Clutch Lubricant Guide Means with Radial Trough Chamber
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide means for lubricant and coolant flow management in wet-running friction clutches are not optimally designed for continuous flows, requiring multiple complex components and high assembly and maintenance efforts, and are not suitable for clutches with constant lubricant or coolant surrounds.
Innovation Solution
A guide means with a partially radially inward curved wall area forming a trough-shaped collection chamber, allowing closer arrangement to the clutch circumference, eliminating the need for a 180° bent end and incorporating multiple collecting chambers with fluid scraping edges and flow channels for efficient collection and diversion of both droplets and continuous flows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple differently designed guide means are provided to ensure desired lubricant flow, then lubrication effectiveness is improved, but cost and installation effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple guide functions into a single integrated guide means that features multiple collecting chambers (first collecting chamber for droplets, second collecting chamber for continuous flow) and multiple wall areas (curved wall area, radially inwardly extending wall area) in one component. This merging approach maintains comprehensive lubrication coverage while reducing the number of separate components from multiple differently designed guides to a single multi-functional guide means.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide means is designed with universal functionality to handle both droplet collection and continuous flow diversion through its dual-chamber configuration. The first collecting chamber with curved wall area captures lubricant droplets thrown off by centrifugal forces, while the second collecting chamber with radially inwardly extending wall area diverts continuous lubricant flow, allowing one component to perform multiple lubrication tasks that previously required separate guide means.
2Reliability
If a 180° bent end area is used to form the collecting chamber, then droplet collection is effective, but the guide means cannot be arranged close to the clutch circumference and is not suitable for constant lubricant surrounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the collecting function into two distinct chambers: the first collecting chamber with the curved wall area and 180° bent end for droplet collection, and the second collecting chamber with the radially inwardly extending wall area for continuous flow diversion. This segmentation allows each chamber to be optimized for its specific function while adapting to different lubricant flow conditions, making the overall guide means suitable for both droplet collection and constant lubricant surrounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional approach by having the wall area extend radially inwards (perpendicular to the axial direction) to form the second collecting chamber, rather than only using axial bending. This radial extension allows the guide means to reach closer to the clutch circumference and effectively intercept continuous lubricant flow in the radial direction, complementing the axial droplet collection function of the first chamber.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the curved wall area is arranged at minimum distance from clutch circumference, then structural stability is maintained, but the guide means is not compact and requires high installation effort
Solution Approach 1:
The guide means is segmented into distinct functional zones: the curved wall area section for droplet collection maintaining structural stability, and the radially inwardly extending wall area section for continuous flow diversion that enables compact installation. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently - the curved section maintains stability while the radial extension section provides compact geometry and easier installation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient collection and diversion of lubricant and coolant flows, reducing assembly and maintenance efforts, and providing targeted lubrication and cooling to transmission components, including drive shafts and differential gears, with a more compact and cost-effective design.
Implementation Method 1
the oil thrown away by the clutch partly in the radial direction and partly in the circumferential direction (tangential direction) due to centrifugal forces
Implementation Method 2
due to gravity—the lubricant or the coolant is then diverted in a targeted manner to the aforementioned collection space
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The invention relates to a guiding means (1) for arrangement in the area of a transmission (2) and/or a clutch (3) of a motor vehicle, wherein the guiding means (1) is arranged, or can be arranged, in the area of the transmission (2) and/or the clutch (3) for the targeted discharge and/or redirection of at least a portion of a lubricant and/or a coolant flow. The guiding means (1) is has an at least partially bent first wall region (1a), in particular for arrangement in the area of the outer circumference of a clutch (3), in particular a dual clutch (3a), and at least one first collection chamber (4) for collecting and discharging a portion of the lubricant and/or coolant flow. The expenditures for assembly and maintenance are improved such that for forming the first collection chamber (4), a partial area (1c) of the first wall region (1a) extends substantially radially inwardly, at least partially, and/or in the radially inwardly direction, is trough-shaped.