Lubrication system for right-angle drives used with utility vehicles

Abstract

A bearing lubrication device in a right angle gear reducer includes a gear housing having an interior portion and a lubricating fluid reservoir therein. An oil slinger, rotating pinion shaft, pinion shaft housing, and bearings for supporting the pinion shaft within the pinion shaft housing work together to provide a continuous supply of oil to the bearings. The pinion shaft includes two radially and longitudinally extending passageways therethrough which supply oil from a recess in one end of the pinion shaft to the bearings. Oil is slung from the reservoir into the recess of the rotating pinion shaft where it is forced outwardly and through the passageways to a chamber formed by the rotating pinion shaft, shaft housing and bearings. The roller bearings pump the oil from the chamber back to the fluid reservoir. Oil passageways in the shaft housing enable the return of oil from one bearing set.

1 . A bearing lubrication device comprising: a gear housing having an interior portion and a lubricating fluid reservoir therein; an oil slinger; a pinion shaft; a pinion shaft housing; a bearing for supporting said pinion shaft within said pinion shaft housing; said pinion shaft includes a passageway therethrough; and, said oil slinger supplying oil to said passageway communicating said oil to said bearing. 
     
     
         2 . A bearing lubrication device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said pinion shaft includes a second passageway therethrough for communicating oil to said bearing. 
     
     
         3 . A bearing lubrication device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said pinion shaft includes a first end portion; said first end portion includes a recess for receiving oil from said oil slinger; and, said first passageway communicates with said recess and said bearing. 
     
     
         4 . A bearing lubrication device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said pinion shaft includes a first end portion; said first end portion includes a recess for receiving oil from said oil slinger; and, said second passageway communicates with said recess and said bearing. 
     
     
         5 . A bearing lubrication device as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said recess is cylindrically shaped. 
     
     
         6 . A bearing lubrication device as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said recess is cylindrically shaped. 
     
     
         7 . A bearing lubrication device as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said pinion shaft includes an exterior and said first passageway extends radially and longitudinally from said recess in said first end of said pinion shaft to said exterior of said pinion shaft. 
     
     
         8 . A bearing lubrication device as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said pinion shaft includes an exterior and said first and second passageways extend radially and longitudinally from said recess in said first end of said pinion shaft to said exterior of said pinion shaft. 
     
     
         9 . A bearing lubrication device as claimed in  claim 7  further including a second bearing; a chamber formed between said bearings, said pinion shaft housing and said pinion shaft; and, said first passageway in communication with said chamber. 
     
     
         10 . A bearing lubrication device as claimed in  claim 8  further including a second bearing; a chamber formed between said bearings, said pinion shaft housing and said pinion shaft; and, said first and second passageways in communication with said chamber. 
     
     
         11 . A bearing lubrication device as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said pinion shaft housing includes an interior and an exterior; said first bearing pumps oil from said chamber to said exterior of said pinion shaft housing and said second bearing pumps oil from said chamber to an oil return passageway communicating with said exterior of said pinion shaft housing. 
     
     
         12 . A bearing lubrication device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said pinion shaft housing includes an interior and an exterior; said first bearing pumps oil to said chamber and said second bearing pumps oil out of said chamber to said interior of said pinion shaft housing; said pinion shaft housing includes an oil return passageway communicating with said interior of said pinion shaft housing and said exterior of said pinion shaft housing. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method for lubricating bearings supporting a shaft in a gear box, comprising the steps of:
 slinging oil from a lubricating oil reservoir using an oil slinger at a first end of said shaft;   collecting oil in a cylindrical recess in said first end of said shaft;   rotating said shaft and forcing said collected oil radially outwardly in said cylindrical recess and into a passageway communicating with said recess and extending longitudinally and radially from said recess to a chamber formed by said shaft, said bearings and a shaft housing;   pumping oil from said chamber through said bearings; and,   returning said oil to said lubricating oil reservoir.   
     
     
         15 . A method for lubricating bearings supporting a shaft in a gear box as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the step of returning said oil to said lubricating oil reservoir is performed using a return passageway through said shaft housing. 
     
     
         16 . A method for lubricating bearings supporting a shaft in gear box as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said step of rotating said shaft and forcing said collected oil radially outwardly in said cylindrical recess includes forcing said collected oil into a second passageway communicating with said recess and extending longitudinally and radially from said recess to said chamber formed by said shaft, said bearings and a shaft housing. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled)