阅读说明：本技术 自动变速器的回油泵 (Scavenge pump for automatic transmission ) 是由 D.A.威尔顿 C.E.凯里 于 2020-03-11 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种自动变速器,包括具有油槽部分的变速器壳体、布置在油槽部分处的主变速器流体泵和具有流体返回通道的凹部。安装在凹部中的变矩器和设置在油槽部分中并与流体返回通道流体连接的回油泵。(An automatic transmission includes a transmission housing having an oil sump portion, a main transmission fluid pump disposed at the oil sump portion, and a recess having a fluid return passage. A torque converter mounted in the recess and a scavenge pump disposed in the sump portion and fluidly connected to the fluid return passage.)

1. An automatic transmission comprising:

a transmission housing including an oil sump portion, a main transmission fluid pump disposed at the oil sump portion, and a recess having a fluid return passage;

a torque converter mounted in the recess; and

a scavenge pump disposed in the sump portion and fluidly connected to the fluid return passage.

2. The automatic transmission of claim 1, wherein the scavenge pump is operably connected with the main transmission fluid pump.

3. The automatic transmission of claim 1, wherein the main transmission fluid pump includes a pump shaft operatively connected to the scavenge pump.

4. The automatic transmission of claim 3, wherein the scavenge pump includes a scavenge pump member supported by a pump shaft.

5. The automatic transmission of claim 4, wherein the scavenge pump includes a pump housing having a first housing portion connected to a second housing portion, the first and second housing portions surrounding the scavenge pump components and including an outlet that projects radially outward and upward.

6. The automatic transmission of claim 1, wherein the recess includes an opening sized to receive the scavenge pump.

7. The automatic transmission of claim 6, further comprising a cover disposed in the recess and over the opening, the cover including an angled surface portion configured to direct oil to the scavenge pump.

8. The automatic transmission of claim 1, further comprising an electric motor disposed in the recess, the electric motor including a rotor.

9. The automatic transmission of claim 8, wherein the rotor is mechanically connected to the torque converter.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of automatic transmissions, and more particularly to a scavenge pump for an automatic transmission.

Background

Automatic transmissions provide a plurality of gears that can be selectively activated or engaged by applying one or more brakes or clutches. The clutch is typically located in a torque converter that receives hydraulic fluid from a pump disposed in the transmission. When used in conjunction with a hybrid vehicle, the electric motor may be connected to a torque converter. Coolant from the electric motor may flow into the automatic transmission.

The automatic transmission includes a transmission fluid pump that directs fluid from a transmission sump through various passages to activate selected gears and through a cooling system. The transmission fluid pump may also deliver fluid to the electric motor. In current systems, electric motor coolant may collect in the region of the bell housing of the automatic transmission. In this case, the coolant delivery may be affected. It is therefore desirable to provide a system for delivering such pooled motor coolant back to the transmission sump.

Disclosure of Invention

In one exemplary embodiment, an automatic transmission includes a transmission housing having an oil sump portion, a main transmission fluid pump disposed at the oil sump portion, and a recess having a fluid return passage. A torque converter mounted in the recess and a scavenge pump disposed in the sump portion and fluidly connected to the fluid return passage.

In addition to or in the alternative to one or more of the features described above or below, a further embodiment may include wherein the scavenge pump is operatively connected with a main transmission fluid pump.

In addition or alternatively to one or more features described above or below, a further embodiment may include wherein the main transmission fluid pump includes a pump shaft operatively connected to a scavenge pump.

In addition or alternatively to one or more features described above or below, a further embodiment may include wherein the scavenge pump includes a scavenge pump member supported by a pump shaft.

In addition or alternatively to one or more features described above or below, a further embodiment may include wherein the scavenge pump includes a pump housing having a first housing portion connected to a second housing portion, the first and second housing portions surrounding the scavenge pump components and including radially outwardly and upwardly projecting outlets.

In addition to or in the alternative to one or more features described above or below, a further embodiment may include wherein the recess includes an opening sized to receive the scavenge pump.

In addition or alternatively to one or more features described above or below, a further embodiment may include a cover disposed in the recess and over the opening, the cover including an angled surface portion configured to direct oil to the scavenge pump.

In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the features described above or below, a further embodiment may include a motor disposed in the recess, the motor including a rotor.

In addition to or in lieu of one or more of the features described above or below, further embodiments may include wherein the rotor is mechanically coupled to the torque converter.

In another exemplary embodiment, an automatic transmission includes a transmission housing having an oil sump portion and a main transmission fluid pump disposed at the oil sump portion, and a recess including a fluid return passage. The torque converter is mounted in the recess. The motor housing is connected with the transmission housing. An electric motor is disposed in the motor housing and is mechanically coupled to the torque converter, and a scavenge pump is disposed in the sump portion and is fluidly coupled to the fluid return passage.

In addition to or in the alternative to one or more of the features described above or below, a further embodiment may include wherein the scavenge pump is operatively connected with the main transmission fluid pump.

In addition to or in the alternative to one or more features described above or below, a further embodiment can include wherein the main transmission fluid pump includes a pump shaft operatively connected with the pump shaft.

In addition or alternatively to one or more features described above or below, a further embodiment may include wherein the scavenge pump includes a scavenge pump member supported by a pump shaft.

In addition or alternatively to one or more features described above or below, a further embodiment may include wherein the electric motor housing includes an opening defining a motor oil return passage, the opening sized to receive the oil return pump.

In addition to or in the alternative to one or more features described above or below, further embodiments may include a cover disposed in the recess of the transmission housing above the fluid return passage, the cover including an angled surface portion configured to direct oil to the scavenge pump.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, a method of recirculating fluid from a recess containing a transmission torque converter includes: the method includes collecting fluid in a transmission recess in the recess, directing the fluid to a scavenge pump fluidly exposed in the recess, and recirculating the fluid collected in the recess through the transmission.

In addition or alternatively to one or more features described above or below, a further embodiment may include wherein recirculating fluid includes rotating a scavenge pump that is operatively connected to a main transmission fluid pump.

In addition or alternatively to one or more features described above or below, a further embodiment may include wherein directing fluid to a scavenge pump includes passing fluid through an opening formed in a cavity toward an oil sump portion of the transmission.

In addition to or in the alternative to one or more features described above or below, further embodiments may include wherein passing fluid through the opening includes directing fluid along an angled surface portion formed in a cap extending through the opening.

In addition or alternatively to one or more features described above or below, a further embodiment may include wherein collecting fluid in the recess includes collecting fluid from the motor.

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an electric motor coupled to a transmission assembly having a scavenge pump in accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view at 2-2 of the motor and transmission assembly of FIG. 1 in accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the scavenge pump of FIG. 2 in accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a partial perspective view of a bell housing portion of the automatic transmission of FIG. 2 without the torque converter received by an opening of the scavenge pump in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a partial perspective view of the bell housing portion of the automatic transmission of FIG. 4 showing the access cover over the opening in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a partial perspective front view of a scavenge pump housing in accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a partial perspective back view of the scavenge pump housing of FIG. 6 in accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment.

Detailed Description

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

An automatic transmission system is generally indicated at 10 in fig. 1-4 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The automatic transmission system 10 includes a transmission case 12, the transmission case 12 having a bell housing (bellhousing) portion 13 and an oil sump portion 14. A main transmission fluid pump 18 (fig. 2) is disposed in the sump portion 14. As will be described in detail herein, the main transmission fluid pump 18 is driven by a gear 20 and operates to convey fluid, such as hydraulic fluid, which may take the form of automatic transmission fluid, around the transmission system 10.

In one embodiment, the transmission housing 12 is coupled to a motor housing 30, the motor housing 30 surrounding an electric motor 31, the electric motor 31 including a stator 32 having a rotor 33. The rotor 33 may be connected to a torque converter 34 of the transmission system 10, and the torque converter 34 may be configured to operate the main transmission fluid pump 18. The transmission housing 12 includes a recess 35 defined by the bell housing portion 13 that houses the torque converter 34. The recess 35 comprises a fluid channel 36. Fluid, which may be in the form of oil, may enter the sump portion 14 from the recess 35 through a fluid passage 36, as will be described in detail herein. In this regard, it should be understood that the term "motor oil" refers to oil present in the electric motor 31. The engine oil may be used as a coolant, a lubricant, or both, and may take the form of an automatic transmission oil.

With reference to fig. 3, and with continuing reference to fig. 1 and 2, the automatic transmission system 10 further includes a scavenge pump (scavengingpump)40, the scavenge pump 40 having a scavenge pump member 42, the scavenge pump member 42 fluidly connected between the fluid passage 36 and the sump portion 14. Scavenge pump member 42 may take the form of a scavenge pump gear (not separately labeled) or may include a plurality of pump blades (not shown). Scavenge pump 40 may include a pump shaft 44 associated with main transmission fluid pump 18. Gear 20 and scavenge pump member 42 are supported by pump shaft 44. The gear 20 is driven by the torque converter 34 to rotate the shaft 44 and, in turn, drive the scavenge pump member 42 and the main pump 18. That is, the gear 20 not only drives the main transmission fluid pump 18 to circulate fluid within the transmission system 10, but may also drive the scavenge pump member 42 to move fluid from the recess 35 into the sump portion 14. The pump shaft 44 may be of a one-piece design as shown, or may be formed as multiple components.

Referring to fig. 4, and with continued reference to fig. 1-3, the recess 35 may include an opening 58 defining a fluid return passage (not separately labeled) sized to receive the scavenge pump 40. That is, the opening 58 is large enough so that the scavenge pump 40 can be installed between the torque converter 34 and the main transmission pump 18. As will be described in detail herein, opening 58 may be provided with a cover 64 (fig. 5), cover 64 including an angled surface portion 68, angled surface portion 68 directing oil toward an opening 70 exposed to scavenge pump 40. The cover 64 may support a filter (not shown) capable of removing impurities from the oil. Of course, the cover 64 may not be included, depending on design constraints.

Referring now to fig. 6 and 7, and with continued reference to fig. 2-3, the scavenge pump 40 will now be described. Scavenge pump 40 includes a pump housing 75 having a first housing portion 76 and a second housing portion 77 that are connected by a plurality of fasteners, one of which is shown at 79. The first housing portion 76 includes an inlet 81, the inlet 81 includes a central support 89, and the central support 89 includes a bearing 92. The bearing 92 supports an end (not separately labeled) of the pump shaft 44. The gear 20 is disposed in a cavity 94 defined between the first housing portion 76 and the second housing portion 77. Scavenge pump member 42 is disposed in first housing portion 76 adjacent bearings 92. It should be understood, however, that while the end of shaft 44 is shown mounted in first housing portion 76, it should be understood that the particular location of scavenge pump member 42 can vary. That is, scavenge pump member 42 may be disposed in cavity 94 or axially outward of opening 100.

The second housing portion 77 includes an opening 100 that receives the pump shaft 44. The opening 100 may support a seal (also not separately labeled) that extends around the pump shaft 44. The first and second housing portions 76 and 77, when connected, may define an outlet 104, the outlet 104 projecting radially outward and upward into the transmission system 10 from the oil sump portion 14. The outlet 104 may direct oil back through the automatic transmission system 10 and/or back to the motor stator 31.

At this point, it should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment describes an automatic transmission system that includes a first pump for distributing transmission fluid and a second pump for returning motor oil. The first pump may distribute automatic transmission fluid around the automatic transmission, while the second pump may direct motor oil that may collect in the bell jar portion back into the automatic transmission or back to the motor. The second pump may be fluidly connected to a recess provided in the bell housing portion that may collect fluid from the motor. The electric motor provides power to the vehicle through the automatic transmission.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof.

While the foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope thereof. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within its scope.