An apparatus for lubricating a non-pressurized gearbox includes a low-to-high lubricant level sensor configured to sense a static level of a lubricant within the gearbox and to display the static level of the lubricant.

The invention relates to a lubrication system and method for controlling the lubrication system. The lubrication system comprises a bypass line by which it is possible to lead a part of the oil flow in the oil line past a component to be lubricated and back to the oil sump, a first valve configured to regulate the oil flow through the bypass line and a control unit. The control unit is configured to receive information from at least one parameter related to the oil flow to said component to estimate a required oil flow to said component in view of said parameter and to regulate the first valve such that a part of the oil flow in the oil line is led to the bypass line and that a remaining part of the oil flow, which corresponds to the required oil flow, is led to said component.

A gearbox for an engine-driven mechanism comprises a gearbox housing having opposing walls. A first bearing bore is defined in one of the opposing walls and adapted for receiving an input shaft. A second bearing bore is defined in the other opposing wall and aligned with the first bearing bore. Each bearing bore mounts a bearing for supporting the input shaft which extends through the first bearing bore and into the gearbox. The second bearing bore includes an associated transparent and/or translucent lens to define a sight window for monitoring the level of oil in the gearbox. A sight window of this nature is particularly well suited for retrofitting older gearboxes which lack a sight window.

In a vehicle including a first MG serving as a driving source, a power transmission mechanism configured to transmit power of the first MG to a drive wheel, and an oil circulation mechanism for cooling the power transmission mechanism and the first MG, it is determined that oil is short when a temperature of the first MG is higher than a temperature of the oil and a difference between the temperature of the first MG and the temperature of the oil is greater than a prescribed value.

A driveline component with a housing, which defines a sump, a power-transmitting device received in the housing, a reservoir coupled to the housing, and a reservoir level control device (RLCD). The reservoir has an inlet and outlet and defines a cavity. The RLCD has a skimmer and an outlet port flow control (OPFC). The skimmer is coupled to the housing for movement between a first position, in which the skimmer is positioned relative to a driven component of the power-transmitting device to skim the lubricant from the driven component, and a second position. The OPFC can be operated in a first condition, in which fluid flow from the outlet port is substantially blocked to thereby inhibit a flow of the lubricant in the cavity to the sump, and a second condition, in which fluid flow through the outlet port from the cavity to the sump is permitted.

A driveline component with a housing, which defines a sump, a power-transmitting device received in the housing, a reservoir coupled to the housing, and a reservoir level control device (RLCD). The reservoir has an inlet and outlet and defines a cavity. The RLCD has a skimmer and an outlet port flow control (OPFC). The skimmer is coupled to the housing for movement between a first position, in which the skimmer is positioned relative to a driven component of the power-transmitting device to skim the lubricant from the driven component, and a second position. The OPFC can be operated in a first condition, in which fluid flow from the outlet port is substantially blocked to thereby inhibit a flow of the lubricant in the cavity to the sump, and a second condition, in which fluid flow through the outlet port from the cavity to the sump is permitted.

A method for diagnosing a lack of engine oil includes determining, by a controller, whether an oil level of an engine is normalized from an insufficient state to a normal state using an oil level switch. When it is determined that the oil level is normalized to the normal state, a driving mode of a vehicle is confirmed. When it is confirmed that the driving mode of the vehicle is an engine off driving mode, a diagnosis of the oil level is stopped.

A vehicle sensor system includes a fluid sensor configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system and at least partially extend into a gearbox of a traction motor of the vehicle system. The fluid sensor is configured to output data representative of an amount of a lubricating fluid in the gearbox. The system also includes a positioning system configured to output data representative of movement or an absence of movement of the vehicle system, and one or more processors configured to determine the amount of the lubricating fluid in the gearbox based on the data that is output by the fluid sensor responsive to the data output by the positioning system indicating that the vehicle system has not moved or has moved by less than a designated distance for at least a designated, non-instantaneous period of time.

A method for diagnosing a lack of engine oil includes determining, by a controller, whether an oil level of an engine is normalized from an insufficient state to a normal state using an oil level switch. When it is determined that the oil level is normalized to the normal state, a driving mode of a vehicle is confirmed. When it is confirmed that the driving mode of the vehicle is an engine off driving mode, a diagnosis of the oil level is stopped.

A vibration exciter apparatus includes an exciter housing, and two bearing means, each supporting a driven shaft carrying eccentric mass means. The driven shafts carrying intermeshing gears. The exciter housing having an array of bore passages extending from an upper wall to a lower wall of the exciter housing, and a mounting structure plate securable to mineral processing or handling equipment intended to be vibrated by the exciter apparatus. Each of the bearing means and the intermeshing gears having separated lubrication liquid sumps. The exciter housing further having the mounting structure plate with an array of fastener receiving zones, whereby elongated fastener means can pass through the bore passages from the upper wall to be engaged in the fastener receiving zones.