Drivetrain Vent Relocation Tube Prevents Lubricant Expulsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automotive drivetrain components often face issues where the breather vent expels lubricant during operation due to improper venting site selection, leading to potential lubricant loss and performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a driveline power transmitting component with a vent relocation tube that positions the vent intake outside the surge and splash lubrication zones, ensuring that lubricating fluid is not drawn into the vent during operation across a range of orientations, thereby preventing lubricant expulsion through the breather vent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the breather vent is positioned at a site selected by OEM without consideration of surge and splash zones, then the venting function is achieved, but lubricant expulsion occurs during operation at certain positions
Solution Approach 1:
The vent intake is extracted from the harmful surge zone and splash lubrication zone by positioning it on the inner surface of the housing at a location not exposed to these zones. This separates the venting function from the lubricant-prone areas, allowing air pressure equalization while preventing lubricant expulsion.
Solution Approach 2:
The breather vent assembly acts as an intermediary component with a specific intake position that mediates between the internal cavity pressure and external atmosphere. By positioning the intake away from surge and splash zones, it allows pressure equalization while filtering out lubricant exposure.
2Stress or pressure
If the vent aperture is positioned in the surge zone or splash lubrication zone, then air pressure equalization is achieved, but lubricating fluid is drawn into the vent during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The housing inner surface is differentiated into zones with different qualities: the surge zone and splash lubrication zone are identified as harmful areas, while a specific location on the inner surface is selected as a safe zone for the vent intake. This local quality differentiation ensures the vent intake receives only air without lubricant contamination.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the drivetrain component operates on various road grades, then vehicle adaptability is improved, but the risk of lubricant expulsion increases at certain orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The vent intake is preliminarily positioned on the inner surface of the housing at a location that is not exposed to surge or splash zones in any operating orientation. This preliminary correct positioning prevents lubricant expulsion across all road grades and vehicle orientations, eliminating the need for corrective actions during operation.
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
This solution effectively prevents lubricant loss by ensuring the vent intake is positioned to receive air only, maintaining desired air pressure within the drivetrain component while operating on various road grades, thus enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the drivetrain.
Implementation Method 1
The splash lubrication zone is a volume of the internal cavity where lubricating fluid is discharged due to centrifugal force from components of the driveline power transmitting component that rotate in the internal cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A driveline power transmitting component having a power transfer assembly disposed in a housing. The housing defines a vent aperture and a sump. A lubricating fluid is disposed in the sump and portions of the power transfer assembly travel through the lubricating fluid so that a lubrication surge zone and a splash lubrication zone are formed. The vent aperture is disposed in at least one of the surge zone, the splash lubrication zone and the sump when the driveline power transmitting component is disposed in at least one orientation in a predetermined range of operating positions in which the driveline power transmitting component can be operated. A breather relocation conduit is employed to permit air to be vented from the housing to the vent aperture without intaking lubricating fluid into the breather relocation conduit.