Back to results
US 2015/0176697 A1Published application
Efficiency Spur Gear Set Housing
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsBenjamin T. Nelson, Andrew J. Krajnik, John J. Krone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic pump housing comprises passages formed in an inner wall separating the gear cavity and the pump cavity to allow for the movement of fluid into and out of the gear cavity, thereby alleviating some of the power loss caused by churning lubricating oil. The hydraulic pump may comprise spaces integrally formed in axially opposing surfaces of the gear cavity walls adjacent the area where the gears mesh to enable the churning oil to expand and flow around the gears.
Claims20
A housing for a spur gear set of a hydraulic pump, comprising:
- a first member, and a second member substantially coextensive with the first member, the first and second members being affixed together to define a gear cavity;
- the first member comprising an inner wall forming a rear inner surface of the gear cavity, and a perimeter wall forming a top inner surface, a bottom inner surface and side inner surfaces of the gear cavity;
- the second member forming a front inner surface of the gear cavity;
- a drive gear and a drive gear submerged in fluid, the drive gear and driven gear located in the gear cavity;
- and
- one or more passages formed in the inner wall to allow movement of the fluid into and out of the gear cavity.
3 more elements
A hydraulic pump, comprising:
- a housing for a spur gear set comprising a first member and a second member affixed together to define a gear cavity within which are located a drive gear and a driven gear submerged in fluid;
- the gear cavity having an area where the gears mesh;
- the first member comprising an inner wall forming a substantially planar rear inner surface of the gear cavity;
- the second member forming a substantially planar front inner surface of the gear cavity;
- one or more expansions integrally formed in the rear inner surface of the inner wall adjacent to the area where the gears mesh, the one or more expansions being a space through which the fluid flows around the gears from one side of the area where the gears mesh to the other side of the area where the gears mesh;
- and
- wherein each of the one or more expansions is defined by a first outwardly sloping wall located adjacent an area of highest oil pressure within the gear cavity and a second outwardly sloping wall located adjacent an area of lowest oil pressure within the gear cavity.
4 more elements
A hydraulic pump, comprising:
- a housing for a spur gear set comprising a first member and a second member affixed together to define a gear cavity within which are located a drive gear and a driven gear submerged in fluid;
- the gear cavity having an area where the gears mesh;
- the first member comprising an inner wall forming a substantially planar rear inner surface of the gear cavity;
- the second member forming a substantially planar front inner surface of the gear cavity;
- one or more expansions integrally formed in the rear inner surface of the inner wall adjacent to the area where the gears mesh, the one or more expansions first being a space through which the fluid flows around the gears from one side of the area where the gears mesh to the other side of the area where the gears mesh;
- and
- wherein each of the one or more expansions comprise a first concave area formed in the inner wall, the first concave area being elongated in a direction defined by a line passing through an area of greatest gear engagement.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.