A lubrication system comprises a lubricant reservoir, a motorized pump, a follower plate, a stationary rod, a movable sleeve, and a flexible connection. The motorized pump is disposed to pump fluid from the lubricant reservoir to lubricant work lines. The follower plate is situated within the lubricant reservoir. The stationary rod has a colored indicator portion. The movable sleeve disposed concentrically about the stationary rod. The flexible connection extends between the follower plate and the stationary colored rod, such that the flexible connection pulls the movable sleeve away from the stationary rod to reveal the colored indicator portion as the follower plate drops towards a bottom of the lubricant reservoir.

A lubrication system comprises a lubricant reservoir, a motorized pump, a follower plate, a stationary rod, a movable sleeve, and a flexible connection. The motorized pump is disposed to pump fluid from the lubricant reservoir to lubricant work lines. The follower plate is situated within the lubricant reservoir. The stationary rod has a colored indicator portion. The movable sleeve disposed concentrically about the stationary rod. The flexible connection extends between the follower plate and the stationary colored rod, such that the flexible connection pulls the movable sleeve away from the stationary rod to reveal the colored indicator portion as the follower plate drops towards a bottom of the lubricant reservoir.

A gyrostabiliser having a vacuum chamber assembly is disclosed. The gyrostabilizer can have a flywheel enclosed within a vacuum chamber formed by a housing. The flywheel shaft can be fixed to or integral with the flywheel and located relative to the housing by upper and lower spin bearings which permit rotation of the flywheel about the spin axis.

A gyrostabiliser having a vacuum chamber assembly is disclosed. The gyrostabilizer can have a flywheel enclosed within a vacuum chamber formed by a housing. The flywheel shaft can be fixed to or integral with the flywheel and located relative to the housing by upper and lower spin bearings which permit rotation of the flywheel about the spin axis.

A drive module for a vehicle including an electric machine, an inverter, a gearing assembly, and a cooling system. A first housing member thermally coupled with the inverter has a first set of heat exchange surfaces and a second housing member thermally coupled with the electric machine has a second set of heat exchange surfaces. The first and second sets of heat exchange surfaces each project into an interior volume cooled by an externally supplied liquid coolant which thereby defines a heat exchanger. A lower oil sump for collecting oil used to cool the electric machine may also include heat exchange surfaces projecting into the same heat exchanger. The gearbox may include an elevated oil sump which is supplied by the same oil pump circulating oil on the electric machine wherein the elevated oil sump gravity feeds oil onto selected surfaces within the gearbox.

A drive module for a vehicle including an electric machine, an inverter, a gearing assembly, and a cooling system. A first housing member thermally coupled with the inverter has a first set of heat exchange surfaces and a second housing member thermally coupled with the electric machine has a second set of heat exchange surfaces. The first and second sets of heat exchange surfaces each project into an interior volume cooled by an externally supplied liquid coolant which thereby defines a heat exchanger. A lower oil sump for collecting oil used to cool the electric machine may also include heat exchange surfaces projecting into the same heat exchanger. The gearbox may include an elevated oil sump which is supplied by the same oil pump circulating oil on the electric machine wherein the elevated oil sump gravity feeds oil onto selected surfaces within the gearbox.

A lubricant pump (14) and a method thereof are disclosed. The lubricant pump (14) includes a pump base (32) and a reservoir housing (30). The pump base (32) and the reservoir housing (30) define a lubricant reservoir for storing lubricant. One or more pump elements (34) extend at least partially into the lubricant reservoir. Heaters (36) are disposed on the pump base (32) proximate the pump elements (34). The heaters (36) are configured to heat the local area surrounding the pump elements (34), to thereby reduce the viscosity of the lubricant at the pump elements (34). The heaters (36) are electrically connected to a thermal switch (38) to control activation and deactivation of the heaters (36). With the lubricant pump (14) and the method thereof, the thermal switch (38) can control the heater (36) based on air temperature rather than the temperature of the lubricant, so the viscosity of lubricant is well controlled.

Methods and apparatus for lubricating suspension seals by pumping fluid to the seals using a compression or rebound action of a suspension component.

The present invention relates to a lubricating oil supply unit including a holding portion (a lubricating oil tank) holding a lubricating oil supplied to the inside of a bearing, a supply portion (a drive circuit and a pump) supplying the lubricating oil to the inside of the bearing from the holding portion, and a control unit (a control circuit) for controlling operations of the supply portion, the control unit being configured to obtain data on a condition of supply of the lubricating oil and to output the data to the outside of the control unit (an output substrate).

Various embodiments of valve assemblies are provided for use in connection with the fluid systems of machines such as engine-powered machines. The valve assemblies may be used for performing fluid refill operations, fluid evacuation operations, fluid purge operations, and other types of fluid operations in connection with machine maintenance.