Wet-running flexible drive

Abstract

Wet-running flexible drive mechanism (1) for the transmission of torque having a drive element (2, 2) and an output element (3, 3), the drive element (2, 2) and the output element (3, 3) being drive-connected to one another via a flexible drive (14), the flexible drive (14) being arranged partially in a lubricant sump (4), characterized in that at least one guiding element (5) is arranged in the region of the lubricant sump (4), the guiding element (5) being shaped in such a way that a constriction (6) in the form of a gap which tapers in a wedge-shaped manner is formed between the flexible drive (14) which is arranged partially in the lubricant sump (4) and the guiding element (5).

Claims

1. Wet-running flexible drive mechanism for the transmission of torque having a housing, a drive element, and an output element, the drive element and the output element being drive-connected to one another via a flexible drive, the flexible drive being arranged partially in a lubricant and/or coolant sump, wherein the lubricant and/or coolant sump is integrally formed in the housing, wherein at least one guiding element is arranged in a region of the lubricant sump, the guiding element being shaped in such a way that a constriction in the form of a gap which tapers in a wedge-shaped manner is formed between the flexible drive which is arranged partially in the lubricant sump and the guiding element; wherein the guiding element is fixed to the housing, wherein the guiding element has a geometry of a wedge-shaped configuration defining a highest point and first and second longitudinal sides on opposite sides of the highest point, and wherein a first section of the guiding element, starting from the highest point, runs at a more acute angle in the direction of the first longitudinal side than a second section of the guiding element, starting from the highest point, runs in the direction of the second longitudinal side.

2. Wet-running flexible drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a bulge in the region of the lubricant and/or coolant sump.

3. Wet-running flexible drive mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the guiding element is arranged at the bulge of the housing.

4. Wet-running flexible drive mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the guiding element has a first part and a second part, the first part and the second part being configured such that they can be joined along a dividing plane to form the guiding element.

5. Wet-running flexible drive mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the bulge and the guiding element are configured in one piece.

6. Wet-running flexible drive mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the guiding element is fastened to the bulge by a connecting element.

7. Wet-running flexible drive mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the connecting element is joined to the housing in a positive locking manner.

8. Wet-running flexible drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sections have a concave curvature.

9. Wet-running flexible drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first section is longer than the second section.

10. Wet-running flexible drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the highest point of the guiding element is offset toward the second longitudinal side relative to a longitudinal center of the guiding element.

11. Wet-running flexible drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the guiding element is arranged at an oblique angle relative to an upper surface of the lubricant sump.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be described in the following text by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an exemplary wet-running flexible drive mechanism according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2a shows a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a guiding element,

(4) FIG. 2b shows a further perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a guiding element in accordance with FIG. 2a,

(5) FIG. 2c shows a cross section through a guiding element in accordance with FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b,

(6) FIG. 3a shows a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment of a guiding element,

(7) FIG. 3b shows a further perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a guiding element in accordance with FIG. 3a,

(8) FIG. 4a shows a perspective detailed view of a flexible drive and a guiding element in accordance with FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b, and

(9) FIG. 4b shows a sectional view of the illustration in FIG. 4a.

DESCRIPTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary wet-running flexible drive mechanism 1 in accordance with the present invention.

(11) The wet-running flexible drive mechanism 1 has a drive element 2 in the form of a drive gearwheel 2 and an output element 3 in the form of an output gearwheel 3. The drive gearwheel 2 and the output gearwheel 3 are arranged in a substantially axially parallel manner to one another and are drive-connected via a flexible drive 14 (here, a chain 14).

(12) Furthermore, the wet-running flexible drive mechanism 1 has a housing 9. A lubricant sump 4 is configured in an integrated manner in the housing 9.

(13) The output gearwheel 3 is arranged partially in the lubricant sump 4. The chain 14 dips into the lubricant sump 4 in the region of the output gearwheel 3.

(14) The housing 9 has a rib-shaped bulge 10 in the region of the lubricant sump 4 where the chain 14 runs out of the lubricant sump 4. A guiding element 5 is arranged on the bulge 10. In the present exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1, the guiding element 5 is fastened to the bulge 10 of the housing 9 of the wet-running flexible drive mechanism 1 by means of a connecting element 15 which can be joined in a positively locking manner to the housing 9 in the region of the bulge 10. The fastening of the guiding element 5 to the housing 9 and/or the bulge 10 of the housing 9 of the wet-running flexible drive mechanism 1 can also be realized, however, by means of any technically customary connecting type, such as pressing in, adhesive bonding, screwing, etc. A single-piece configuration of the guiding element 5 with the housing 9 and/or the bulge 10 of the housing 9 of the wet-running flexible drive mechanism 1 is likewise conceivable.

(15) In relation to the rotational direction 7 of the output gearwheel 3 which is arranged partially in the lubricant and/or coolant sump 4, the guiding element 5 is arranged in the lubricant sump 4 on the exit side 8 of the output gearwheel 3 from the lubricant sump 4.

(16) FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b and FIG. 2c show one exemplary design variant of the guiding element 5 of the wet-running flexible drive mechanism 1 according to the invention. FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b show a further exemplary design variant of the guiding element 5 of the wet-running flexible drive mechanism 1 according to the invention.

(17) The guiding element 5 which is shown in FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b and FIG. 2c and the guiding element 5 which is shown in FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b are configured in two pieces; the guiding element 5 comprises a first part 11 and a second part 12. The first part 11 and the second part 12 can be joined along a dividing plane 13 to form the guiding element 5, for example by means of a plug-in connection, an adhesively bonded connection, etc.

(18) A single-piece configuration of the guiding element 5 is not ruled out, however, by the design variants which are shown in FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b, FIG. 2c and FIG. 3a, FIG. 3b.

(19) The guiding element 5 which is shown in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b and in FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b has a geometry 21 of wedge-shaped configuration in relation to a longitudinal axis 25 of the guiding element 5, in order to achieve a gap which tapers in the rotational direction. This results in a first section 18 of the guiding element 5 and a second section 19 of the guiding element 5, the first section 18 of the guiding element 5, starting from the highest point 22 of the geometry 21 of wedge-shaped configuration, running at a more acute angle 20 in the direction of the one longitudinal side 16 of the guiding element 5, on account of the eccentricity of the geometry 21 of wedge-shaped configuration, than the second section of the guiding element 5, starting from the highest point 22 of the geometry 21 of wedge-shaped configuration, in the direction of the other longitudinal side 16 of the guiding element 5 (FIG. 2c).

(20) The configuration of the constriction 6, that is to say of the gap which tapers in a wedge-shaped manner, between the guiding element 5 and the flexible drive 14 is defined by way of the configuration of the first section 18 of the guiding element 5.

(21) The guiding element 5 which is shown in FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b is of substantially identical configuration to the guiding element 5 which is shown in FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b and FIG. 2c, but, on the two transverse sides 23, 23 of the guiding element 5, in each case has a side wall 24 which runs along the respective transverse side 23, 23.

(22) FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b show the guiding element 5 which is shown in FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b when assembled with a chain 14.

(23) In the present exemplary embodiment, lubricant flows to an increased extent around the chain 14 as a result of the configuration of the wet-running flexible drive mechanism 1 and, in particular, as a result of the configuration of the constriction 6 between the guiding element 5 and the flexible drive 14 (here, the chain 14). As a result, the nominal filling level can be lowered in relation to a rotational axis 26 of the output gearwheel 3 and/or the drive gearwheel 2, and a reduction of drag losses and therefore reliable operation of the wet-running flexible drive mechanism 1 in a manner which is optimized in terms of the degree of efficiency can therefore be ensured.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(24) 1 Wet-running flexible drive mechanism 2 Drive element 2 Drive gearwheel 3 Output element 3 Output gearwheel 4 Lubricant sump 5 Guiding element 6 Constriction 7 Rotational direction 8 Exit side 9 Housing 10 Bulge 11 First part 12 Second part 13 Dividing plane 14 Flexible drive 14 Chain 15 Connecting element 16, 16 Longitudinal side 18 First section 19 Second section 20 Angle 21 Geometry of wedge-shaped configuration 22 Highest point 23, 23 Transverse side 24 Side wall 25 Longitudinal axis 26 Rotational axis