A rear axle self-lubricating system for off-road vehicles and a rear axle assembly using the same

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of off-road vehicle rear axle self-lubricating system and the rear axle assembly using the system, including rear axle housing, the left and right symmetrical two drive half shafts are arranged in the rear axle housing, the middle part in the rear axle housing is provided with main reduction gear, main reduction gear is respectively connected with two drive half shafts and drives two drive half shafts rotation, the end of the drive half shaft far from main reduction gear is provided with wheel hub bearing, the end of the drive half shaft far from main reduction gear is sleeved with oil return pump, the oil return pump is connected with the one end of oil guide groove, the other end of oil guide groove is located at main reduction gear, and the oil guide groove is hollow structure;The beneficial effects of the application are that: by the setting of oil return pump, the lubricating oil at both ends of rear axle housing can be sent back to main reduction gear again, to ensure the reliable lubrication of main reduction gear.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive driving technology, and in particular to a self-lubricating rear axle system for off-road vehicles and a rear axle assembly using the system. Background Technology

[0002] As people's living standards improve, their demand for travel and leisure is increasing, and the experience of extreme off-roading is becoming more and more popular. Existing hardcore off-road vehicles use a non-independent suspension, solid axle mechanical design. In the rear axle structure, the main reduction gear is located in the middle of the axle, and an oil reservoir is designed inside the axle housing; the gears rotate in oil, achieving self-lubrication. However, in some off-road scenarios, such as on slopes and drifting, the oil, under the influence of gravity or centrifugal force, may flow to one end of the axle housing, causing insufficient or no lubrication of the main reduction gear. This can lead to burning of the gear meshing surfaces, resulting in abnormal noises, gear grinding, and other problems. This not only affects the driving experience but may even pose a danger.

[0003] The patent application with application number "CN 201810878950.2" discloses "a rear axle for automobiles". Although it achieves reliable lubrication of the main reduction gear, the device requires a corresponding sealing device to be set on the outside of the main reduction gear to avoid leakage of lubricant. The structure of this sealing device is relatively complex and inconvenient to install. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a self-lubricating rear axle system for off-road vehicles and a rear axle assembly using the system, which can return the lubricating oil flowing to the end of the axle housing to the main reduction gear, ensuring the normal lubrication of the main reduction gear.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A self-lubricating rear axle system for off-road vehicles includes a rear axle housing. Two symmetrically arranged drive half-shafts are housed within the rear axle housing. A main reduction gear is located in the center of the rear axle housing. The main reduction gear is connected to and drives the two drive half-shafts to rotate. A hub bearing is located at the end of each drive half-shaft furthest from the main reduction gear. A return oil pump and an oil collection groove are fitted onto the end of each drive half-shaft furthest from the main reduction gear. The return oil pump is connected to one end of an oil guide groove, and the other end of the oil guide groove is located at the main reduction gear. The oil guide groove has a hollow structure.

[0006] Preferably, the return oil pump includes a pump housing, an impeller is provided inside the pump housing, blades are inserted into the impeller, and the impeller is fixedly mounted on the drive half shaft.

[0007] Preferably, a rear cover is installed on the side wall of the pump housing away from the main reduction gear.

[0008] Preferably, the pump casing has an installation hole for placing an oil guide groove, and the oil guide groove communicates with the inside of the pump casing through the installation hole.

[0009] Preferably, the oil collection groove is installed on the side wall of the pump casing near the main reduction gear.

[0010] Preferably, the oil collection groove is conical, with its larger diameter portion closer to the main reduction gear, and the outer edge of the oil collection groove at its maximum diameter abutting against the inner wall of the rear axle housing.

[0011] Preferably, the side wall of the oil collecting tank is provided with a clearance groove for the oil guiding groove to pass through.

[0012] Preferably, the return oil pump is an electric oil pump.

[0013] Preferably, this application also discloses a rear axle assembly that uses the aforementioned self-lubricating rear axle system for off-road vehicles.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By setting up a return oil pump, the lubricating oil at both ends of the rear axle housing can be returned to the main reduction gear, ensuring reliable lubrication of the main reduction gear.

[0015] The return oil pump can be in the form of a centrifugal pump, with its impeller fixedly mounted on the drive half shaft and rotating under the drive of the drive half shaft, thereby driving the lubricating oil to be transported along the oil guide groove to the main reduction gear, without the need to provide additional power to the return oil pump.

[0016] The return oil pump can also be an electric oil pump, which is started when the vehicle is in a turning or drifting state for a long time. It draws oil from both ends of the rear axle housing into the oil guide groove and sprays it onto the meshing surface of the main reduction gear to achieve lubrication. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the self-lubricating system; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A partial sectional view; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the oil return assembly in Example 1; Figure 4 for Figure 3 A partial schematic diagram; Figure 5 for Figure 4 The diagram below hides the back cover (showing the drive half-shaft). Figure 6 for Figure 4 Exploded view; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the pump casing in Example 1; Figure 8This is a schematic diagram of the pump casing from another angle in Embodiment 1; Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of the pump casing in Example 1.

[0018] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this patent. To better illustrate this embodiment, some components in the drawings may be omitted, enlarged, or reduced, and do not represent the actual dimensions of the product. It is understandable to those skilled in the art that some well-known structures and their descriptions may be omitted in the drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Example

[0020] like Figure 1 — Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment of a self-lubricating rear axle system for off-road vehicles includes a rear axle housing 2. Two symmetrically arranged drive half-shafts 4 are disposed within the rear axle housing 2. A main reduction gear 3 is disposed in the center of the rear axle housing 2. The main reduction gear 3 is connected to and drives the two drive half-shafts 4 to rotate. A hub bearing 5 is disposed at the end of the drive half-shaft 4 furthest from the main reduction gear. Lubricating oil is disposed at the main reduction gear 3. This is a conventional structure for existing vehicle rear axles and will not be described in detail in this embodiment.

[0021] When the vehicle performs maneuvers such as steering or drifting, the lubricating oil at the main reduction gear 3 will flow to both sides (the specific side depends on the direction of steering). Both drive half-shafts 4 are equipped with oil return systems 13, and the specifications of the two oil return systems 13 are identical.

[0022] like Figure 3 — Figure 6 As shown, the oil return system 13 includes an oil return pump and an oil guide groove 12. The oil return pump 6 is mounted on the drive half-shaft 4 at the end furthest from the main reduction gear 3 (the furthest end is the hub bearing 5, and the oil return pump is located inside the hub bearing 5). The oil guide groove 12 is a hollow structure. One end of the oil guide groove 12 is connected to the oil return pump 6, and the other end of the oil guide groove 12 is located at the main reduction gear 3. When the oil return pump 6 starts, it can press the lubricating oil at that location into the oil guide groove 12 and spray it along the oil guide groove 12 onto the meshing surface of the main reduction gear 3 to achieve lubrication.

[0023] In this embodiment, the return oil pump 6 is a centrifugal pump, which includes a pump casing 7, an impeller 9 is disposed inside the pump casing 7, and blades 10 are inserted into the impeller 9. The impeller 9 is fixedly mounted on the drive half shaft 4. When the drive half shaft 4 rotates, it will drive the impeller 9 and blades 10 to rotate synchronously, thereby throwing out the lubricating oil inside the pump casing 7 (outside the impeller 9 and blades 10).

[0024] In this embodiment, the return oil pump 6 is a mechanical oil pump that does not require external power. When it drives the half shaft 4 to rotate, it will drive the impeller 9 and blades 10 to rotate synchronously.

[0025] A rear cover 8 is installed on the side wall of the pump housing 7 away from the main reduction gear 3. A sealing structure (existing conventional device, not described in detail here) can be provided between the rear cover 8 and the drive half shaft 4. The rear cover 8 is used to retain the lubricating oil in the pump housing 7 and prevent the lubricating oil from moving backward past the return oil pump 6.

[0026] like Figure 7 — Figure 9 As shown, the pump housing 7 has a mounting hole 71 for placing the oil guide groove 12, and the oil guide groove 12 communicates with the interior of the pump housing 7 through the mounting hole 71. When the drive half shaft 4, impeller 9, and blade 10 rotate, the lubricating oil can be smoothly guided into the interior of the oil guide groove 12.

[0027] An oil collection groove 11 is installed on the side wall of the pump housing 7 near the main reduction gear 3. The oil collection groove 11 is conical, with its larger diameter closer to the main reduction gear 3. At the point where the diameter of the oil collection groove 11 is the largest, the outer edge abuts against the inner wall of the rear axle housing 2, thereby ensuring that the lubricating oil enters the centrifugal pump through the oil collection groove 11 when flowing to both ends.

[0028] To facilitate the arrangement of the oil guide groove 12, a clearance groove 111 is provided on the side wall of the oil collection groove 11 for the oil guide groove 12 to pass through.

[0029] When the system is working normally, the impeller 9 and the blade 10 can rotate synchronously under the drive of the drive half shaft 4, so that the lubricating oil flows back to the main reduction gear 3 without the need for external power, thus ensuring the normal lubrication of the main reduction gear 3. Example

[0030] In this embodiment, the return oil pump 6 is an electric oil pump. Unlike embodiment one, it is powered by an external source and can autonomously drive the impeller and blades within it to rotate.

[0031] When the vehicle is in a turning or drifting state for a long time, the centrifugal pump type return oil pump in Embodiment 1 may not be able to meet the return oil demand. Therefore, this embodiment uses an electric oil pump with external power (such as electricity). When the vehicle is in a turning or drifting state for a long time, the pump starts and draws lubricating oil from both ends of the rear axle housing 2 into the oil guide groove 12 and sprays it onto the gear meshing surface to achieve lubrication.

[0032] The other structures in this embodiment are the same as in Embodiment 1. Example

[0033] This embodiment discloses a rear axle assembly that uses the off-road vehicle rear axle self-lubricating system described in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2.

[0034] The above embodiments are not intended to limit the shape, material, structure, etc. of the present invention in any way. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0035] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only used to facilitate the description of this invention and to simplify the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this invention.

[0036] If the terms "first" or "second" are used in this document to define components, those skilled in the art should know that the use of "first" or "second" is merely for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning.

[0037] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. However, these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A self-lubricating rear axle system for an off-road vehicle, comprising a rear axle housing, wherein two symmetrically arranged drive half-shafts are disposed within the rear axle housing, a main reduction gear is disposed in the middle of the rear axle housing, the main reduction gear is connected to and drives the two drive half-shafts to rotate, and a hub bearing is disposed at the end of each drive half-shaft away from the main reduction gear, characterized in that, An oil return pump and an oil collection groove are fitted on one end of the drive half shaft away from the main reduction gear. The oil return pump is connected to one end of the oil guide groove, and the other end of the oil guide groove is located at the main reduction gear. The oil guide groove has a hollow structure.

2. The self-lubricating rear axle system for off-road vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that, The return oil pump includes a pump casing, an impeller is provided inside the pump casing, blades are inserted into the impeller, and the impeller is fixedly mounted on the drive half shaft.

3. The self-lubricating rear axle system for off-road vehicles according to claim 2, characterized in that, A rear cover is installed on the side wall of the pump casing away from the main reduction gear.

4. The self-lubricating rear axle system for off-road vehicles according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pump casing has an installation hole for placing an oil guide groove, and the oil guide groove communicates with the inside of the pump casing through the installation hole.

5. A self-lubricating rear axle system for off-road vehicles according to claim 2, characterized in that, The oil collection trough is installed on the side wall of the pump casing near the main reduction gear.

6. The self-lubricating rear axle system for off-road vehicles according to claim 5, characterized in that, The oil collection groove is conical, with its larger diameter section closer to the main reduction gear, and the outer edge of the oil collection groove at its largest diameter abutting against the inner wall of the rear axle housing.

7. A self-lubricating rear axle system for off-road vehicles according to claim 6, characterized in that, The side wall of the oil collecting tank is provided with a clearance groove for the oil guiding groove to pass through.

8. The self-lubricating rear axle system for off-road vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that, The return oil pump is an electric oil pump.

9. A rear axle assembly, characterized in that, Use the self-lubricating rear axle system for off-road vehicles as described in any one of claims 1-8.

Images