Lubrication system for a powertrain

Abstract

The engine/transmission assembly includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a fill hole that fluidly communicates with the first chamber. The first chamber is capable of containing lubricant at a first level, and the second chamber is capable of containing lubricant at a second level. The engine/transmission assembly also includes an opening that is between the first and second chamber and that fluidly communicates with the first and second chamber. The opening is positioned to maintain the first level in the first chamber and raise the second level in the second chamber when lubricant is added to the first chamber through the fill hole, and to maintain these two levels when the engine is running.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An engine/transmission assembly comprising: 
 a first chamber capable of containing lubricant at a first level when the engine/transmission assembly is at rest;    a second chamber capable of containing lubricant at a second level when the engine/transmission assembly is at rest;    a fill hole fluidly communicating with the first chamber; and    an opening in fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber, the opening being positioned to substantially maintain the first level in the first chamber when the engine is at rest and raise the lubricant in the second chamber when lubricant is added to the first chamber through the fill hole.    
     
     
         2 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each chamber has a bottom, the engine/transmission assembly further comprising a drain hole fluidly communicating with the bottom of the first chamber and the bottom of the second chamber, the drain hole being capable of allowing lubricant to drain from the first and second chambers.  
     
     
         3 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a drain plug insertable into the drain hole and capable of preventing fluid communication between the first and second chamber through the drain hole.  
     
     
         4 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing that includes a first side, a second side, a bottom, and a wall that divides the first side from the second side, wherein the first chamber is partially defined by the first side, the wall, and the bottom, and the second chamber is partially defined by the second side, the wall, and the bottom.  
     
     
         5 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the wall separates the first chamber from the second chamber.  
     
     
         6 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the opening is in the wall.  
     
     
         7 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a clutch assembly positioned within the first chamber.  
     
     
         8 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a crankshaft connected to the clutch assembly and substantially positioned within the second chamber.  
     
     
         9 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the clutch assembly is a least partially positioned below the opening.  
     
     
         10 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the opening is positioned to maintain the first level such that the clutch assembly is at least partially below the first level in the first chamber and maintaining the second level such that the crankshaft is entirely positioned above the second level of the second chamber.  
     
     
         11 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising an output shaft substantially positioned within the second chamber and an intermediate shaft coupled to the clutch assembly in the first chamber and coupled to the output shaft in the second chamber, the intermediate shaft extending through the opening.  
     
     
         12 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a projection extending into the first chamber, wherein the projection is positioned below the fill hole, the projection capable of making the first level of the first chamber substantially visually inaccessible from the outside of the first chamber through the fill hole.  
     
     
         13 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a dipstick capable of measuring the second level of the second chamber.  
     
     
         14 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the engine/transmission assembly includes exactly one dipstick.  
     
     
         15 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a passageway fluidly connecting with the second chamber, wherein the passageway extends adjacent to the first chamber, the dipstick being insertable into the passageway and removable from the passageway.  
     
     
         16 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump capable of removing lubricant from the second chamber, and distributing the lubricant throughout the engine such that at least some of the lubricant returns to the first chamber.  
     
     
         17 . The engine/transmission assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engine/transmission assembly includes exactly one fill hole for lubricant.  
     
     
         18 . A method of lubricating an engine/transmission assembly having moving parts, the method comprising: 
 providing a first chamber containing clutch components;    providing a second chamber having a crankshaft;    providing a regulator opening between the first and second chambers;    drawing a lubricant from the second chamber to lubricate the moving parts;    returning at least some of the lubricant used to lubricate the moving parts to the first chamber;    regulating a lubricant level in the first chamber using the regulator opening by overflowing lubricant from the first chamber to the second chamber when the lubricant level in the first chamber reaches a first level.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 filling the first chamber to the first level with the lubricant through a fill hole; and    filling the second chamber to a second level by overflowing lubricant from the first chamber to the second chamber through the regulator opening.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 measuring the level of the lubricant in the second chamber with a dipstick.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 rotating the clutch components at least partially below the first level.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 rotating the crankshaft above the level of the lubricant in the second chamber.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 removing a drain plug to drain the lubricant from the first and second chambers.