Methods and apparatus to passively lubricate a worm gear assembly

An aircraft comprising:

• a high lift device moveably coupled to a wing of the aircraft;
• and
• a worm gear assembly to move the high lift device, the worm gear assembly including:
• a housing defining an internal cavity;
• a baffle in the internal cavity coupled to the housing, the baffle having a curved shape;
• a worm gear in the internal cavity of the housing, the worm gear coupled to a first shaft extending through the housing;
• and
• a worm wheel in the internal cavity of the housing, the worm wheel meshed with the worm gear, the worm wheel coupled to a second shaft extending through the housing, the worm wheel positioned adjacent the baffle, the worm wheel including:
• a first side surface;
• a second side surface opposite the first side surface;
• a peripheral edge with a plurality of teeth between the first side surface and the second side surface;
• and
• a plurality of first vanes radially spaced on the first side surface, the first vanes extending radially from a first hub such that distal ends of the first vanes extend between a dedendum and an addendum of the worm gear.

A worm gear assembly comprising:

• a housing defining an internal cavity;
• a first baffle coupled to a first side of the housing;
• and
• a worm wheel in the internal cavity of the housing, the worm wheel including:
• a first side surface;
• a second side surface opposite the first side surface;
• a peripheral edge with a plurality of teeth between the first side surface and the second side surface;
• a hub protruding from the first side surface, the hub adjacent a center of the first side surface;
• and
• a first vane and a second vane protruding from the first side surface, the first and second vanes extending radially from the hub, the first vane having a first distal end positioned between a dedendum and an addendum of a first one of the teeth, the second vane having a second distal end positioned between the dedendum and the addendum of a second one of the teeth.