# US 7,743,888 B2 · Transmission and transfer case having integrated lubrication systems

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- Number: US 7,743,888 B2
- Document ID: US7743888B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/706,661
- Filed: 2003-11-12
- Published: 2005-05-12
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2003-11-12
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Timothy Allen; Steven Thomas
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743888B2

## CPC

- F16H 57/0434: {relating to lubrication supply, e.g. pumps; Pressure control}
- F16H 57/0445: {for supply of different gearbox casings or sections}
- Y10T 74/2189: Cooling
- F16H: GEARING
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

In a driveline for a motor vehicle that includes an automatic transmission having an output shaft that drives a transfer case, an oil sump located in the transfer case, a pump supplied with fluid from the first sump, delivers fluid to a lubrication circuit in the transmission, a second sump supplies fluid to the inlet of a second pump, whose output supplies a second lubrication circuit located in the transfer case. Both of the hydraulic pumps are continually driveably connected to a set of the vehicle's drive wheels.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for lubricating components of a drive line adapted to drive the wheels of a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
a power transmission including a first output;
a first lubrication circuit;
a second lubrication circuit;
a first sump for containing hydraulic fluid;
a transfer case adapted for a drive connection to the first output, including a second sump for containing hydraulic fluid, and a second output adapted for a drive connection to at least one driven wheel;
a first pump driveably connected to the second output, hydraulically connected to the first sump and the first lubrication circuit; and
a second pump driveably connected to the second output, hydraulically connected to the second sump and the second lubrication circuit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first lubrication circuit and the first pump are located in the transfer case.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first lubrication circuit is located at least partially in the transfer case.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second lubrication circuit is located at least partially in the transmission.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the first pump and second pump are located in the transfer case;
the first lubrication circuit is located at least partially in the transfer case; and
the second lubrication circuit is located at least partially in the transmission.

### Claim 6

A system for lubricating components of a drive line adapted to drive the wheels of a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
an input;
a first output driveably connected to the input;
a first sump for containing a source of hydraulic fluid;
a first lubrication circuit;
a lube pump driveably connected to the first output and hydraulically connected to the first lubrication circuit; and
a scavenge pump driveably connected to said first output and hydraulically connected to the first sump.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, further comprising:
a second output;
a transfer drive mechanism driveably connected to the first output and second output, at least a portion of the drive mechanism located in relation to the first sump for movement through the fluid source.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, further comprising:
a second output;
a clutch having a first set of friction elements driveably connected to first output, and a second set of friction elements adapted driveably to engage and disengage the first set of friction elements, the clutch alternately driveably connecting and disconnecting the first output and second output; and
the first lubrication circuit further comprises fluid passages hydraulically connecting the lube pump to the first set of friction elements and second set of friction elements.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, further comprising:
a gearset including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and a set of planet pinions supported for rotation on the carrier, each pinion in meshing engagement with the sun gear and ring gear and journalled on a stub shaft supported on the carrier; and
the first lubrication circuit further comprises fluid passages hydraulically connecting the lube pump to at least a portion of the components of the gearset.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, further comprising:
a bearing supporting the first output on the transfer case; and
the first lubrication circuit further comprises fluid passages hydraulically connecting the lube pump to the bearing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, further comprising:
a balance dam; and
the first lubrication circuit further comprises fluid passages hydraulically connecting the lube pump to the balance dam.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, further comprising:
a second output;
a transfer drive mechanism including a first sprocket wheel journalled for rotation on the first output, a second sprocket wheel spaced from the first sprocket wheel and secured to the second output, and a drive chain driveably engaged with the first sprocket wheel and second sprocket wheel and located in relation to the first sump for movement through the fluid source.

### Claim 13

A method for supplying lubrication to a transmission and transfer case, the transmission and transfer case each having a sump for containing hydraulic fluid, the transfer case having an output adapted for a drive connection to at least a first set of driven wheels, the method comprising the steps of:
driveably connecting a first pump and a second pump to the output;
defining a first circuit for carrying lubrication fluid in the transfer case;
defining a second circuit for carrying lubrication fluid in the transmission;
hydraulically connecting the first pump to the transmission sump and to the first circuit; and
hydraulically connecting the second pump to the transfer case sump and to the second circuit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the step of defining a first circuit, further comprises the step of:
establishing fluid passages connecting the first pump and a bearing located in the transfer case for supporting the output on the transfer case.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the step of defining a first circuit, further comprises the step of:
establishing fluid passages connecting the first pump and a clutch located in the transfer case for alternately driveably connecting and disconnecting the output and a second output.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the step of defining a first circuit, further comprises the step of:
establishing fluid passages connecting the first pump and a balance dam located in the transfer case.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the step of defining a second circuit, further comprises the step of:
establishing fluid passages connecting the second pump and a surface supporting rotating components located in the transmission.