Lubrication system for a differential

Claim 2

A lubrication system for a differential having a housing defining a reservoir for oil, and having rotating gearing with internal spaces including elements to be lubricated, the gearing also having axleways leading from the internal spaces axially outwardly and terminating in the housing, axles in the axleways and dimensioned for forming passages therearound in the axleways, the gearing including at least one member of sufficiently great diameter to extend into the oil in the reservoir, said lubrication system comprising, in combination, means forming channels receiving oil thrown by centrifugal force at high speeds from said one member, operative for directing it to the axially outer ends of the said axleways and continuously so directing it so That sufficient pressure is developed in the oil to force it axially inwardly through the axleways into the internal spaces, and said one member having cups with radially outer portions open to the interior of the housing and positioned for receiving oil from the reservoir when the cups are lowermost, and radially inner portions generally closed to the interior of the housing and capable of carrying oil upwardly on rotation of said one member, said one member also having generally radial gravity passages from the closed inner portions of the cups to the axleways operative for conducting oil from the cups to the axleways when the cups are uppermost and the oil flows downwardly by gravity, at low speeds, said internal spaces extending radially outwardly beyond the radially inner ends of the gravity passages, whereby oil will flow by gravity from the axleways into the lower portions of said internal spaces.

Claim 3

A lubrication system according to claim 1 wherein said axleways include portions leading into said internal spaces that are positioned radially outwardly beyond the radially inner ends of the gravity passages, whereby at high speeds oil is thrown by centrifugal force through said portions of the axleways to the exclusion of forcing it radially outwardly through said gravity passages.

Claim 4

A lubrication system according to claim 1 wherein the axles increase in diameter proceeding in axially inward directions, tending to increase centrifugal force action on the oil and thereby increasing the pressure forcing the oil axially inwardly toward the internal spaces.

Claim 5

A lubrication system according to claim 3 wherein the axleways include at least portions leading into the internal spaces that are disposed at progressively greater radial distances than the axially outer ends of the axleways, whereby to increase centrifugal force in positions progressively axially inwardly in the axleways.

Claim 6

A lubrication system according to claim 4 wherein the gearing includes spaces co-axial with and forming portions of the axleways that are in the shape of truncated cones with large bases directed axially inwardly toward said internal spaces.

Claim 7

A lubrication system according to claim 1 wherein said axleways terminate axially outwardly adjacent the sides of the housing, said channels are defined partially by the inner surface of the housing, and the channels continue along the housing to the axially outer ends of the axleways.

Claim 8

A lubrication system according to claim 1 wherein said one member includes a ring gear, and the ring gear throws oil by centrifugal force into said channels on one side of the housing and into the corresponding axleway.

Claim 9

A lubrication system according to claim 7 wherein the gearing includes a driving pinion gear in mesh with the ring gear, and the pinion gear throws oil by centrifugal force into said channels on the side of the housing opposite that into which oil is thrown by the ring gear.

Claim 10

A lubrication system for a differential having a housing defining a reservoir for oil, an having rotating gearing, the gearing including a ring gear and a carrier therefor, the ring gear geing dimensioned for entering into oil in the reservoir, the ring gear carrier defining a central cavity and axleways leading therefrom outwardly to adjacent the sides of the housing, the gearing including opposed side gears in the cavity, and axles in the axleways connected with the side gears for rotation therewith, the gearing additionally including pinion gears in the cavity in mesh with the side gears, the carrier and side gears being dimensioned for defining an annular space between the carrier and each side gear, and the gearing including a clutch pack in each of those annular spaces, the lubrication system comprising, in combination, means forming channels positioned for receiving oil thrown by centrifugal force by the ring gear at high speeds and conducting it to the axially outer ends of the axleways, whereby pressure deVelops for forcing the oil axially inwardly through the axleways, the axleways communicating with said annular spaces and effective for conducting oil into those annular spaces whereby the oil flows by centrifugal force radially outwardly in those annular spaces through the clutch packs, the carrier having circumferential grooves receiving oil from said annular spaces and conducting it to the meshing areas between the pinion gears and the side gears and into a central space in the cavity, the gearing also including passages from said central space to the reservoir, the ring gear carrier further including cups positioned for entering into oil in the reservoir and operative at low speeds for picking up oil and carrying it up and emptying it whereby the oil flows by gravity into said annular spaces and onto the clutch packs therein, and into the said meshing areas.

Claim 11

A lubrication system for a differential having a housing defining a reservoir for oil, an having rotating gearing, the gearing including a ring gear and a carrier therefor, the ring gear geing dimensioned for entering into oil in the reservoir, the ring gear carrier defining a central cavity and axleways leading therefrom outwardly to adjacent the sides of the housing, the gearing including opposed side gears in the cavity, and axles in the axleways connected with the side gears for rotation therewith, the gearing additionally including pinion gears in the cavity in mesh with the side gears, the carrier and side gears being dimensioned for defining an annular space between the carrier and each side gear, and the gearing including a clutch pack in each of those annular spaces, the lubrication system comprising, in combination, means forming channels positioned for receiving oil thrown by centrifugal force by the ring gear at high speeds and conducting it to the axially outer ends of the axleways, whereby pressure deVelops for forcing the oil axially inwardly through the axleways, the axleways communicating with said annular spaces and effective for conducting oil into those annular spaces whereby the oil flows by centrifugal force radially outwardly in those annular spaces through the clutch packs, the carrier having circumferential grooves receiving oil from said annular spaces and conducting it to the meshing areas between the pinion gears and the side gears and into a central space in the cavity, the gearing also including passages from said central space to the reservoir, the ring gear carrier further including cups positioned for entering into oil in the reservoir and operative at low speeds for picking up oil and carrying it up and emptying it whereby the oil flows by gravity into said annular spaces and onto the clutch packs therein, and into the said meshing areas.

Claim 12

A lubrication system according to claim 9 wherein said circumferential grooves are of such axial extent as to encompass substantially all of said annular spaces and said meshing areas.

Claim 13

A lubrication system according to claim 9 wherein the housing includes opposite side portions and means in those portions forming bearings for opposite ends of said carrier, said channels follow along the inner surfaces of the housing and through said side portions of the housing and into the axleways at the inner surfaces of the housing defined by said side portions.

Claim 14

In a differential having a stationary housing defining a reservoir for oil, and including gearing in the housing capable of being rotated at low speed, the gearing having internal spaces and elements in those spaces to be lubricated, the gearing including a ring gear and carrier therefor, a lubrication system comprising, structure in the carrier defining cups each having a radially outer open end, and wall elements at its radially inner end forming a bowl, the structure further having a passage leading radially inwardly from each bowl to the internal spaces, the cups being positioned radially outwardly sufficiently that at least the outer open ends thereof extend into the oil in the reservoir when the cups are directed downwardly, the cups being operative, at low speed of rotation of the carrier, for picking up oil from the reservoir and, as the cups progress upwardly from downward position toward horizontal position, for holding oil in the bowls and, as they progress further and said passages pass above the horizontal, the oil in the bowls flows through the passages into said internal spaces.

Claim 15

In a differential having a stationary housing defining a reservoir for oil, and including gearing in the housing capable of being rotated at low speed, the gearing having internal spaces and elements in those spaces to be lubricated, the gearing including a ring gear and carrier therefor, a lubrication system comprising, structure in the carrier defining cups each having a radially outer open end, and wall elements at its radially inner end forming a bowl, the structure further having a passage leading radially inwardly from each bowl to the internal spaces, the cups being positioned radially outwardly sufficiently that at least the outer open ends thereof extend into the oil in the reservoir when the cups are directed downwardly, the cups being operative, at low speed of rotation of the carrier, for picking up oil from the reservoir and, as the cups progress upwardly from downward position toward horizontal position, for holding oil in the bowls and, as they progress further and said passages pass above the horizontal, the oil in the bowls flows through the passages into said internal spaces.

Claim 16

A lubrication system according to claim 12 wherein the internal spaces and the elements therein include portions distributed angularly around the central axis of rotation, and further wherein the cups are also distributed angularly around that axis.