DESC:FORM 2
The Patent Act 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2005

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SEE SECTION 10 AND RULE 13)

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

“A POWER TRANSMISSION UNIT WITH A LUBRICATING MEANS”

APPLICANTS:

Name : Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd

Nationality : Indian

Address : Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, Mahindra
Mahindra Towers, G.M. Bhosale Marg,
Worli, Mumbai – 400 018, Maharashtra,
India

The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-
TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein relates to a power transmission unit. More particularly but not exclusively to a power transmission unit provided in vehicles to lubricate and improve bearing life.

BACKGROUND
[002] Generally, Lubrication is a key requisite for smooth and efficient functioning of any device transmitting power from one member to another mechanically. Depending upon the nature of use, area of application and distance between the shafts, various types of power transmitting members will be used. Roller bearings and gears which are mounted on the shafts, are the most common form of power transmitting members used in power transmission equipment of power train in automotives and in gear boxes of automotive and industrial equipments.
[003] The main purpose of lubrication is to reduce the wear and tear of the power transmitting members by reducing the friction between the contact surfaces of the power transmitting members and to dissipate the heat induced in the power transmitting members while transmitting power. By reducing the friction, the lubricant helps in smooth operation of the members which results in reduced wear and tear, thus improving the life and efficiency of the power transmitting members. Further lubrication helps in minimizing or eliminating the noise during the operation of power transmission members.
[004] In power train of automotives or during power transmission in any industrial equipment employing bearings, if the shafts supporting the bearings are at a level higher than the oil level or if the bearings are confined in a tightly packed space, lubrication of such bearing is not possible during the operation. Lubrication of such bearing is possible only during the maintenance of the equipment. Lack of lubrication during the operation of the bearing may lead to heavy wear and tear, reducing the life of the bearing. This results in frequent replacement of the bearing which incurs cost and time. Thus, there is a need for a means for lubricating bearings in a power transmission unit.

OBJECT
[005] The principle object of the invention is to provide a power transmission unit capable of supplying lubricant to a bearing of a seal arranged between an opening of a case/housing of the power transmission unit and a shaft that is positioned higher than other shafts.
[006] Another object of this invention is to provide a power transmission unit defining an oil gallery on its cover to receive and guide the lubricant towards bearing.
[007] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[008] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a power transmission unit according to an embodiment as disclosed;
[009] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a cover of the power transmission unit according to an embodiment as disclosed;
[0010] FIG. 3 depicts a front view of the cover of the power transmission unit according to an embodiment as disclosed;
[0011] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the cover of the power transmission unit assembled with a bearing according to an embodiment as disclosed; and
[0012] FIG. 5 depicts a top view of the power train of an automotive with power transmission unit according to an embodiment as disclosed.
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0013] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0014] The embodiments herein achieves a power transmission unit capable of supplying lubricant to a bearing of a seal arranged between an opening of a case/housing of the power transmission unit and a shaft that is positioned higher than other shafts. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the power transmission unit 100 according to an embodiment as disclosed. The power transmission unit 100 includes a plurality of shafts 102a and 102b, a plurality of gears 104a and 104b, a pinion gear 106, a port for supplying lubricant 108, an oil gallery 109, a cover 110, a plurality of bearings 112a and 112b (not shown), a housing 114 (not shown). The cover 110 includes a plurality of holding members or seals 110a and 110b and a guiding means 110c. The holding member 110a is used for holding the bearing 112a (as shown in FIG. 4). The shaft 102a is received by the bearing 112a. The shaft 102a is disposed at a level higher than the shaft 102b and at a level higher than the the port for supplying lubricant 108. Further the shaft 102a extends outside the cover 110. The gear 104a is mounted on the shaft 102a. Since the shaft 102a is disposed at a level higher than the port for supplying lubricant 108, the bearing 112a does not receive lubrication.
[0016] The holding member 110b is used for holding the bearing 112b (not shown) that normally receives lubrication during power transmission. The shaft 102b is received by the bearing 112b (not shown). The gear 104b is mounted on the shaft 102b. The gear 104a mates or interlocks with the gear 104b. Thus the rotation provided to the shaft 102a drives the shaft 102b. Further, the gear 104b mates or interlocks with the pinion gear 106. Hence the rotation provided to the gear 104b drives the pinion gear 106. The pinion gear 106 while its rotation splashes the lubricant to the oil gallery 109 defined in the cover 110. The holding member 110a and 110b forms the seal for their corresponding bearings 112a and 112b. In an embodiment the bearing 112a and 112b (not shown) is a roller bearing. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any other type of bearing without otherwise deterring the intended function of the power transmission unit as can be deduced from the description.
[0017] The holding member or seal 110a is further provided with a channel 111 that extends from the outer to inner perimeter of holding member or seal 110a. The channel 111 is circular in cross-section. The purpose of channel 111 is to provide lubrication for the bearing 112a. The guiding means 110c is disposed above the channel 111 of holding member or seal 110a and extends to port for supplying lubricant 108 (as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). The purpose of guiding means 110c is to direct the lubricant splashed by the pinion gear 106 to channel 111 of holding member or seal 110a. The space below the guiding means 110c forms the oil gallery 109. The power transmission unit 100 forms a major part in the power train of an automotive. The power transmission unit 100 connects the engine of an automotive with the propeller of an automotive. FIG. 5 depicts a top view of the power train of an automotive with power transmission unit according to an embodiment as disclosed.
[0018] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Referral numeral:
Power transmission unit 100
Shafts 102a and 102b
Gears 104a and 104b
Pinion gear 106
Port for supplying lubricant 108
Oil gallery 109
Cover 110
Holding members 110a and 110b
Guiding means 110c
Channel 111
Bearings 112a and 112b
Housing 114

CLAIMS
We claim,
1. A housing of a power transmission unit, said housing comprising:
a seal for receiving a bearing, said seal provided with a channel for receiving a lubricant to said bearing;
a guiding means defining an oil gallery disposed above said channel of said seal for directing said lubricant splashed over said guiding means to said channel; and
a port for supplying said lubricant,
wherein
said guiding means is provided in communication with said seal and extends upto said port supplying said lubricant; and
said bearing is used for supporting a shaft.
2. The housing of power transmission unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing is a roller bearing.
3. The housing of power transmission unit further comprises:
a plurality of gears interlocked with each other;
a plurality of shafts, said shafts receiving said gears; and
a pinion gear provided in communication with at least one of said gears,
wherein
at least one of said shaft is supported by said bearing received by said seal;
said gears mounted on said shafts rotate, transmitting torque to said pinion gear, whose rotation in turn splashes said lubricant on said guiding means from said port supplying said lubricant and said guiding means directs said lubricant to said channel of said seal for providing lubrication to said bearing.
4. The housing of power transmission unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said shaft supported by said bearing received by said seal is at a level higher than rest of said shafts.
5. The housing of power transmission unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said shaft supported by said bearing received be said seal is at a level higher than said port supplying said lubricant.

Date: 28th May 2014

Signature:
Vikram Pratap Singh Thakur

ABSTRACT
[0019] A power transmission unit for supplying lubricant to a bearing of a seal arranged between an opening of a case/housing of the power transmission unit and a shaft that is positioned higher than the other shafts in a vehicle is disclosed. The power transmission unit comprises of an oil gallery defined in its cover to receive a lubricant splashed by a hypoid pinion and transfer said lubricant to said bearing through a channel thereby increasing the bearing life.
Fig. 2

,CLAIMS:We claim,
1. A housing of a power transmission unit, said housing comprising:
a seal for receiving a bearing, said seal provided with a channel for receiving a lubricant to said bearing;
a guiding means defining an oil gallery disposed above said channel of said seal for directing said lubricant splashed over said guiding means to said channel; and
a port for supplying said lubricant,
wherein
said guiding means is provided in communication with said seal and extends upto said port supplying said lubricant; and
said bearing is used for supporting a shaft.
2. The housing of power transmission unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing is a roller bearing.
3. The housing of power transmission unit further comprises:
a plurality of gears interlocked with each other;
a plurality of shafts, said shafts receiving said gears; and
a pinion gear provided in communication with at least one of said gears,
wherein
at least one of said shaft is supported by said bearing received by said seal;
said gears mounted on said shafts rotate, transmitting torque to said pinion gear, whose rotation in turn splashes said lubricant on said guiding means from said port supplying said lubricant and said guiding means directs said lubricant to said channel of said seal for providing lubrication to said bearing.
4. The housing of power transmission unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said shaft supported by said bearing received by said seal is at a level higher than rest of said shafts.
5. The housing of power transmission unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said shaft supported by said bearing received be said seal is at a level higher than said port supplying said lubricant.

Date: 28th May 2014

Signature:
Vikram Pratap Singh Thakur