The present invention provides lubrication systems, apparatus and methods for efficiently and reliably lubricating the drive chain and drive sprocket of a chain-driven vehicle during operation. Embodiments of the invention include a body having a reservoir of lubricating oil that is attachable to the vehicle using existing mounting bolts, a valve for controlling a flow of the oil to the sprocket and chain, a channel providing fluid communication between the reservoir and the valve, and an applicator for applying the lubricating oil to a drive sprocket of the vehicle. Oil is transferred via gravity from the reservoir to the applicator, and via centrifugal force from the applicator to the sprocket and chain.

A vehicle stalactite passive lubrication system includes a drive unit having an electric motor and a gear. A sump has a sump extension. A lubricant is collected in the sump for gravity flow into the sump extension. A stalactite member is fixed to the drive unit and is positioned above an element to be filled with a fluid, lubricated or cooled. The stalactite member is directed downwardly toward the sump with the lubricant splashed by gear rotation collected on neighboring walls and the stalactite member and directed downwardly by gravity into the sump or target element. The stalactite member includes: a drip edge oriented at an angle to a horizontal plane; and a tip defining an end of the drip edge. The angle is selected to direct the lubricant to discharge off the stalactite member at the tip as a lubricant stream into the sump or target element.

A transmission lubricating assembly of a helicopter includes: a transmission including a speed change structure that changes the speed of rotation produced by rotational power input from a prime mover and outputs the resulting rotational power and a housing accommodating the speed change structure; and a lubricator that lubricates the speed change structure. The lubricator includes a collector that collects a mist of a lubricating oil in an internal space of the housing and a dropper that is disposed below the collector and that applies droplets of the lubricating oil to the speed change structure, the droplets resulting from the collected mist being gathered under its own weight.

A conical friction ring transmission has a fluid supply for wetting at least one of the main transmission elements with fluid. The fluid supply has a drop dispenser from which fluid drops onto the main transmission element and/or an outlet from which fluid falls onto the main transmission element. A method operates a conical friction ring transmission, wherein the friction ring of the conical friction ring transmission is moved in the spacing between the two friction rings, and at least one of the main transmission elements is wetted with fluid via a fluid supply. The fluid is conducted in a circuit at a pressure below 100 kPa (1 bar) for wetting purposes.

A transmission lubricating structure includes a power transmitting shaft, a main lubricating circuit, and an auxiliary lubricating circuit. The power transmitting shaft includes an ejection hole communicating an inside with an outside of the power transmitting shaft. The main lubricating circuit includes: a main nozzle having a nozzle hole through which lubricating oil supplied from a main tank is discharged to the internal space of the power transmitting shaft; and a hydraulic pump configured to supply the lubricating oil by pressure from the main tank to the main nozzle. The auxiliary lubricating circuit includes an auxiliary nozzle arranged lower than an auxiliary tank and higher than a lubrication target at the outside of the power transmitting shaft, the auxiliary nozzle being configured to drop the lubricating oil, supplied from the auxiliary tank by an own weight of the lubricating oil, toward the lubrication target.

A lubrication device for a helicopter including: an oil sump in which oil for lubrication is retained; a lubrication pump configured to suck the oil from the oil sump to discharge the oil; and a lubrication passage extending from the lubrication pump to a first lubrication target. The lubrication passage includes: a first supply port that supplies the oil to the first lubrication target; an oil reservoir provided upstream of the first supply port; and an opening provided upstream of the oil reservoir and above the oil reservoir. The first supply port is formed right above the first lubrication target.

A passive lubrication system for lubricating components of a gearbox is provided. The passive lubrication system includes a first sump, formed in a housing of the gearbox, for holding a lubricant fluid for lubricating components of the gearbox and a second sump formed in the housing of the gearbox, the second sump for capturing lubricant fluid displaced, by rotation of the gear wheel, from the first sump, the second sump having one or more openings for directing lubricant fluid captured in the second sump to the one or more components of the single speed drive system to provide lubrication to the one or more components of the single speed drive system. The passive lubrication system also includes a channel formed in the housing of the gearbox, the channel for channeling lubricant fluid, displaced by rotation of the gear wheel, from the first sump to the second sump.

A lubrication device for a helicopter including: an oil sump in which oil for lubrication is retained; a lubrication pump configured to suck the oil from the oil sump to discharge the oil; and a lubrication passage extending from the lubrication pump to a first lubrication target. The lubrication passage includes: a first supply port that supplies the oil to the first lubrication target; an oil reservoir provided upstream of the first supply port; and an opening provided upstream of the oil reservoir and above the oil reservoir. The first supply port is formed right above the first lubrication target.

In at least some implementations, a vehicle drivetrain assembly includes a housing, a reservoir and a conduit. The housing has a housing interior, a housing inlet communicating with the housing interior, a housing outlet communicating with the housing interior, and an opening communicating with the housing interior and adapted to receive part of a shaft. The reservoir is carried by the housing and has a reservoir interior, a reservoir inlet communicating with the reservoir interior, and at least one reservoir outlet communicating with the reservoir interior. The conduit is coupled at a first end to the housing outlet and coupled at a second end to the reservoir inlet, wherein at least part of the conduit extends above the housing interior relative to gravity, and the conduit is routed about an exterior of the housing.

In at least some implementations, a vehicle drivetrain assembly includes a housing, a reservoir and a conduit. The housing has a housing interior, a housing inlet communicating with the housing interior, a housing outlet communicating with the housing interior, and an opening communicating with the housing interior and adapted to receive part of a shaft. The reservoir is carried by the housing and has a reservoir interior, a reservoir inlet communicating with the reservoir interior, and at least one reservoir outlet communicating with the reservoir interior. The conduit is coupled at a first end to the housing outlet and coupled at a second end to the reservoir inlet, wherein at least part of the conduit extends above the housing interior relative to gravity, and the conduit is routed about an exterior of the housing.