Vehicle Transfer Structure Lubricant Return Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
In four-wheel-drive vehicles, the lubricant in the coupling chamber is displaced or discharged when the vehicle is inclined, leading to reduced cooling effectiveness and increased agitation resistance, which can cause the coupling to overheat, compromising its durability.
Innovation Solution
A transfer structure with a gear chamber and a coupling chamber, featuring an introduction path for lubricant from the gear chamber to the coupling chamber and a return path that is inclined downward to prevent lubricant discharge, ensuring a stable lubricant level and maintaining cooling efficacy even when the vehicle is inclined.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the lubricant level in the coupling chamber is lowered to reduce agitation resistance, then the coupling can be cooled more efficiently by agitation, but the lubricant is discharged from the oil discharge hole when the vehicle is inclined, which reduces the cooling effect
Solution Approach 1:
The return path is configured to extend in a direction oblique to the axial direction of the coupling chamber, introducing a spatial dimension to the lubricant flow path. This oblique configuration allows the return path to maintain its function of returning lubricant to the gear chamber while preventing lubricant discharge through the oil discharge hole during vehicle inclination, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing agitation resistance and maintaining cooling effect
2Temperature
If the lubricant is retained in the coupling chamber for cooling, then the coupling is cooled by agitation of the lubricant, but when the vehicle is inclined, the lubricant is placed off to the front side or rear side or discharged from the oil discharge hole, which prevents cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The return path is pre-configured with an oblique orientation relative to the coupling chamber axis, creating a structural predisposition that prevents lubricant discharge before inclination occurs. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that during vehicle inclination, the lubricant follows the oblique return path back to the gear chamber rather than discharging through the oil discharge hole, maintaining both temperature control and position stability
Solution Approach 2:
By extending the return path obliqu to the axial direction of the coupling chamber, the invention adds a spatial dimension to the lubricant circulation system. This three-dimensional path configuration allows the lubricant to be retained in the coupling chamber for cooling purposes while preventing discharge during inclination, thus maintaining both temperature control and position stability
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
The solution maintains a stable lubricant level in the coupling chamber, reducing agitation resistance and ensuring effective cooling of the coupling, thereby enhancing its durability and performance regardless of vehicle inclination.
Implementation Method 1
the lubricant retained in the coupling chamber is agitated by rotation of the coupling to cool the coupling
Implementation Method 2
the lubricant retained in the coupling chamber is agitated by rotation of the coupling to cool the coupling
Implementation Method 3
a return path through which the lubricant introduced into the coupling chamber is returned to the gear chamber, and the return path is inclined downward toward the gear chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer structure for a vehicle which retains a stable amount of lubricant in a coupling chamber and maintains a cooling effect for a coupling by agitation of the lubricant irrespective of an inclination of a vehicle in a front-rear direction. The transfer structure includes a gear chamber housing first and second gears meshing with each other; a coupling chamber housing a coupling provided coaxially with the first gear; an introduction path which introduces a lubricant in the gear chamber into the coupling chamber; and a return path through which the lubricant in the coupling chamber is returned to the gear chamber. The return path is inclined downward toward the gear chamber from an opening that opens in a lower part of an intermediate part of the coupling chamber in a vehicle front-rear direction to an oil discharge hole that opens in the gear chamber.