Transmission

Abstract

A dual clutch transmission (1) includes a breather assembly (7) with a breather element (9). The breather element (9) includes at least one entry opening (24) facing a transmission interior and an outwardly facing exit opening (40). The breather assembly (7) also includes at least one oil collection element (8) arranged between the breather element (9) and an oil spray source (6).

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A dual clutch transmission (1), comprising: a breather assembly (7) with a breather element (9), the breather element (9) comprising at least one entry opening (24) facing a transmission interior and an outwardly facing exit opening (40); and at least one oil collection element (8) arranged between the breather element (9) and an oil spray source (6).

17. The dual clutch transmission (1) of claim 16, wherein the oil collection element (8) has an annular cross-section.

18. The dual clutch transmission (1) of claim 16, wherein the oil collection element (8) is pot-shaped.

19. The dual clutch transmission (1) of claim 16, wherein the oil collection element (8) is constructed of plastic.

20. The dual clutch transmission (1) of claim 16, wherein the oil collection element (8) is positioned to shield the breather element (9) from oil spray.

21. The dual clutch transmission (1) of claim 16, wherein the oil collection element (8) separates a breather chamber (22) from a remainder of the transmission interior.

22. The dual clutch transmission (1) of claim 16, wherein the oil collection element (8) comprises air passage openings (20) in a lower half of the oil collection element (8).

23. The dual clutch transmission (1) of claim 16, wherein the breather element (9) comprises two entry openings (24) and one exit opening (40).

24. The dual clutch transmission (1) of claim 16, wherein the breather element (9) is curved.

25. The dual clutch transmission (1) of claim 16, wherein the breather element (9) has a variable cross-section.

26. The dual clutch transmission (1) of claim 25, wherein the cross-section of the breather element (9) enlarges, at least in part, toward a center of the breather element (9).

27. The dual clutch transmission (1) of claim 16, wherein the at least one entry opening (24) of the breather element (9) faces downwardly.

28. The dual clutch transmission (1) of claim 16, wherein the breather element (9) is arranged between the oil collection element (8) and a transmission interior wall (5).

29. The dual clutch transmission (1) of claim 16, wherein the breather element (9) comprises a breather duct (28) that encompasses the exit opening (40) and is insertable into a transmission wall (5).

30. The dual clutch transmission (1) of claim 16, wherein the breather assembly (7) is arranged in a clutch bell housing (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments and figures. Wherein:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a transmission;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a transmission in a second view;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a breather assembly in a first view;

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a breather assembly in a second view;

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a breather assembly in a third view; and

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a breather assembly in a fourth view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Reference will now be made to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are shown in the drawings. Each embodiment is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be combined with another embodiment to yield still another embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations to the embodiments described herein.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a transmission 1 including a transmission housing 2. The transmission housing 2 is split into a clutch bell housing 3 and the gear set housing 4. The gear set housing 4 is often also referred to as a transmission housing. This is ambiguous, however, at least when the clutch bell housing 3 is taken into account. In the present application, the transmission housing 2 is therefore understood to be the entirety of the transmission including the clutch bell housing 3 and the gear set housing 4. An intermediate wall 5 is located between the clutch bell housing 3 and the gear set housing 4. The intermediate wall 5 is utilized, for example, for mounting the transmission input shafts, which is why the intermediate wall 5 is also referred to as a bearing bracket.

[0039] The clutch assembly 6 of the transmission 1 is located in the clutch bell housing 3. Preferably, the transmission 1 can be designed as a dual clutch transmission. In that case, the clutch assembly 6 is designed, for example, as a dual clutch. In particular in the case of hybridized drive trains, the clutch assembly can also be designed as a triple clutch assembly. In that case, two clutches are powershift clutches of the dual clutch transmission and the third clutch is utilized for disconnecting the internal combustion engine from the rest of the drive train during electric motor-operated travel. Therefore, it is a separating clutch.

[0040] The breather assembly 7 is arranged in the clutch bell housing 3. The breather assembly 7 includes an oil collection element 8 and a breather element 9. The breather assembly 7 also includes a hose connection 10 toward the outside of the transmission.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows the transmission housing 1 in a further view, namely in the top view of the intermediate wall 5. The arrangement of the breather element 9 is apparent. The breather element 9 is arranged above the passage opening 12 for the transmission input shafts and, in particular, as far upward as possible.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows the breather assembly 7 in a perspective view. On the one hand, the pot shape of the oil collection element 8 as well as its annular configuration are apparent. Moreover, a passage opening 14 for the transmission input shafts is apparent. Multiple bushes 16 for the bolted connection of the oil collection element 8 are present around the passage opening 14.

[0043] An O-ring 18 for radial sealing is arranged on the radially outer rim of the oil collection element 8. The O-ring 18 seals the oil collection element 8 with respect to the transmission housing 2 and, more precisely, the clutch bell housing 3.

[0044] In addition, the oil collection element 8 includes air passage openings 20, through which air can enter the breather chamber 22. Via the air passage openings 20, oil foam and, possibly, also small amounts of oil spray can also enter the breather chamber 22. The air passage openings 20 are spaced apart from the entry openings 24 of the breather element 9, however, and, in addition, are arranged in such a way that they prevent oil spray from entering the breather element 9.

[0045] The breather element 9 is considerably simplified and includes essentially only one base body 26 including two entry openings 24. For the connection toward the outside, the breather element 9 includes a breather duct 28 branching off from the base element 26.

[0046] The breather element 9 is annular and is designed as a circular segment. The breather element 9 tapers at the ends 30. In other words, the cross-section of the base body 26 expands downstream from the entry openings 24 towards the breather duct 28. As a result, the oil foam expands, the oil bubbles burst, and the oil foam is separated into oil and air.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows the breather assembly 7 from the opposite side as compared to FIG. 3. As a result, it is apparent that the breather element 9 is partitioned off from the transmission interior by the oil collection element 8.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows an additional example embodiment of the breather assembly 7 by an oil barrier 32 in the form of a baffle 34. The baffle 34 is pressed-in or integrally injection-molded and protrudes from the breather duct 28 into the base body 26. Since, in this view, the oil of the oil foam moves into or out of the page in the main movement, oil foam located on the inner wall of the base body 26 is prevented from penetrating, due to the baffle 34. Instead, the oil foam must pile up high in the center of the base body 26 so that any oil at all could enter the breather duct 28. This is not the case, due to the oil collection element 8 and the resultant small amounts of oil in the breather element 9. Therefore, a leakage of oil out of the transmission 1 is reliably prevented.

[0049] FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of an oil barrier 32 in the form of the baffle 36. The baffle 36 reduces the diameter of the breather duct 28.

[0050] The breather duct 28 has been pressed into the intermediate wall 5, as is the case in all other embodiments as well. The breather duct 28 is sealed by an O-ring 38.

[0051] The exit opening 40 is located at the end of the breather duct 28 for the connection toward the outside.

[0052] Modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments illustrated or described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. In the claims, reference characters corresponding to elements recited in the detailed description and the drawings may be recited. Such reference characters are enclosed within parentheses and are provided as an aid for reference to example embodiments described in the detailed description and the drawings. Such reference characters are provided for convenience only and have no effect on the scope of the claims. In particular, such reference characters are not intended to limit the claims to the particular example embodiments described in the detailed description and the drawings.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0053] 1 transmission [0054] 2 transmission housing [0055] 3 clutch bell housing [0056] 4 gear set housing [0057] 5 intermediate wall [0058] 6 clutch assembly [0059] 7 breather assembly [0060] 8 oil collection element [0061] 9 breather element [0062] 10 hose connection [0063] 12 passage opening [0064] 14 passage opening [0065] 16 bush [0066] 18 O-ring [0067] 20 air passage opening [0068] 22 breather chamber [0069] 24 entry opening [0070] 26 base body [0071] 28 breather duct [0072] 30 end [0073] 32 oil retention element [0074] 34 baffle [0075] 36 baffle [0076] 38 O-ring [0077] 40 exit opening