Lubricant collection assembly
The present disclosure relates to a lubricant collection assembly, comprising: a lubricant sump, and at least one guide member having a surface configured to guide a lubricant toward and/or into the lubricant sump along the surface, wherein the surface includes a plurality of protrusions and/or deepenings to slow a flow of lubricant toward the lubricant sump.
1 . Lubricant collection assembly, comprising:
a lubricant sump,
at least one guide member having a surface configured to guide a lubricant toward and/or into the lubricant sump along the surface, wherein the surface includes a plurality of protrusions and/or deepenings to slow a flow of lubricant toward the lubricant sump; and
wherein the surface of the at least one guide member comprises first surface portions, each of the first surface portions extending, in a direction of fluid flow along the surface of the at least one guide member under the influence of gravity, from a valley formed by one of the plurality of deepenings to a neighboring crest formed by one of the plurality of protrusions, and wherein a maximum slope of the first surface portions relative to a horizontal plane encloses an angle of between 1.5 degrees and 5 degrees with the horizontal plane.
2 . The lubricant collection assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions and/or deepenings are formed in one piece with the at least one guide member.
3 . The lubricant collection assembly according to claim 1 , further including one or more rotatable elements disposed at least partially in the lubricant sump and/or a lubricant pump, the one or more rotatable elements and/or the lubricant pump configured to convey a lubricant held within the lubricant sump onto the surface of the at least one guide member.
4 . The lubricant collection assembly according to claim 3 , further including a housing enclosing the lubricant sump, wherein the at least one rotatable element is mounted on the housing.
5 . The lubricant collection assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one guide member is formed in one piece with the housing.
6 . The lubricant collection assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions and/or deepenings form a periodic pattern.
7 . The lubricant collection assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide member has a corrugated surface.
8 . The lubricant collection assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the corrugated surface includes corrugations extending transverse to a direction of gravity.
9 . The lubricant collection assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the corrugations extend perpendicular to the direction of gravity.
10 . The lubricant collection assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the surface of the at least one guide member comprises second surface portions, each of the second surface portions extending, in a direction of fluid flow along the surface of the at least one guide member under the influence of gravity, from a crest formed by one of the plurality of protrusions to a neighboring valley formed by one of the plurality of deepenings, and wherein a maximum slope of the second surface portions with respect to a horizontal plane encloses an angle of between 10 degrees and 45 degrees with the horizontal plane.
11 . The lubricant collection assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the surface of the at least one guide member comprises first surface portions and second surface portions, each of the first surface portions extending, in a direction of fluid flow along the surface of the at least one guide member under the influence of gravity, from a valley formed by one of the plurality of deepenings to a neighboring crest formed by one of the plurality of protrusions, and each of the second surface portions extending, in a direction of fluid flow along the surface of the guide member under the influence of gravity, from a crest formed by one of the plurality of protrusions to a neighboring valley formed by one of the plurality of deepenings, and wherein a maximum slope of the first surface portions and a maximum slope of the second surface portions with respect to a horizontal plane enclose an angle of between 10 degrees and 55 degrees.
12 . The lubricant collection assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a section of the plurality of protrusions and/or deepenings parallel to a direction of gravity comprises a saw tooth profile.
13 . The lubricant collection assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions and/or deepenings have rounded edges.
14 . The lubricant collection assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide member is made of metal, a sheet metal, cast iron, and/or a plastic material.
15 . A collection system, comprising:
a lubricant sump formed by side walls and a floor;
a housing wherein the lubricant sump is formed;
rotatable shafts mounted and/or supported on the housing wherein gears are coupled and meshed with each other;
guide members arranged above or at least partially above the lubricant sump, the guide members extending from the side walls in a direction slightly inclined with respect to a vertical definition as defined by a direction of gravity and transitioning into the side walls;
wherein at least some of the lubricant is conveyed upward and onto surfaces of the guide members in response to rotation of the gears; and
wherein the surfaces of the guide members include corrugations forming a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of deepenings and a plurality of first surface portions and a plurality of second surface portions to slow flow of the lubricant.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the guide member is formed in one piece with the housing or configured as a separate inlay fixed to an inner wall of the housing and the housing is an automotive transmission.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the gears comprise a first gear partially submerged in the lubricant located in the lubricant sump, and wherein the first gear meshes with a second gear and the second gear meshes with a third gear.