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US 2009/0286649 A1Published application
Two valve breather system for rear differential
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorJoshua Sigmund
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A driveline component breather system that utilizes a first and a second valve assembly to control the intake and exhaustion of fluid within the driveline component to regulate internal pressures is provided. When the pressure within the driveline component increases the first valve closes or remains closed and the second valve opens and fluid is exhausted to the atmosphere. When the pressure within the driveline component decreases, the first valve opens and the second valve closes and fluid flows into the driveline component from an interior portion of an associated vehicle.
Claims15
A driveline component comprising:
- a housing comprising a first breather system aperture;
- a clutch assembly positioned within the housing;
- a coupling assembly, wherein the coupling assembly at least partially facilitates the transfer of torque between the driveline component and a drive shaft assembly;
- and,
- a breather system comprising:
- a first conduit comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is positioned within an interior portion of an associated vehicle and the second end is coupled to the housing through the first breather system aperture;
- a second conduit comprising a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end is positioned outside of the interior portion of the associated vehicle and the fourth end is coupled to the housing through the first breather system aperture;
- a first valve assembly for use in allowing air from within the interior portion of the vehicle to pass into the housing through the first conduit, wherein the first valve assembly is positioned within the first conduit;
- and,
- a second valve assembly for use in allowing air from within the housing to pass to the atmosphere, wherein the second valve assembly is positioned within the second conduit.
7 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body, wherein the vehicle body defines an interior portion;
- a power train system comprising:
- an engine assembly;
- a transmission assembly;
- a transfer case assembly;
- a first drive train assembly, wherein the first drive train assembly comprises a drive shaft component;
- an axle component;
- and, a driveline component comprising:
- a housing comprising a breather system aperture;
- a clutch assembly positioned within the housing;
- a coupling assembly, wherein the coupling assembly at least partially facilitates the transfer of torque between the driveline component and a drive shaft assembly;
- and,
- a breather system comprising:
- a first conduit comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is positioned within an interior portion of an associated vehicle and the second end is coupled to the housing through the breather system aperture;
- a second conduit comprising a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end is positioned outside of the interior portion of the associated vehicle and the fourth end is coupled to the housing through the breather system aperture;
- a first valve assembly, wherein the first valve assembly is positioned within the first conduit;
- and,
- a second valve assembly, wherein the second valve assembly is positioned within the second conduit.
15 more elements
A method for ventilating a driveline component comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a vehicle comprising a driveline component comprising a housing and a breather system, wherein the breather system comprises a first conduit, and a second conduit;
- (b) opening a first valve assembly positioned within the first conduit when the housing comprises a first predetermined internal pressure, wherein opening the first valve assembly allows fluids to flow through the first conduit and into the housing from an interior portion of the vehicle and prevents fluids from flowing through the first conduit from the housing and into the interior portion of the vehicle;
- (c) closing a second valve assembly positioned within the second conduit when the housing comprises the first predetermined internal pressure, wherein the closing the second valve assembly prevents fluids from flowing through the second conduit;
- (d) closing the first valve assembly when the housing comprises a second predetermined internal pressure, wherein closing the first valve assembly prevents fluids from flowing through the first conduit;
- (e) opening the second valve assembly when the housing comprises a third predetermined internal pressure, wherein opening the second valve assembly allows fluids to flow through the second conduit from the housing to the ambient atmosphere external to the vehicle;
- and,
- (f) closing the second valve assembly when the housing comprises a fourth predetermined internal pressure.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.