System for supplying lubricant to bearing of motor vehicle gearbox

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (1) for supplying lubricant to a bearing of a gearbox of a motor vehicle, comprising: a wall (6) configured to partially define a housing (2) of the gearbox; a lubricant dispenser; and a groove (8) formed in the thickness of said wall (6) and configured to collect lubricant and guide it to the bearing (4), said wall (6) being located in a plane defined by a longitudinal direction (L) and a vertical direction (V) perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (L), said groove (8) extending predominantly along said longitudinal direction (L), characterized in that said supply system (1) comprises lubricant guiding means (16) for guiding the lubricant in said groove (8). And at least part of the sealing part is positioned opposite to the groove (8) and is configured to partially seal the groove (8).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of gearboxes, and more particularly to a lubricant supply system within such a gearbox.

[0002] The shafts and gears of a vehicle gearbox arranged in a suitable housing must be lubricated regularly to keep them running. In particular, in a hybrid vehicle gearbox, the volume of the housing is larger than that of the housing in an equivalent internal combustion vehicle, and a specific lubricant supply can be provided in the gearbox to convey lubricant to one or another shaft of the gearbox.

[0003] Thus, the gearbox can include one or more lubricant supply systems. These systems particularly include a lubricant source and grooves configured to convey the lubricant towards the bearings of the shafts to be lubricated at the outlet of the lubricant source. Then, the lubricant can spread along the shafts carried by the bearings and the gears mounted on these shafts.

[0004] The centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the differential ring gear within the gearbox can eject droplets of lubricant into the housing. The droplets of lubricant are thus flung against the walls of the housing, and the droplets that are ejected onto the wall above the grooves of the supply system can flow down along the wall under the action of gravity until they reach the grooves, thus contributing to the supply of lubricant to the bearings located at the ends of the grooves. This additional contribution can represent a non-negligible proportion of the lubricant used to lubricate the bearings associated with the grooves, for example, approximately thirty percent, which limits the consumption from the lubricant source.

[0005] The supply of lubricant to the bearings through such grooves is effective, but this requires the grooves to open onto the wall of the housing, with the grooves being formed in the thickness of the housing so that the grooves can collect by gravity the droplets ejected onto the wall above the grooves by the movement of the differential ring gear.

[0006] However, if the vehicle is tilted at a large angle, for example when it is parked partially on the side of the road for a long time, such an opening can be disadvantageous. This angle changes the direction of the gravity-driven flow of the lubricant within the grooves, such that the lubricant can flow out of the grooves without reaching the bearings, which can lead to insufficient lubrication and thus impair the correct operation of the gearbox.

[0007] The present invention solves this problem by proposing a lubricant supply system for a bearing of a gearbox for a motor vehicle, the lubricant supply system comprising: a wall configured to form part of the housing of the gearbox; a lubricant distributor; and a groove formed in the thickness of the wall and configured to collect lubricant and direct it towards the bearing, the wall being located in a plane defined by a longitudinal direction and a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the groove extending mainly along the longitudinal direction, characterized in that the supply system comprises guiding means which are at least partially positioned opposite the groove and which are configured to partially enclose the groove.

[0008] Wherein, the wall of the supply system in which the groove is formed corresponds to a part of the wall of the gearbox housing, the housing being configured to accommodate a plurality of shafts, gears and bearings forming the gearbox.

[0009] The groove is formed in the wall of the supply system and is configured to direct lubricant to the gearbox bearing. The groove is oriented and inclined such that the lubricant therein flows towards the bearing along the longitudinal direction. The groove is oriented such that the longitudinal direction defining the groove is inclined with respect to the road, so that at least when the vehicle is traveling or stopped on a substantially horizontal road, gravity can act on the lubricant in the groove and drive it towards the bearing.

[0010] The lubricant distributor is configured to supply lubricant to the groove. The lubricant from the distributor flows within the groove from one longitudinal end towards the opposite longitudinal end until it reaches the bearing.

[0011] The wall of the supply system can receive projections of lubricant generated by the rotation of the differential ring gear of the gearbox, and then the droplets of lubricant impinging on the wall above the groove can flow mainly vertically downwards to the groove and penetrate the groove, for example by capillary action, to contribute to the formation of the lubricant flowing towards the bearing. For this purpose, the groove is open on the inner surface of the wall of the supply system, i.e. the surface facing the interior of the housing.

[0012] For example, the lubricant feed for the bearing can consist of 30% of the droplets recovered along the wall and 70% of the lubricant coming directly from the distributor.

[0013] To maintain said ratio, it re-uses the lubricant already present in the housing and thus limits the new supply from the dispenser. The supply system is equipped with guiding means in the shape of a finished groove. According to the invention, the groove has a conventional shape, opens on the inner surface of the housing wall, and the presence of the guiding means provided for this purpose makes it possible to supply, guide and retain the lubricant within said conventional groove. The guiding means is a part separate from the housing wall, which finishes the shape of the groove to partially enclose the groove. The partial enclosure retains the lubricant within the groove, and the resulting partial opening allows droplets of the lubricant to enter the groove.

[0014] In other words, due to the guiding means, the supply system according to the invention ensures the distribution of the lubricant towards the bearing, regardless of the source of the lubricant, and there is no risk of the lubricant flowing out of the groove when the vehicle is at a specific inclination. The guiding means serves to retain the lubricant within the groove by enclosing the groove.

[0015] The advantage of the guiding means is that it only partially encloses the groove, which still allows the droplets flowing along the wall forming the groove to enter the groove, so as to increase the flow rate of the lubricant flowing towards the bearing.

[0016] According to an optional feature of the invention, the guiding means comprises a body extending at least partially along the groove parallel to the wall and a ramp extending at least laterally from the body towards the groove.

[0017] The body of the guiding means extends opposite the wall and at least partially opposite the groove, in particular providing a mechanical connection between the guiding means and the wall. The body also carries the ramp. The uniqueness of the guiding means lies in that: the ramp allows contact with the inner side of the groove or with the edge defining the groove to retain the lubricant that may leave the groove, and the body supporting the ramp faces the wall of the supply system without completely enclosing the groove.

[0018] The body mainly extends along the longitudinal direction such that the ramp supported by it can have the same orientation as the main dimension of the groove, with the aim of preferably retaining and guiding the lubricant along the entire groove so that the lubricant can flow towards the bearing.

[0019] The longitudinal dimension of the ramp is equal to or slightly smaller than the longitudinal dimension of the body to contribute to the advantageous guiding of the lubricant along the entire groove.

[0020] The ramp also has a lateral dimension to extend towards the groove. Thus, the ramp retains the lubricant that may flow out of the groove. The ramp is mechanically retained within the groove by the body, thereby guiding the lubricant along the groove to the bearing.

[0021] According to an optional feature of the invention, the body and the ramp form a one-piece assembly, which can be obtained by molding, for example.

[0022] According to another optional feature of the present invention, the ramp is attached to the body. The ramp can be fixed to the body by adhesion, for example.

[0023] According to an optional feature of the present invention, the body includes fixing means for providing a mechanical connection to the wall. For example, the body can be fixed to the wall by a threaded connection or riveting. Advantageously, the body is fixed to the wall at a location where there is no lubricant flow in an easily accessible groove, so as not to slow down or prevent such flow. Considering a gearbox installed in a vehicle, the body is fixed to the wall below the groove, in other words, between the groove and the ground on which the vehicle is parked, such that lubricant droplets sprayed onto the wall by the differential ring gear and possibly flowing down towards the groove do not come into contact with the fixing means of the body.

[0024] According to an optional feature of the present invention, the ramp has a curved shape, the center of curvature of which is located on one side of the wall of the supply system. In other words, when viewed from the wall of the supply system, the ramp has a concave shape. The ramp curved in this way forms a groove that allows the lubricant to be retained and guided along the longitudinal direction. By taking advantage of the flexibility of the ramp, the curved shape allows adjustment of the vertical position of the contact line or surface between the ramp and the surface or edge of the groove against which the ramp abuts, ensuring sealing along the groove.

[0025] According to an optional feature of the present invention, the ramp includes a free edge extending into the groove, the free edge abutting the defining surface of the groove. The free edge corresponds to the part of the ramp on the body that is opposite the connection area of the ramp. The ramp extends such that at least the free edge contacts the surface defining the groove to prevent leakage of lubricant between the groove and the ramp.

[0026] The free edge preferably abuts the defining surface over the entire longitudinal dimension of the ramp. The defining surface of the groove, also referred to as the lower surface, is the surface closest to the ground on which the vehicle equipped with the gearbox is parked. More specifically, the defining surface or lower surface is the surface of the groove along which the lubricant mainly flows when guided by the groove towards the bearing due to the gravity acting on the lubricant.

[0027] According to an optional feature of the present invention, the ramp includes a base connected to the body, the free edge and the base being offset from each other along the vertical direction, the base being close to the surface of the groove that is opposite the defining surface in contact with the free edge of the groove.

[0028] In other words, the ramp includes a base connected to the body and a joining portion, the end edge of the joining portion forming a free edge that is vertically offset relative to the base, the base being closer to the upper edge of the groove than the opposite lower edge, while the free edge contacts the lower edge of the groove or the surface that defines the groove and bears the lower edge.

[0029] The base corresponds to the ramp portion mechanically connected to the body. The vertical offset means that the base is the higher ramp region in the vertical direction, in other words, farther from the road surface on which the vehicle equipped with the gearbox is parked than the free edge. In other words, the ramp is configured such that gravity tends to guide the lubricant droplets along the direction from the base towards the free edge, rather than vice versa.

[0030] According to an optional feature of the invention, the body of the guiding device is laterally offset relative to the wall, the lateral direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction. The lateral direction corresponds to the direction perpendicular to the wall. Thus, except in the fixed area of the body, the body does not contact the wall, but contacts the wall at a distance corresponding to the lateral offset. To compensate for this lateral offset, the wall may include protrusions protruding from the wall in the same lateral direction, such that the fixing means of the body can interact with these protrusions. Thus, the guiding device can be fixed to the wall while creating a lateral offset of the body.

[0031] The lateral offset forms a channel between the body and the edge of the wall that defines the groove, the edge being opposite to the surface of the groove against which the ramp abuts. This channel allows the lubricant sprayed onto the wall to flow towards the groove. As described above, the guiding device only partially encloses the groove to retain the collection of the lubricant sprayed onto the wall and flowing down towards the groove.

[0032] According to an optional feature of the invention, the ramp includes longitudinal ends provided with guiding members configured to guide the lubricant towards the bottom surface of the groove. The guiding members ensure that the lubricant remains in the groove, especially when the vehicle is at a particular inclination. The relevant longitudinal ends are the ends of the ramp closest to the bearing, i.e., the longitudinal ends towards which the lubricant tends to flow. The guiding members prevent a portion of the lubricant flowing along the ramp and reaching the longitudinal ends close to the bearing from falling out of the ramp into the groove.

[0033] According to an optional feature of the invention, the guiding members are inclined relative to a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction. The inclination of the guiding members promotes the flow of the lubricant towards the bottom of the groove by preventing the lubricant from being blocked by the guiding members parallel to the lateral direction and thus perpendicular to the direction of lubricant flow. The guiding members are inclined such that from the base of the ramp to the free edge of the ramp, the ramp widens in the direction of lubricant flow.

[0034] The longitudinal end is also inclined with respect to the transverse direction. In other words, the longitudinal dimension of the free edge of the ramp is greater than the longitudinal dimension of the base of the ramp.

[0035] According to an alternative feature of the invention, the ramp is made of a flexible material. The flexible material allows the ramp to bend, especially when the guiding device is fixed to the wall, so that the ramp can be stressed to ensure that once the guiding device is in place, it remains in contact with the surface defining the groove or the edge of the groove to ensure that the droplets leaving the groove are collected by the ramp. Thus, the flexibility of the ramp allows the guiding device to adapt to the manufacturing tolerances of the housing and of the wall in which the groove is formed, and the guiding device is advantageously an additional part that does not require modification of the groove structure.

[0036] The invention also encompasses a gearbox for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing, at least one drive shaft bearing, a differential ring gear, and a lubricant supply system for said bearing, said supply system being as described above.

[0037] The housing contains the various shafts and gears of the gearbox, so that the groove is formed on the inner surface of one of the housing walls. The drive shaft bearing is a bearing that needs to be lubricated. Thus, the supply system is arranged such that the groove extends to the inlet of the drive shaft bearing.

[0038] As previously mentioned, moreover, the differential ring gear connected to the vehicle axle, due to its large size and rotational speed, is capable of ejecting lubricant droplets into the interior of the housing due to the centrifugal force generated by its rotation. Such ejected droplets can land on the wall of the supply system above the groove, i.e., on a part of the wall that extends vertically from the upper edge of the groove. The droplets can flow down the wall under the action of gravity towards the groove. The shape of the guiding device associated with the groove allows these droplets of lubricant to enter the groove, either by capillary action along the wall and then along the upper surface of the groove, or by separating from the wall starting from the groove and landing on the guiding device, which returns the lubricant to the groove, the guiding device only partially enclosing the groove and leaving an entrance to the groove, especially on one side of the upper edge of the groove. The guiding device ensures that the lubricant from the dispenser is fully guided to the bearing to be lubricated, regardless of the inclination of the vehicle equipped with the gearbox, and ensures that additional lubricant can enter the groove to provide a supplementary supply.

[0039] Other features and advantages of the invention will now be presented, on the one hand, from the following description and, on the other hand, from several embodiments given by way of illustration and not limitation with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

[0040] Figure 1 is an overall view of the supply system according to the invention;

[0041] Figure 2 is a first three-quarter view of the guiding device of the supply system;

[0042] Figure 3 is the second quarter view of the guiding device, showing the face of the guiding device opposite to the face visible in Figure 2 ; the face of the guiding device opposite to the face visible in

[0043] Figure 4 is the first sectional view of the supply system, the section being taken along the Figure 1 I-I view shown in

[0044] Figure 5 is the second sectional view of the supply system, the section being taken along the Figure 5 II-II view shown in

[0045] The trihedron LVT will indicate the orientation of the figure. The longitudinal direction L and the vertical direction V correspond to two axes defining the main extension planes of the walls delimiting the housing, and the transverse direction T corresponds to an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

[0046] Figure 1 is an overall view of the lubricant supply system 1 according to the present invention. The supply system 1 is integrated in a vehicle gearbox, for example a hybrid vehicle gearbox. The gearbox not shown in its entirety here includes a gearbox housing 2, several drive shafts mounted to rotate on bearings 4 and several gears respectively arranged on these shafts placed in the gearbox housing 2, all of which need to be lubricated regularly with a lubricant such as oil.

[0047] To ensure lubrication, the supply system 1 according to the present invention delivers lubricant to one or more bearings 4 of the gearbox. To this end, the supply system 1 includes a wall 6 forming part of the gearbox housing 2 and a groove 8 formed in the thickness of said wall 6, the groove 8 being configured to ensure the flow of lubricant towards the bearing 4; the groove is Figure 1 not visible in

[0048] because it is masked by the guiding device 16 described below. Figure 1 The supply system 1 further includes a lubricant distributor 10 schematically shown in

[0049] and, if the amount of lubricant flowing in the groove is insufficient, the lubricant distributor 10 is capable of allowing lubricant to flow in the groove 8. Thus, the groove 8 provides a fluid connection between the lubricant distributor 10 and the bearing 4 to be lubricated.

[0050] Note that the longitudinal direction L is inclined with respect to the road on which the vehicle travels or stops, such that the groove 8 is always oriented to form a path for the lubricant from the lubricant dispenser 10 towards the bearing 4. This inclination ensures that the lubricant can flow in the groove 8 and reach the bearing 4 due to gravity.

[0051] The gearbox also includes a differential ring gear, which is not visible here and is connected to the vehicle's axle to appropriately distribute the rotational speed; due to its large size and rotational speed, it sprays lubricant inside the housing. The spraying is random, but covers the entire housing volume, and thus covers all drive shafts and gears.

[0052] A part of this lubricant is flung onto the wall 6 of the supply system 1. Since the wall 6 extends particularly along the vertical direction V, the part of the lubricant sprayed against the wall 6 above the groove 8 flows downward along the vertical direction V under the action of gravity until it encounters the groove 8. In this way, this part of the lubricant can converge with the lubricant from the lubricant dispenser 10, and all the lubricant flows along the groove 8 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0053] To collect the lubricant sprayed by the differential ring gear onto the wall 6, the groove 8 leads to the inner surface of the wall facing the inside of the housing. Thus, the upper edge 12 and the lower edge 14 of the groove 8 can be defined, which are respectively the ridges at the junction between the groove 8 and the inner surface of the wall 6. The groove 8 forms an opening between the upper edge 12 and the lower edge 14, with the upper edge 12 above the lower edge 14 considering gravity. The opening of the groove 8 is necessary to recover the part of the lubricant diffused on the part of the wall 6 located above the groove 8 at the upper edge 12. On the other hand, when the vehicle is inclined along the transverse direction T, for example when the vehicle is partially parked by the roadside, the said opening is disadvantageous. The change in the direction of gravity with respect to the groove can cause the lubricant to flow out of the groove beyond the lower edge.

[0054] To prevent the lubricant from flowing out of the groove, the supply system 1 according to the present invention includes guiding means 16 that partially enclose the groove 8, thereby preventing the lubricant from flowing out.

[0055] The guiding means 16 includes a body 18 and a ramp 20. The body 18 particularly provides a mechanical connection with the wall 6, and the ramp 20 extends at least transversely, that is, along the transverse direction T from the body 18 towards the groove 8. Thus, even when the vehicle is inclined along the transverse direction T, the ramp 20 allows the lubricant to remain in the groove 8 and be guided to the bearing 4.

[0056] Both the body 18 and the ramp 20 extend significantly along the longitudinal direction L, preferably at least partially opposite to the groove 8, such that the ramp 20 can extend towards the groove 8 to insert into the groove 8, and such that the guiding means 16 can partially enclose the groove 8.

[0057] The body 18 further includes a fixing device 22, which provides a mechanical connection to the wall. The fixing device may include screws screwed into the thickness of the wall 6.

[0058] Preferably, the fixing device 22 is placed below the groove 8, i.e., on one side of the lower edge 14 of the groove 8, such that the spraying of the lubricant against the wall 6 and the flow of the sprayed lubricant along the wall to the groove 8 are not blocked or slowed down by the body 18 of the guiding device 16.

[0059] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The structural and functional features of the guiding device are shown in detail. Figure 2 The first three-quarter view is shown, which shows Figure 1 the first face 24 of the guiding device visible in Figure 3 while the second three-quarter view is shown, which shows the second face 26 of the guiding device, intended to face the groove of the supply system.

[0060] Figure 2 The shape of the body 18 of the guiding device 16 is particularly shown. The body 18 has an arched shape, which has longitudinal struts 28, which are intended to be substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the groove 8 when the guiding device 16 is fixed. The body 18 further includes transverse lugs 30, and the longitudinal struts 28 extend between the transverse lugs 30. The transverse lugs 30 extend vertically between a first fixed end 32 and a second connecting end 34 connected to the longitudinal struts 28.

[0061] The fixing device 22 may for example include holes formed in the transverse lugs 30 at the first fixed end. Screws can pass through these holes and then be screwed into the thickness of the wall to hold the guiding device relative to the wall. Advantageously, the body 18 includes the fixing device 22 at each longitudinal end to enhance the stability of the mechanical connection to the wall.

[0062] These holes are bounded by a peripheral edge that may have a circular or oval shape, particularly configured to allow adjustment of the vertical position of the guiding device relative to the wall, and more particularly, to allow adjustment of the vertical position of the free end of the ramp relative to the groove. For example, the diameter of the holes is greater than the diameter of the screws and greater than the diameter of the threaded holes associated with the wall 6. The guiding device 16 is pre-positioned, each screw engages in the threaded hole, and when the vertical position of the guiding device 16 is adjusted, the screws are finally tightened such that the ramp 20 is slightly pressed against the edge or surface defining the groove 8.

[0063] Figure 3 Allows the ramp 20 of the guiding device 16 to be described. The ramp 20 forms an extension of the longitudinal strut 28 and also forms an extension of a transverse lug 30 (i.e., the transverse lug closest to the bearing 4 to be lubricated) here.

[0064] The ramp 20 includes a base 36 and a junction 38. The base 36 corresponds to the part of the ramp that is mechanically connected to the body 18. The junction 38 is for interacting with the groove 8, either at the edge of the groove with the lower edge 14 or inside the groove 8, where the groove surface bears the lower edge. The junction 38 includes a free edge 40, which corresponds to the part of the ramp opposite to the base 36.

[0065] The ramp 20 has a curved shape that allows the base 36 to extend outside the groove, at a distance from the wall 6 of the supply system 1, and allows the free edge 40 of the junction 38 to be located in the groove 8 or in contact with the edge of the groove 8, contributing to partially closing the groove. Thus, the ramp 20 has a bend 42 interposed between the base 36 and the junction 38, which helps to give the ramp its curved shape. The curvature (with the center of curvature on the side of the wall) of the ramp 20 forms a trough opening towards the groove 8.

[0066] The bend 42 can be original, so the ramp 20 is curved at rest; or it can be formed by elastic deformation of the ramp 20, thus generating the curved shape of the ramp by forcing the junction 38 of the ramp 20 against the surface defining the groove 8, and then fixing this position by activating the fixing means 22.

[0067] The free edge 40 is vertically offset relative to the base 36. The base 36 is closer to the upper edge 12 of the groove 8 than to the lower edge 14, while the free edge 40 is in contact with the lower edge 14 or with the surface defining the groove and bearing the lower edge. In other words, in the vertical direction, the base 36 is located at a higher position than the free edge 40, that is, further from the road surface where the vehicle equipped with the gearbox is parked, so that if lubricant (especially droplets sprayed by the rotation of the differential ring gear) flows onto the ramp, the lubricant flows towards the free edge 40 to reach the groove 8.

[0068] As Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, the ramp 20 also includes longitudinal ends 44, and the longitudinal ends 44 are provided with guide members 46 extending along the longitudinal ends. Once the guiding means 16 is fixed to the wall 6, such longitudinal ends 44 correspond to the ends closest to the bearing 4. The guide members 46 keep the lubricant that is liable to flow out of the groove and beyond the bearing along the longitudinal direction L. The guide members 46 correspond to the edges for holding the lubricant.

[0069] The guide members 46 and the longitudinal ends 44 are inclined relative to the transverse direction T towards the bearing 4 to be lubricated. This inclination improves the guiding of the lubricant, which will be described in detail later.

[0070] The body 18 and the ramp 20 can be an integral component, for example, by molding. The body and the ramp can also be separate entities, and the ramp can be attached to the body, for example, by bonding.

[0071] Figure 4 is a sectional view of the supply system 1 according to the invention when the guiding device 16 is fixed to the wall 6 and partially encloses the groove 8.

[0072] As described above, the groove 8 is formed in the thickness of the wall 6. Thus, the groove 8 is bounded by a lower surface 48, an upper surface 50, and a bottom surface 52. The lower surface 48 leads to the wall 6 forming the lower edge 14, and the upper surface 50 is visible and leads to the wall 6 forming the upper edge 12. Figure 5 The bottom surface 52 is parallel to the wall 6 and is thus defined by the longitudinal direction L and the vertical direction. The lower surface 48 and the upper surface 50 are parallel to each other, perpendicular to the wall, and are herein defined by the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T.

[0073] Due to gravity, the lower surface 48 is the surface along which the lubricant mainly flows in the longitudinal direction L. In the absence of the guiding device 16, the lubricant can also flow out of the groove 8 from the lower surface 48.

[0074] To prevent any lubricant leakage, the free edge 40 of the ramp 20 contacts the lower surface of the groove. Advantageously, the contact surface between the ramp 20 and the lower surface 48 is as large as possible along the longitudinal direction, such that the ramp ensures that the lubricant remains in the groove over the maximum possible longitudinal length.

[0075] As previously described, when the free edge 40 and the appropriate engagement surface 38 are pressed against the lower surface 48 of the groove 8, the ramp 20 has a curved shape, where the base 36 extends perpendicularly away from the lower surface 48 of the groove 8. As a result, at least a part of the ramp (especially the curved portion 42) is inclined with respect to the lower surface 48 and guides the lubricant along the ramp towards the bottom surface of the groove.

[0076] Figure 4 Shows a guiding member 46 arranged at the longitudinal end 44 of the ramp 20 being longitudinally inclined to direct the lubricant towards a deflector 54 associated with the bearing 4. The deflector 54 guides the lubricant into the bearing such that the lubricant is more effectively distributed along the drive shaft carried by the bearing. The inclination of the guiding member 46 prevents the lubricant from becoming blocked on the ramp.

[0077] Figure 5 is a second sectional view of the supply system along the vertical direction V and the transverse direction T. Figure 5It is shown that the guiding device 16 only partially encloses the recess 8. In fact, the ramp 20 is inserted into the recess 8, against the surface of the recess, here the lower surface 48, and the body 18 of the guiding device 16 is laterally offset with respect to the wall 6. This offset leaves a lateral space 56 between the body 18 and the upper edge 12 of the recess (i.e., the edge where the wall 6 intersects the upper surface 50 of the recess 8 opposite the free edge 40 of the ramp 20), thus allowing the lubricant droplets flowing down along the wall towards the upper edge of the recess to enter the recess. The lubricant droplets enter the recess by capillary action along the wall 6 and then the upper surface 50 of the recess 8, and then flow towards the bearing in the recess, or they detach from the wall at the upper edge 12 of the recess 8 and are advantageously collected by the ramp 20. Thus, the guiding device 16 guides the lubricant and recovers the potentially lost droplets.

[0078] Figure 5 At least one projection 58 protruding in the transverse direction T along the wall 6 is also shown, with which the fixing means 22 of the body 18 of the guiding device 16 can interact. The projection maintains the lateral offset T between the body of the guiding device and the wall.

[0079] As described above, the present invention achieves its object and proposes a lubricant supply device for a bearing in a gearbox, which effectively ensures, through the recess, that the lubricant cannot leave the recess when the vehicle equipped with such a gearbox is abnormally inclined with respect to the road, and ensures that the lubricant droplets dispersed in the gearbox housing can be collected in the recess. Variants not described here can be implemented without departing from the context of the present invention, provided that, according to the present invention, they include a guiding device associated with the recess, which partially encloses the recess to retain the lubricant already present in the recess and collect additional portions of the lubricant.

Claims

1. A lubricant supply system (1) for a bearing of a gearbox of a motor vehicle, comprising: A wall (6) configured to form part of the housing (2) of the gearbox; A lubricant dispenser (10); And a groove (8) formed in the thickness of the wall (6) and configured to collect lubricant and direct it to a bearing (4), the wall (6) being located in a plane defined by a longitudinal direction (L) and a vertical direction (V) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L), the groove (8) extending mainly along the longitudinal direction (L), characterized in that the lubricant supply system (1) includes guiding means (16) which are at least partially positioned opposite the groove (8) and configured to partially enclose the groove (8).

2. The lubricant supply system (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The guiding means (16) includes a body (18) extending at least partially along the groove (8) parallel to the wall (6) and a ramp (20) extending at least laterally from the body (18) towards the groove (8).

3. The lubricant supply system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The body (18) includes fixing means (22) providing a mechanical connection to the wall (6).

4. The lubricant supply system (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The ramp (20) has a curved shape with the center of curvature located on one side of the wall (6) of the supply system.

5. The lubricant supply system (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein, The ramp (20) includes a free edge (40) extending into the groove (8), the free edge (40) abutting a defining surface (48) of the groove.

6. The lubricant supply system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The ramp (20) includes a base (36) connected to the body (18), the free edge (40) and the base (36) being offset from each other along the vertical direction V, the base (36) being close to a surface (50) of the groove, the surface (50) being opposite the defining surface (48) of the groove with which the free edge (40) contacts.

7. The lubricant supply system (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein, The body (18) of the guiding means (16) is laterally offset (T) relative to the wall (6), the lateral direction (T) being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) and the vertical direction (V).

8. The lubricant supply system (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein, The ramp (20) includes a longitudinal end (44) provided with guiding members (46) configured to direct the lubricant towards the bottom surface (52) of the groove (8).

9. The lubricant supply system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The guiding members (46) are inclined relative to a lateral direction (T) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) and the vertical direction (V).

10. The lubricant supply system (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein, The ramp (20) is made of a flexible material.

11. A gearbox for a motor vehicle, comprising: A housing (2), at least one drive shaft bearing (4), a differential ring gear, and a lubricant supply system (1) for the bearing, the supply system according to any one of the preceding claims.

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