Churning loss reduction means for gear type devices

In a gear type device of the type including housing means defining an axis of rotation, shaft means disposed on said axis of rotation;

• a first, relatively smaller gear and a second, relatively larger gear, both of said first and second gears being disposed about said shaft means for rotation about said axis of rotation and each of said gears including an array of teeth;
• said housing means including a lower, reservoir-defining portion operable, when full of fluid, to define a first lubricant fluid reservoir, defining a nominal fill level, such that the teeth of said first, relatively smaller gear pass just below said nominal fill level of fluid in said first reservoir as said first gear rotates about said axis of rotation (A);
• said axis of rotation of said gear device defining a downward angle relative to a horizontal plane, said second relatively larger gear being disposed forwardly, and upwardly, from said first, relatively smaller gear;
• characterized by:
• (a) partition means disposed within said lower, reservoir-defining portion of said housing means, and operable to define a second lubricant fluid reservoir through which said second, relatively larger gear passes as said second gear rotates about said axis of rotation;
• (b) said partition means defining fluid passage means providing restricted fluid communication from said first lubricant reservoir to said second lubricant reservoir;
• and
• (c) said fluid passage means being sized such that, as said second gear rotates carrying lubricant fluid from said second lubricant reservoir, said restricted fluid communication maintains said second lubricant reservoir at a second fill level, lower than said nominal fill level, such that at least a portion of the teeth of said second, relatively larger gear pass just below said second fill level as said second gear rotates about said axis of rotation.