IP Library › Granted Patent US 12692936
Granted Patent B2
US 12692936 · App. 18/965,038 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Coupling element and transmission with coupling element

Inventors: Philip Dötschel (Friedrichshafen, DE); Tamas Gyarmati (Bermatingen, DE); Milan Dacej (Friedrichshafen, DE)
Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
F16H57/08F16H57/043F16H57/0482F16H57/0493
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12692936
App. No.
18/965,038
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A coupling element for coupling a first gearset and a second gearset of a transmission. The coupling element having an annular body, an inner circumference of the annular body defining an inner toothing, an outer circumference of the annular body defining an outer toothing, and a first end region of the annular body in an axial direction defining a recess.

Claims (24)

1 . A coupling element ( 30 ), the coupling element ( 30 ) comprising:

an annular body, an inner circumference of the annular body defining an inner toothing, an outer circumference of the annular body defining an outer toothing, a first end region of the annular body in an axial direction defining a recess ( 32 ),

wherein the inner circumference of the annular body at the first end region defines a circumferential groove ( 31 ),

wherein an oil space ( 33 ) is defined at the inner circumference of the annular body, the oil space ( 33 ) being delimited in the axial direction by a delimiting surface, the circumferential groove ( 31 ) at least partially defining the delimiting surface, and

wherein the oil space ( 33 ) is in fluid communication with the recess ( 32 ), the recess ( 32 ) enabling an oil flow from the oil space ( 33 ) in a radial direction.

2 . The coupling element ( 30 ) of claim 1 , wherein the recess ( 32 ) is defined through the annular body in a radial direction from the circumferential groove ( 31 ) to an outer side of the annular body.

3 . The coupling element ( 30 ) of claim 1 , wherein the recess ( 32 ) is defined through the annular body in the axial direction from the circumferential groove ( 31 ) to an outer side of the annular body.

4 . The coupling element ( 30 ) of claim 1 , wherein the recess ( 32 ) is defined by a through hole in the annular body.

5 . The coupling element ( 30 ) of claim 1 , wherein the recess ( 32 ) is defined by a surface curved outwardly in a radial direction.

6 . The coupling element ( 30 ) of claim 1 , wherein the recess ( 32 ) is rectangular in a circumferential direction.

7 . The coupling element ( 30 ) of claim 1 , wherein the recess ( 32 ) is one of a plurality of recesses ( 32 ).

8 . The coupling element ( 30 ) of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the inner toothing or the outer toothing is helically toothed.

9 . The coupling element ( 30 ) of claim 1 , wherein the annular body is configured to couple a first gearset and a second gearset of a transmission, the first gearset comprises a first ring gear ( 14 ), the second gearset comprises a second spur gear,

the first ring gear ( 14 ) being defined by the inner circumference of the annular body and the second spur gear being defined by the outer circumference of the annular body.

10 . The coupling element ( 30 ) of claim 9 , further comprising a securing element ( 40 ), the securing element ( 40 ) being configured to at least indirectly position at least one first planet gear ( 13 ) of the first gearset relative to the annular body in the axial direction,

wherein a surface of the securing element ( 40 ) at least partially defines the delimiting surface of the oil space ( 33 ), the surface of the securing element ( 40 ) facing an inside of the annular body in the axial direction.

11 . The coupling element ( 30 ) of claim 10 , further comprising a thrust washer ( 50 ), the thrust washer ( 50 ) being configured to be between the annular body and the first planet gear ( 13 ) for positioning the first planet gear ( 13 ) relative to the annular body,

wherein a surface of the thrust washer ( 50 ) at least partially defines the delimiting surface of the oil space ( 33 ), the surface of the thrust washer ( 50 ) facing the inside of the annular body in the axial direction.

12 . A transmission, comprising:

the coupling element ( 30 ) of claim 1 ;

a first gearset, the first gearset comprising a first ring gear ( 14 ), the first ring gear ( 14 ) being defined by the inner circumference of the annular body; and

a second gearset, the second gearset comprising a second spur gear, the second spur gear being defined by the outer circumference of the annular body.

13 . The transmission of claim 12 , wherein the first gearset is a first planetary gearset ( 10 ), the first planetary gearset ( 10 ) comprising a first sun gear, a first planet carrier ( 12 ), a first planet gear ( 13 ), and the first ring gear ( 14 ), the first sun gear being in engagement with the first planet gear ( 13 ).

14 . The transmission according to claim 12 , wherein the second gearset is a second planetary gearset ( 20 ), the second planetary gearset ( 20 ) comprising second sun gear ( 21 ), a second planet carrier, a second planet gear, and a second ring gear, the second sun gear ( 21 ) being the second spur gear, the second sun gear ( 21 ) being in engagement with the second planet gear, the second planet gear being in engagement with the second ring gear.