Vertical Output Gear Train Lubrication for Ignition Transients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transmission assemblies with vertical output axis face inefficiencies and component damage due to lack of lubrication during ignition transients, especially in low-temperature environments, and suffer from power losses, noise, and oil splashing issues.
Innovation Solution
A transmission assembly with a lubricant liquid accumulation chamber that keeps the second rolling elements of the shafts partially immersed in oil, ensuring lubrication during transients and normal operation, independent of pump operation and ambient conditions, using a sealed chamber to prevent leaks and optimize lubrication and cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a forced circulation oil system with pump and ducts is used to lubricate gear sets and upper bearings, then lubrication is provided during operation, but during ignition transients (when motor stops and pump stops) there is substantially no lubrication until the circuit fills up again
Solution Approach 1:
The invention pre-fills the lubrication circuit and maintains a reservoir of lubricant in the collection sump before operation begins. During ignition transients, this pre-positioned lubricant continues to lubricate the gear sets and upper bearings through gravity and residual pressure, eliminating the lubrication gap that occurs in conventional systems when the pump stops.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the lubrication function from the pump-dependent forced circulation system and provides it through a separate gravity-based lubricant reservoir and collection sump system. This allows lubrication to occur independently of pump operation, ensuring continuous protection during ignition transients.
2Reliability
If auxiliary heating systems are provided for low-temperature environments, then oil circulation and lubrication are improved, but the structure becomes more complex and weight, bulk, and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables the lubrication system to self-regulate in low-temperature environments through the gravity-based collection sump design. The lubricant naturally settles and pools in the sump, ensuring adequate supply to the gear sets and bearings without requiring external heating systems or complex temperature management infrastructure.
3Reliability
If the pump continuously dispenses oil flow to supply ducts, then lubrication is maintained, but power absorption, noise level, and oil heating increase with the increase of flow
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces continuous pump operation with periodic or intermittent lubrication delivery. The collection sump accumulates lubricant and provides it to the gear sets and bearings through gravity and pressure differential, eliminating the need for continuous pump operation and its associated energy consumption, noise, and oil heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical pump-driven forced circulation system with a gravity-based lubrication system. This substitution eliminates the pump's power consumption, noise generation, and oil heating while maintaining reliable lubrication supply through the collection sump's natural flow characteristics.
4Reliability
If the collection chamber maintains constant fill level with lower gear sets touched by oil, then lubrication is provided, but splashing phenomena arise that contribute to heating of oil during entire operation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies lubrication locally and selectively through the collection sump design. Instead of maintaining a constant fill level that causes splashing, the sump provides lubricant only where needed (to the lower gear sets and bearings) through controlled flow paths, eliminating unnecessary splashing and the associated oil heating while maintaining adequate lubrication.
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 consistent lubrication of upper bearings and gear sets, reduces noise and oil heating, prevents splashing, and enhances heat exchange for improved cooling and component longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a lubricant liquid accumulation chamber (11), the lubricant liquid L being of the type of oil, which is adapted to accommodate, at least partially immersed in the bath of liquid L inside it, at least the second rolling elements
Implementation Method 2
For the lubrication of the gear sets and of the upper bearings
Implementation Method 3
enhances heat exchange for improved cooling and component longevity
Data Source
AI summary
A transmission assembly with ordinary gear train and vertical output axis, which comprises a substantially box-like body for the accommodation and rotational support of an ordinary gear train with a vertical output axis which comprises at least one shaft with substantially vertical arrangement having at least one portion accommodated inside the body and supported so that it can rotate at least by first and second rolling elements, of which at least the second rolling elements are accommodated inside the body and are arranged above the first rolling elements; a lubricant liquid accumulation chamber, associated inside the body and is adapted to accommodate, at least partially immersed in the bath of liquid inside it, at least the second rolling elements of the at least one shaft with substantially vertical arrangement, the shaft being inserted into the chamber so as to pass through hermetically.