IP Library Granted Patent US 7,686,728
Granted Patent B2
US 7,686,728 · App. 11/498,312 · Granted Mar 30, 2010

Mechanical adapter assembly

Assignee: Renault Trucks
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,686,728
App. No.
11/498,312
Granted
Mar 30, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to the mechanical adapter assembly of the transmission line for a motor vehicle. The mechanical adapter includes shafts rotatably guided by different bearings and couplings for driving said different shafts. The mechanical adapter also includes a differential carrier, which is used in the form of a crankcase containing the oil for lubricating the different bearings and couplings and provided with a front aperture. A front plate integrates a pump and makes it possible to close said front aperture of the differential support. Additionally, an attached pipe section supplies the oil from said front plate to the differential support and interacts with additional fixtures to the front plate and the differential carrier.

Claims (35)

1. A mechanical adapter assembly of a transmission line for a motor vehicle comprising:

shafts rotatably guided by various bearings;

couplings for driving various shafts;

a differential carrier defining a crankcase, which is used to contain an oil for lubricating the various bearings and couplings, said differential carrier comprising a front aperture;

an inter-axle differential;

a front plate integrating a pump and making it possible to close said front aperture of the differential carrier, wherein said front plate comprises a power cylinder capable of ensuring locking of the inter-axle differential; and

an attached internal pipe section having a first open end and an opposite second open end, said internal pipe section being used to supply oil from the front plate to the differential carrier, said attached internal pipe section terminating at said first open end thereof in a first fixture on the front plate, extending through the crankcase and terminating at said second open end thereof in a fixture on the differential carrier,

wherein said attached internal pipe section comprises a plurality of openings in a side-wall thereof, the openings being positioned so as to direct a spray of lubricating oil on at least one of a sprocket, the inter-axle differential, and a bearing.

2. A mechanical adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said front plate comprises an intake area wherein the suction passage of said intake area points downwards and emerges close to the bottom of said differential carrier.

3. A mechanical adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said front plate comprises a heat exchanger.

4. A mechanical adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said front plate comprises openings making it possible to evacuate oil and cool it in an independent heat exchanger.

5. A mechanical adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first fixture on the front plate is formed as part of the front plate.

6. A mechanical adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said front plate comprises an oil filter.

7. A mechanical adapter assembly as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said oil filter is demountable from a surface of said front plate facing towards the outside of the mechanical adapter assembly.

8. A mechanical adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said pump is mounted on a surface of said front plate facing towards the inside of mechanical adapter assembly.

9. A mechanical adapter assembly as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said pump comprises a rotor and a stator fitted in a housing.

10. A mechanical adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said front plate is obtained by using a coreless moulding process.

11. A mechanical adapter assembly as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a cover is fitted on said front plate to ensure distribution of oil to those areas that require extra oil for satisfactory lubrication.

12. A mechanical adapter assembly of a transmission line for a motor vehicle comprising:

shafts rotatably guided by various bearings;

couplings for driving various shafts;

a differential carrier defining a crankcase, which is used to contain an oil for lubricating the various bearings and couplings, said differential carrier comprising a front aperture;

an inter-axle differential;

a front plate integrating a pump and making it possible to close said front aperture of the differential carrier, wherein said front plate comprises a power cylinder capable of ensuring locking of the inter-axle differential; and

an attached internal pipe section having a first open end and an opposite, second open end, said internal pipe section being used to supply oil from the front plate to the differential carrier, said attached internal pipe section terminating at said first open end thereof in a first fixture on the front plate, extending through the crankcase and terminating at said second open end thereof in a fixture on the differential carrier,

wherein the attached internal pipe section comprises a plurality of openings in a side-wall thereof, the openings being positioned so as to direct a spray of lubricating oil on at least one of various components and couplings of the mechanical adapter assembly that are rotatable in relation to the differential carrier.

13. A mechanical adapter assembly as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said various components comprise a sprocket, the inter-axle differential, and the various bearings.

14. A mechanical adapter assembly as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the first fixture on the front plate is formed as part of the front plate.

15. A mechanical adapter assembly of a transmission line for a motor vehicle comprising:

shafts rotatably guided by various bearings;

couplings for driving various shafts;

a differential carrier defining a crankcase, which contains oil for lubricating the various bearings and couplings, said differential carrier comprising a front aperture;

an inter-axle differential;

a front plate integrating a pump and closing said front aperture of the differential carrier, wherein said front plate comprises a power cylinder capable of ensuring locking of the inter-axle differential; and

an attached internal pipe section used to supply oil from the front plate to the differential carrier, said pipe section cooperating with matching fixtures firstly on the front plate and secondly on the differential carrier.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NO. 8365890 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 034687 FRAME: 0682. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 10, 2015
From: RENAULT TRUCKS
To: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034927/0208 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2014
From: RENAULT TRUCKS
To: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034687/0682 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2006
From: IMBERT, FREDERI
To: RENAULT TRUCKS
Reel/Frame 018301/0113 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 04 50341 · Feb 24, 2004 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTFR200505012100 · Feb 23, 2005
Related Publication 20070004262A1 · Jan 4, 2007