Housing with a direct flow path for hardware lubrication

摘要

The present invention provides a housing that encloses a bearing. The housing includes a side wall upon which a lubricant is dispersed. The side wall has a sloped portion and a collection area is fluidly associated with the side wall. A fluid circuit is integral with the side wall such that the fluid circuit is configured to direct the lubricant into the collection area.

主权项

1. A transmission, comprising:
a bearing; a fluid source configured to provide fluid to the bearing; a housing enclosing the bearing and the fluid source, the housing comprising:
a body having a first end and a second end, where an axis of rotation passes through the body between at least the first end and the second end;an inner wall of the body defining an internal region therein, the inner wall forming an inner surface configured to receive fluid from the fluid source disposed in the internal region;a sidewall disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the sidewall protruding from the inner wall into the internal region, wherein the sidewall defines an opening through which the axis of rotation is located and the sidewall forms a first face being substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation and oriented towards the first end of the body and a second face oriented towards the second end thereof, wherein the sidewall includes a surface inclined with respect to the first face and terminating at an edge of the opening, the edge being disposed between the first face and the second face, wherein the surface in inclined inwardly toward the second face and extending along less than 180 degrees of a circumference defined by the opening; anda collection area at least partially defined by the second face, the collection area defining a recess in the sidewall configured to collect the fluid therein for lubricating the bearing, wherein the recess is disposed for fluid access through the opening and extends along the second face further from the axis of rotation than the opening extends along the first face from the axis of rotation; and a fluid circuit defined along the front face and the surface, wherein the fluid circuit is configured to direct the fluid into the collection area.