Fluid displacing transmission filler
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a fluid displacing transmission filler having a blow molded, foam filled body. The body or shell of the filler is blow molded in a mold which shapes it to conform to internal surfaces and other features, such as gears and shafts, of a transmission. Then, the blow molded filler body is filled with closed cell foam. The resulting transmission filler is lightweight, achieves a maximum volume for an available space within a transmission and is essentially impervious to failure and filling with fluid because the closed cell foam does not significantly absorb transmission fluid.
1. A fluid displacing filler for a transmission comprising, in combination,
a fluid impervious shell of a first material having an exterior shape conforming to at least one feature of a transmission and defining an interior volume, said interior volume filled with a closed cell foam second material of a different composition than said first material, said shell defining a periphery of the foam,
whereby said filler displaces transmission fluid from a region within such transmission when said filler is disposed in a fluid filled transmission.
2. The filler for a transmission of claim 1 wherein said at least one feature is an inner surface, a gear, a shaft or a bearing.
3. The filler for a transmission of claim 1 wherein said first material is a thermoplastic elastomer.
4. The filler for a transmission of claim 1 wherein said closed cell foam second material is polyurethane.
5. The filler for a transmission of claim 1 wherein said filler is disposed in a sump of a transmission.
6. The filler for a transmission of claim 1 wherein said closed cell foam second material is resistant to automatic transmission fluid.
7. The filler for a transmission of claim 1 further including a plurality of lugs extending from said shell, said lugs defining fastener receiving openings for facilitating mounting said filler within a transmission.
8. A volume occupying filler for a transmission comprising, in combination,
a fluid impervious body of a thermoplastic elastomer having an exterior surface and defining a sealed, hollow interior, at least a portion of said exterior surface conforming to a portion of an inner surface of said transmission, and
closed cell foam of a different composition disposed within said hollow interior,
whereby said volume occupying filler displaces transmission fluid from a region within such transmission.
9. The volume occupying filler for a transmission of claim 8 wherein said body is blow molded.
10. The volume occupying filler for a transmission of claim 8 wherein said closed cell foam is polyurethane which essentially fills said hollow interior.
11. The volume occupying filler for a transmission of claim 8 wherein said filler is disposed in a sump of a transmission.
12. The volume occupying filler for a transmission of claim 8 further including mounting tabs defining openings for facilitating installation of said filler in a transmission.
13. A fluid displacing filler for a transmission comprising, in combination,
a fluid impervious shell of a first material having an outer surface and a hollow interior, a portion of said outer surface configured to conform to a portion of an inner surface of a transmission housing, and
said hollow interior at least substantially filled with a lightweight, non-fluid absorbing second material of a different composition than said first material.
14. The fluid displacing filler for a transmission of claim 13 wherein said first material is a thermoplastic elastomer.
15. The fluid displacing filler for a transmission of claim 13 wherein said shell is blow molded.
16. The fluid displacing filler for a transmission of claim 13 wherein said fluid displacing filler is disposed in a sump of a transmission.
17. The fluid displacing filler for a transmission of claim 13 wherein said lightweight, non-fluid absorbing material is closed cell foam.
18. The fluid displacing filler for a transmission of claim 13 wherein said shell includes a plurality of tabs extending from said shell and defining openings for receiving fasteners for mounting said filler in a transmission.
19. The fluid displacing filler for a transmission of claim 13 wherein said shell is also configured to conform to at least one of a gear, a shaft and a bearing.