GEAR SET LUBRICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A lubricating system and method can be used to meter lubricating fluid to a pinion and pinion bearing mounted to a pinion carrier. A sun gear shaft may include a channel fluidly connected to a lubricating fluid reservoir through a bore in the sun gear shaft. A sleeve may be fluidly sealed on its axial ends over the channel to form a chamber with the channel. The sleeve may include a plurality of through-holes to allow lubricating fluid to flow through a plurality of radial bores extending through the pinion carrier. Lubricating fluid may flow through an annular gap passage in a pinion shaft to provide lubricating fluid to the pinion and the pinion bearing.

主权项

1. A gear set lubrication system, comprising:
a sun gear shaft having a channel extending circumferentially around at least a portion of an outer surface of the sun gear shaft, the sun gear shaft having a sun gear shaft axial bore extending at least partially through the sun gear shaft in an axial direction, the sun gear shaft having a sun gear shaft radial bore extending radially from the sun gear shaft axial bore to the channel; a sleeve disposed about the sun gear and having a first through-hole and cooperating with the channel to form a chamber; and a first gear carrier having an inner radial surface and an outer radial surface, the first gear carrier having a first gear carrier first radial bore extending from the inner radial surface at least partially toward the outer radial surface; wherein the first gear carrier first radial bore is fluidly connected to the chamber through the first through-hole.