tilted during driving, oil can be supplied to the parts requiring lubrication through the second lubrication hole 32b.

[0037] Because the portion of the partition wall 34 located on the side of the collection box 20 in the longitudinal direction where the oil flows in, which is rolled up by the differential ring gear 18, is offset relative to the center of the pair of first vertical walls 26a, 26b toward the first space 36, an appropriate amount of oil also flows in on the side of the second space 38, and the amount of oil flowing into the first space 36 and the second space 38 is equal. Furthermore, because the tilt angle θ formed by the intersecting inclined portions 40 and the horizontal plane in the vehicle-mounted state is set to be equal to or greater than a predetermined angle β, an appropriate amount of oil is ensured in the second space 38 regardless of whether the vehicle is turning or tilting.

[0038] Although embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, other aspects of the invention are also applicable.

[0039] For example, in the above embodiment, an inclined portion 40 is formed in the portion of the collection box 20 that forms the second space 38. This inclined portion 40 extends away from the partition wall 34 in the vehicle width direction while tilting downward in the vertical direction. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this aspect. For example, an inclined portion 40 that extends away from the partition wall 34 in the vehicle width direction and tilts downward in the vertical direction can be formed in the portion of the collection box 20 that forms the first space 36, or an inclined portion 40 can be formed in both portions of the collection box 20 that form the first space 36 and the second space 38.

[0040] Although a helix angle α is formed in the differential ring gear 18 in the above embodiment, the helix angle α is not mandatory. In this case, the partition wall 34 located on the side where the oil flows in, which is rolled up by the differential ring gear 18, does not necessarily need to be offset, and the partition wall 34 can be formed in the vehicle width direction between the pair of first vertical walls 26a, 26b.

[0041] Although in the above embodiment, the first lubrication hole 32a and the second lubrication hole 32b are formed in the second vertical wall 30 forming part of the box portion 20b, the first lubrication hole 32a and the second lubrication hole 32b may alternatively be formed in the second bottom wall 28.

[0042] The embodiments described above are merely one example, and based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, the present invention can be implemented through various modifications and improvements to its various aspects.

Claims

1. A lubricating device of a vehicle transmission system, the lubricating device including a predetermined gear housed in a housing and a catch tank provided in the housing above the predetermined gear in a vehicle-mounted state, and having a structure in which oil rolled up by rotation of the predetermined gear is caught by the catch tank, wherein: the catch tank has an elongated shape in a vehicle front-rear direction in the vehicle-mounted state; in the catch tank, a partition wall is formed that extends along the vehicle front-rear direction and that divides the catch tank in a vehicle width direction in the vehicle-mounted state; when the inside of the catch tank is divided by the partition wall, a first space and a second space are formed that are separated in the vehicle width direction; a first lubrication hole communicating with the first space and a second lubrication hole communicating with the second space are formed on a side of the catch tank in a longitudinal direction opposite a side from which oil rolled up by the predetermined gear flows in; and on the side of the catch tank in the longitudinal direction opposite the side from which oil rolled up by the predetermined gear flows in, an inclined portion is formed in at least one of a portion in which the first space is formed and a portion in which the second space is formed, the inclined portion being inclined downward in a vertical direction while extending away from the partition wall in the vehicle width direction, wherein an inclined angle formed by the inclined portion and a horizontal plane intersecting each other in the vehicle-mounted state is set to be equal to or greater than a predetermined angle set in advance.

2. The lubricating device of a vehicle transmission system according to claim 1, wherein: a helix angle is formed in the predetermined gear; the first space is located on a side on which oil rolled up by the predetermined gear spreads in the vehicle width direction, and the second space is located on a side opposite the side on which the oil spreads in the vehicle width direction; the inclined portion is formed in the portion of the catch tank in which the second space is formed; and a portion of the partition wall located on the side of the catch tank in the longitudinal direction from which oil rolled up by the predetermined gear flows in is offset toward the first space with respect to a center of a wall located at both end portions of the catch tank in the vehicle width direction. The catch tank is disposed above the predetermined gear in the vertical direction in the vehicle-mounted state. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 3. The lubricating apparatus of a vehicle drivetrain according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, ​

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