Lubricant guide element for a motor vehicle transmission

Abstract

The invention relates to a lubricant guide element (11) for a transmission (10) of a motor vehicle, wherein the lubricant guide element (11) is designed to be arranged in an interior space (13) defined by the transmission housing (12) and is configured to guide a lubricant (S) to at least one component (14, 16) of the transmission (10) to be lubricated.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lubricant guide element for a motor vehicle transmission, wherein the lubricant guide element is designed to be arranged in an interior space bounded by a transmission housing and is configured to guide a lubricant to at least one component of the transmission requiring lubrication. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle transmission and a motor vehicle.

[0002] It is common practice to supply moving components of a gearbox with a lubricant to lubricate these components, reduce friction and / or wear, and provide cooling. In known gearboxes, insufficient control over lubricant movement within a housing, and especially near a gear set, can lead to increased churning losses. For example, lubricant can circulate from a gear creating agitation, via housing components, as an ineffective leakage flow.

[0003] The shape of housing components typically affects transmission efficiency, as well as the transmission's strength and / or acoustics, and is therefore not arbitrarily adaptable. Consequently, for example, to achieve sufficient oil intake during lateral acceleration, unfavorable housing geometries (intake volumes) must be compensated for by an increased oil fill quantity. This results in weight and cost disadvantages.

[0004] Against this background, an object of the invention is to improve lubricant utilization in a motor vehicle transmission. In particular, the lubricant flow within the transmission is to be improved in order to enable improved lubrication and / or a reduced lubricant requirement.

[0005] This problem is solved by a lubricant guide element for a motor vehicle transmission with the features of claim 1, a transmission for a motor vehicle with the features of claim 11, and a motor vehicle with the features of claim 12. The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0006] According to a first aspect, a lubricant guide element for a transmission of a motor vehicle is specified, wherein the lubricant guide element is designed to be arranged between a transmission housing of the transmission and at least one gear arranged in an interior space bounded by the transmission housing, and is configured to guide a lubricant to at least one component of the transmission to be lubricated.

[0007] Because the lubricant guide element can be arranged in a space between the gearbox housing and the at least one gear located therein, a free space formed between the gearbox housing and the at least one gear can be at least partially filled by the lubricant guide element, thus reducing the so-called displacement volume of the gearbox housing, in which lubricant can flow or splash unused. The lubricant guide element can therefore form a displacement body, particularly a multi-part one, which can be designed for passive and / or active lubricant conveyance or guidance. This allows lubricant to be effectively directed to the at least one component of the gearbox requiring lubrication and also reduces the amount of lubricant required for lubrication, thereby achieving a weight reduction.The multi-part design of the lubricant guide element can also have a positive effect on the weight of the lubricant guide element itself, since, for example, a plastic injection molded component can be designed in such a way that material can be saved in the lubricant guide element itself in order to save weight.

[0008] According to another aspect, a transmission for a motor vehicle is proposed, comprising at least one transmission housing which defines an interior space of the transmission and at least one gear arranged in the interior space, wherein at least one lubricant guide element described herein is arranged between the transmission housing and the at least one gear.

[0009] According to a further aspect, a motor vehicle is proposed comprising at least one transmission and / or at least one lubricant conveying element as described herein. The effects and advantages discussed herein can be achieved and utilized by means of such a transmission and / or motor vehicle.

[0010] A transmission is, in particular, a mechanical assembly that is arranged or can be arranged between a drive unit and a working unit of the motor vehicle, and is designed to transmit a torque generated by the drive unit to the working unit, in particular the driven wheels of the motor vehicle. The transmission may be designed to effect a change in the speed and / or direction of rotation of a rotary motion provided by the torque. For this purpose, the transmission may have a predetermined number of gears, in particular meshing gears, arranged in an interior space defined or limited by a transmission housing, wherein the gears of the transmission are or can be arranged to provide gear ratio stages.To form the interior space, the gearbox housing can have at least one housing wall or several housing walls that completely enclose the interior space, or together completely enclose it.

[0011] A lubricant is, in particular, a lubricant or oil, especially a gear oil, which can be used for lubricating and / or cooling gear components. This lubricant can, for example, be supplied from a lubricant reservoir or a lubricant delivery point, in particular by gravity, at least one pumping device, and / or the movement of a gear of the transmission, to the lubricant guide element and guided by it to at least one component of the transmission requiring lubrication. A component of the transmission requiring lubrication is, in particular, a lubrication and / or cooling target and can, for example, be a bearing, a cooling surface, a component that heats up during operation, and / or a gear mesh, and / or, within the scope of this disclosure, can also be formed by a lubricant reservoir and / or a lubricant sump.

[0012] The invention is based, among other things, on the idea of ​​filling voids, i.e., free spaces within the gearbox, and using these spaces specifically for lubricant delivery. For this purpose, a lubricant delivery element is proposed for placement in a free space within the gearbox, which is made of a lightweight, easily formable, and / or inexpensive material, such as plastic, polystyrene, and / or foam. The lubricant delivery element can be configured to essentially only keep a space free of moving gearbox components, such as gears and / or shafts, to enable unimpeded gearbox operation, while simultaneously filling or closing the spaces formed between the gearbox housing and these moving components to prevent unwanted free movement of the lubricant in these spaces and to improve lubricant flow.This prevents ineffective and / or energy-inefficient, especially unintentionally recirculating, lubricant flows, thereby improving lubrication and / or cooling and / or reducing the required amount of lubricant. The lubricant guide element can, for example, include lines, channels, guide contours, and / or reservoir spaces for the lubricant to improve the supply to one or more components of the gearbox requiring lubrication.

[0013] In one embodiment, the lubricant guide element is designed to reduce the free volume between the gearbox housing and the at least one gear. The free volume of the gearbox, or the interior of the gearbox housing, refers to the spaces or gaps between functional components and the surface of the gearbox housing that defines the interior. To reduce this free volume, in which air and / or lubricant can move freely, the lubricant guide element is designed, in particular, to be integrally formed as close as possible to the at least one gear and / or any other moving component of the gearbox, ideally without direct contact, in order to limit the free space and thus the movement of unguided lubricant.

[0014] Furthermore, by spatially aligning the lubricant guide element with the transmission components or components to be lubricated, the lubricant can be brought into improved contact with at least one component or point requiring lubrication. Because flow and / or splashing possibilities for the lubricant are thus limited, the required amount of lubricant can be reduced, while lubricant intake at a single intake point or component to be lubricated can still be maintained even in operating conditions subjected to lateral forces. This can result in a reduction in weight and / or cost for a transmission or a motor vehicle.

[0015] In one embodiment, the lubricant guide element has at least one lubricant channel configured to direct lubricant to the at least one component to be lubricated. A lubricant channel can be a cavity in the lubricant guide element, particularly one that is substantially cylindrical, designed to allow the lubricant to pass through the lubricant guide element. In other embodiments, such a lubricant channel can also be formed by the interaction of at least one surface of the lubricant guide element with a transmission component. Such a lubricant channel can be configured or used for active or pressurized lubrication, which can be provided, for example, by means of a pump, and / or for passive or unpressurized lubrication.By providing at least one such lubricant channel in the lubricant guide element, lubricant can be directed precisely to the points of need or to the at least one component to be lubricated. The length and / or diameter of the respective lubricant channel can be adapted to the lubricant requirements of the corresponding component to be lubricated and can, for example, have straight, curved, and / or angled sections.

[0016] In one embodiment, the lubricant channel has at least one branch designed to direct lubricant from the lubricant channel to at least one further component requiring lubrication. Such a branch can, for example, be formed by a further lubricant channel that is connected to the first lubricant channel in a fluid- or lubricant-permeable manner, so that an integrated and / or precisely metered discharge of a particularly predetermined lubricant flow towards a further component requiring lubrication can be achieved within the lubricant guide element.

[0017] In one embodiment, the lubricant guide element has at least one lubricant drain channel configured to drain lubricant from the at least one component to be lubricated. The lubricant drain channel can be designed according to a lubricant channel described herein, wherein a receiving opening of the lubricant drain channel is arranged, in particular, in the area of ​​a component to be lubricated, in order to drain lubricant supplied there and already used for lubrication and / or cooling, in order to prevent lubricant build-up, particularly in the area of ​​the at least one component to be lubricated, and thus to enable a continuous supply of fresh lubricant to the at least one component to be lubricated.The outflow end of the lubricant drain channel can be oriented towards a lubricant sump and / or a lubricant pumping point from which the lubricant can be drawn for further use, thus enabling continuous lubrication of transmission components.

[0018] In one embodiment, the lubricant guide element has at least one lubricant guide surface configured to guide lubricant to the at least one component to be lubricated. In some embodiments, lubricant guide surfaces can also be used to supply lubricant to a component to be lubricated. A lubricant guide surface can, in particular, be provided on the circumference of a gear or in the area of ​​a gear's teeth to form a flow chamber for the lubricant and / or to retain or guide lubricant in the area of ​​the teeth, whereby the lubricant can be conveyed by a rotation of the teeth in the flow chamber formed by the lubricant guide surface.

[0019] In some embodiments, a lubricant guide surface can be configured to collect lubricant splashed from a component to be lubricated or a lubricated component and direct it to that component and / or another component to be lubricated. In particular, a lubricant guide surface can, at least partially, assume the function of a lubricant channel to enable the targeted supply and / or discharge of lubricant.

[0020] In one embodiment, the lubricant guide element is configured to prevent lubricant from entering at least one area of ​​the transmission's interior. At least one section or area of ​​the lubricant guide element can be designed to prevent lubricant from entering a predetermined area, particularly the transmission housing. Such an area could, for example, be a transmission vent, since a connection between the air volumes and the outside is necessary to allow for changes in air volume within the engine. To prevent lubricant from contaminating this vent, the lubricant guide element can be designed to prevent lubricant from entering the vent area and thus preventing lubricant from escaping from the vent area to the outside.

[0021] In one embodiment, the lubricant guide element comprises at least one first shell element and at least one second shell element, the shell elements together forming the lubricant guide element. This allows the lubricant guide element to be adapted to the gearbox housing and / or the components provided therein, and, by means of such a multi-part design, to be arranged or mounted more efficiently within the gearbox housing and between it and the at least one gear.

[0022] In one embodiment, a surface of the lubricant guide element and / or of the at least one first and / or second shell element, particularly one facing away from a lubricant line, is adapted to or integrally formed with an inner surface of the gearbox housing. This surface can, in particular, represent or mold a negative image of the gearbox housing's inner surface, thus enabling the lubricant guide element to be embedded as completely and / or stably as possible within the gearbox housing. In other embodiments, the lubricant guide element can be designed such that it has free spaces, which are particularly lubricant-tight with respect to the lubricant-conducting surfaces of the lubricant guide element, on its surface facing the inner surface of the gearbox housing, in order to reduce weight.

[0023] In one embodiment, the at least one first shell element and the at least one second shell element can be connected by means of at least one intermediate element. In this case, particularly when the shell elements are integrally formed with the inner surface of a gearbox housing, the assembly or mounting of the shell elements or the lubricant guide element can be simplified by the multi-part design. Such a division of the lubricant guide element into several sub-elements allows for improved functional design to minimize displacement and / or lubricant flow, and / or accommodates a specific assembly sequence, for example, of a gearbox gear set.

[0024] In one embodiment, the first shell element, the second shell element, and / or the intermediate element has at least one toothed structure on at least one connecting surface. The connecting surface is arranged on the respective element and configured to be in contact or engagement during assembly, particularly in a sealing manner, so that lubricant leakage can be prevented. The toothed structure improves the mechanical stability of the lubricant guide element and provides a sufficient seal, especially with regard to pressurized lubricant.

[0025] Further advantages and application possibilities of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the figures. Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a transmission according to the invention for a motor vehicle comprising a lubricant guide element according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 shows a further schematic representation of the exemplary embodiment of a transmission according to the invention for a motor vehicle. Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a lubricant guide element according to the invention for a transmission of a motor vehicle. Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic detail representation of the embodiment of a lubricant guide element according to the invention for a transmission of a motor vehicle.

[0026] Fig. Figure 1 shows a gearbox 10 for a motor vehicle comprising a lubricant guide element 11 according to an exemplary embodiment in a schematic sectional view.

[0027] The gearbox 10 has a gearbox housing 12, which defines an interior space 13 of the gearbox 10. Several gears 14 are arranged in this interior space and are at least partially meshed with one another to provide a transmission for a torque supplied by a drive unit (not shown). The lubricant guide element 11 is arranged between the gearbox housing 12 and the gears 14, or in a free volume or space formed between the gearbox housing 12 and moving components 14 of the gearbox 10. The lubricant guide element 11 is designed to reduce the free volume between the gearbox housing and the moving components 14 of the gearbox, in which air and / or lubricant S can move freely.

[0028] The lubricant guide element 11 is designed to guide the lubricant S to at least one component 16 of the transmission 10 to be lubricated, in the illustrated embodiment a toothed section of a gear 14. For this purpose, the lubricant guide element 11 has a lubricant guide surface 15, which is designed to guide the lubricant S at the component 16 to be lubricated. The lubricant guide surface 15 forms a guide surface arranged circumferentially to and spaced apart from the gear 14. This guide surface, together with the gear 14, can form a flow channel in which the lubricant S can be moved by the rotational movement of the gear 14 or its teeth. This allows the lubricant S to be directed and held precisely in a region 16 where lubrication is required or desired.

[0029] In Fig. 2 is the gearbox 10 out Fig. 1 shown in a further schematic, perspective sectional view.

[0030] The illustration shows that the lubricant guide element 11 has a lubricant channel 17, which is configured to direct lubricant S to at least one component 16a to be lubricated, here a bearing of a gear 14 of the transmission 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the lubricant channel 17 has a branch 18, which is configured to discharge lubricant S S from the lubricant channel 17 and direct it to at least one further component 16b to be lubricated, here also a bearing of a gear 14. This is more clearly visible in the enlarged section.

[0031] The lubricant guide element 11 has a lubricant drain channel 19, which is configured to drain lubricant S from component 16b or to deliver it from this bearing point 16b to a lubricant sump or lubricant delivery point. From there, the lubricant S can then be directed, in particular actively or passively, by means of the lubricant element 11 to lubricate one or more components 16 to be lubricated.

[0032] In order to guide lubricant S into the area of ​​the further component 16c to be lubricated, the lubricant guiding element 11 has further lubricant guiding surfaces 15 which together with one of the gears 14 form a lubricant channel by means of which lubricant 11 can be at least partially collected and guided to the further component 16c to be lubricated.

[0033] Fig. Figure 3 shows a lubricant guiding element 11 according to an exemplary embodiment in a schematic sectional view.

[0034] The lubricant guide element 11 comprises a first shell element 11a and a second shell element 11b, which together form the lubricant guide element 11. The outer surfaces of the first and second shell elements 11a, 11b are adapted to or formable against an inner surface of a gearbox housing 12 in order to allow as complete a filling as possible of a gearbox interior 13 and to improve the stability of the lubricant guide element 11.

[0035] The first and second shell elements 11a, 11b are connected to connecting surfaces 111 by means of an intermediate element 11c in order to form the lubricant guiding element 11.

[0036] Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic detail representation of the lubricant guide element 11. Fig.3 at a junction.

[0037] The illustration shows that the intermediate element 11c and the second shell element have a toothed structure 112 on their connecting surfaces 111. This improves the seal, particularly with regard to a lubricant channel 17 and the lubricant S conveyed therein. REFERENCE MARK LIST 10 gearboxes 11 Lubricant guide element 11a first shell element 11b second shell element 11c Intermediate element 12 Gearbox housings 13 Interior 14 gear 15 Lubricant conduction area 16 components to be lubricated 17 Lubricant channel 18 Junction 19 Lubricant drain channel 111 Connecting surface 112 Interlocking structure S lubricants

Claims

[1] Lubricant guide element (11) for a transmission (10) of a motor vehicle, wherein the lubricant guide element (11) is designed to be arranged between a transmission housing (12) of the transmission (10) and at least one gear (14) arranged in an interior space (13) defined by the transmission housing (12), and is configured to guide a lubricant (S) to at least one component (14, 16) of the transmission (10) to be lubricated. [2] Lubricant guide element (11) according to the preceding claim, wherein the lubricant guide element (11) is configured to reduce a free volume between the gearbox housing (12) and the at least one gear (14). [3] Lubricant guide element (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lubricant guide element (11) has at least one lubricant channel (17) which is configured to guide lubricant (S) to the at least one component (16) to be lubricated. [4] Lubricant guide element (11) according to the preceding claim, wherein the lubricant channel (17) has at least one branch (18) which is configured to guide lubricant (S) from the lubricant channel (17) to at least one further component (16) to be lubricated. [5] Lubricant guide element (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lubricant guide element (11) has at least one lubricant drain channel (19) which is configured to drain lubricant (S) from the at least one component (16) to be lubricated. [6] Lubricant guiding element (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lubricant guiding element (11) has at least one lubricant guiding surface (15) which is configured to guide lubricant (S) to the at least one component (16) to be lubricated. [7] Lubricant guide element (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lubricant guide element (11) is configured to keep lubricant (S) away from at least one area of ​​the interior (13) of the transmission (10). [8] Lubricant guide element (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lubricant guide element (11) comprises at least one first shell element (11a) and at least one second shell element (11b), wherein the shell elements (11a, 11b) together form the lubricant guide element (11). [9] Lubricant guiding element (11) according to the preceding claim, wherein a surface of the at least one first and / or second shell element (11a, 11b) is adapted to an inner surface of the gearbox housing (12). [10] Lubricant guiding element (11) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the first and the second shell element (11a, 11b) can be connected by means of an intermediate element (11c). [11] Lubricant guiding element (11) according to one of the three preceding claims, wherein the first shell element (11a), the second shell element (11b) and / or the intermediate element (11c) has at least one toothed structure (112) on at least one connecting surface (111). [12] Transmission (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a transmission housing (12) which defines an interior space (13) of the transmission (10) and at least one gear (14) arranged in the interior space (13), wherein at least one lubricant guide element (11) according to one of the preceding claims is arranged between the transmission housing (12) and the at least one gear (14). [13] Motor vehicle comprising at least one transmission (10) according to the preceding claim and / or a lubricant guide element (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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