A centerfill assembly for a lubricant reservoir includes a hollow tube for receiving lubricant from the top of the reservoir and loading the lubricant into the reservoir near the bottom of the reservoir. Loading the lubricant near the bottom of the reservoir introduces lubricant near where the stirring paddles mix the lubricant and near where the lubricant is loaded to the lubricant pump. Adding the lubricant near where the pumps load and near the stirring paddles helps to eliminate air pockets in the lubricant. In addition, having the centerfill rod minimizes exterior plumbing and allows for the mounting of valves on the fill line.

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

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

A fluid system of a machine. The fluid system includes a fluid reservoir, a pump coupled to the fluid reservoir, a filter coupled to the pump and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a first port, a second port coupled to the first port and to the fluid reservoir, a third port coupled to the first port, and a first check valve positioned between the first port and the second port. The fluid system further includes a second check valve positioned between the filter and the third port.

A cooling and lubrication system for a motor vehicle drive unit includes a drive unit sump, a first mechanically-driven pump, a second mechanically-driven pump, and an oil/air separator reservoir, among other possible components. The drive unit sump holds drive unit fluid. The first mechanically-driven pump fluidly communicates with the drive unit sump, and the second mechanically-driven pump fluidly communicates with the drive unit sump. The oil/air separator reservoir resides downstream of the first mechanically-driven pump and resides downstream of the second mechanically-driven pump.

A cooling and lubrication system for a motor vehicle drive unit includes a drive unit sump, a first mechanically-driven pump, a second mechanically-driven pump, and an oil/air separator reservoir, among other possible components. The drive unit sump holds drive unit fluid. The first mechanically-driven pump fluidly communicates with the drive unit sump, and the second mechanically-driven pump fluidly communicates with the drive unit sump. The oil/air separator reservoir resides downstream of the first mechanically-driven pump and resides downstream of the second mechanically-driven pump.

An oil supply unit has: a pump that has a pressure chamber portion that stores lubricating oil and a piezoelectric element that is deformable by application of a voltage, the pump ejecting lubricating oil in the pressure chamber portion; a tank that is connected to the pump and that stores lubricating oil to be supplied to the pump for replenishment; a sensor that detects a pressure in an oil region which extends from the pressure chamber portion to the tank and in which lubricating oil is present, or the state of a bearing portion; a pressure adjustment portion that adjusts a pressure of lubricating oil in the oil region which extends from the pressure chamber portion to the tank; and a control portion that controls at least one of the pressure adjustment portion and the piezoelectric element on the basis of a detection result from the sensor.

An oil supply unit has: a pump that has a pressure chamber portion that stores lubricating oil and a piezoelectric element that is deformable by application of a voltage, the pump ejecting lubricating oil in the pressure chamber portion; a tank that is connected to the pump and that stores lubricating oil to be supplied to the pump for replenishment; a sensor that detects a pressure in an oil region which extends from the pressure chamber portion to the tank and in which lubricating oil is present, or the state of a bearing portion; a pressure adjustment portion that adjusts a pressure of lubricating oil in the oil region which extends from the pressure chamber portion to the tank; and a control portion that controls at least one of the pressure adjustment portion and the piezoelectric element on the basis of a detection result from the sensor.

A control apparatus controls driving of an oil feeding unit. The oil feeding unit includes a piezoelectric body that deforms in response to a voltage applied thereto, and a reservoir to store lubricating oil. The capacity of the reservoir changes in accordance with deformation of the piezoelectric body so as to discharge lubricating oil from the oil feeding unit. The control apparatus includes N driving circuits 71a to 71n configured to apply voltages to the piezoelectric body (where N is an integer equal to or greater than two). The N driving circuits 71a to 71n are connected in parallel to the piezoelectric body. During oil feeding, the control apparatus uses a predetermined number of the driving circuits selected from the N driving circuits. The predetermined number is smaller than N.

A control apparatus controls driving of an oil feeding unit. The oil feeding unit includes a piezoelectric body that deforms in response to a voltage applied thereto, and a reservoir to store lubricating oil. The capacity of the reservoir changes in accordance with deformation of the piezoelectric body so as to discharge lubricating oil from the oil feeding unit. The control apparatus includes N driving circuits 71a to 71n configured to apply voltages to the piezoelectric body (where N is an integer equal to or greater than two). The N driving circuits 71a to 71n are connected in parallel to the piezoelectric body. During oil feeding, the control apparatus uses a predetermined number of the driving circuits selected from the N driving circuits. The predetermined number is smaller than N.