Fluid expansion tank
AssigneeHydro-Gear Limited Partnership
InventorsEric S. Phanco, Gregory Barton Moebs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic fluid expansion tank is located inside a housing of a drive device and includes an upper check valve and a lower check valve in communication with a sump located within the drive device and an internal volume of the expansion tank. The tank may also include a vent opening in communication with a vent of the drive device that is in communication with atmospheric pressure.
Claims20
A hydraulic drive device for a vehicle, the hydraulic drive device comprising:
- a drive housing forming a sump containing hydraulic fluid;
- a transmission comprising a center section disposed in the sump;
- a reduction gear train comprising a final output gear, the final output gear mounted on an axle disposed in the sump and driven by the transmission;
- an expansion tank forming an internal expansion volume capable of receiving hydraulic fluid from the sump and discharging hydraulic fluid to the sump, wherein the expansion tank is disposed adjacent to the final output gear and separate from the drive housing;
- a first valve and a second valve located in the expansion tank, wherein both the first valve and the second valve separately permit fluid communication between the sump and the internal expansion volume.
An expansion tank for use with a drive device having at least one axle and a drive housing forming a sump containing hydraulic fluid, the expansion tank comprising:
- a tank body forming an internal expansion volume and being disposed in the sump;
- a first check valve disposed near a top portion of the tank body, wherein the first check valve opens to permit hydraulic fluid to enter the internal expansion volume when a pressure differential between the sump and the internal expansion volume reaches a first pressure level;
- and
- a second check valve disposed near a bottom portion of the tank body, wherein the second check valve opens to permit hydraulic fluid to flow from the internal expansion volume to the sump when the pressure differential between the sump and the internal expansion volume reaches a second pressure level.
A hydraulic drive device for a vehicle, the hydraulic drive device comprising:
- a drive housing forming a sump containing hydraulic fluid;
- a transmission comprising a center section disposed in the sump;
- an expansion tank comprising a tank body forming an internal expansion volume capable of receiving hydraulic fluid from the sump and discharging hydraulic fluid to the sump, wherein the tank body is disposed in the sump;
- a plurality of baffles formed in the internal expansion volume;
- and
- at least one valve located in the tank body to permit fluid communication between the sump and the internal expansion volume.
A hydraulic drive device for a vehicle, the hydraulic drive device comprising:
- a drive housing forming a sump containing hydraulic fluid;
- a transmission comprising a center section disposed in the sump;
- an expansion tank comprising a tank body forming an internal expansion volume capable of receiving hydraulic fluid from the sump and discharging hydraulic fluid to the sump, wherein the tank body is disposed in the sump and comprises a main body and a cover;
- and
- a plurality of baffles formed in the internal expansion volume, wherein the plurality of baffles comprise stiffening ribs formed on a first internal surface of the main body and a second internal surface of the cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.