JP2010101343A - Oil quantity adjusting mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

An oil amount adjusting mechanism capable of reducing variation in an oil storage amount adjusted by an overflow tube without excessively depending on the shape accuracy of related parts.
An oil amount adjusting mechanism includes a transmission case (1) that accommodates a gear train (11), an oil pan (2) that is provided at a lower portion of the transmission case (1) and has a drain hole (4) at the bottom thereof, and stands at the bottom of the oil pan (2). An overflow tube 6 provided with a tip opening 66 for adjusting the amount of oil in the oil pan 2 is provided at the tip thereof, and a drain plug 7 capable of closing the drain hole 4 of the oil pan 2 is provided. Yes. The height position H1 of the tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 is positioned by the valve body 12 provided on the upper side of the overflow tube 6.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an oil amount adjustment mechanism applied to, for example, oil amount adjustment of oil stored in an oil pan such as an automatic transmission.

  A predetermined amount of oil (hydraulic oil; ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid)) is injected into an automatic transmission mounted on an automobile. A predetermined amount of this oil is maintained in an oil reservoir such as an oil pan attached to the bottom of the automatic transmission. When the oil storage amount (oil amount) of the oil pan is less than the appropriate amount, there is a concern that the shift processing and lubrication of the automatic transmission may be adversely affected. Conversely, when the oil storage amount in the oil pan is larger than the appropriate amount, energy loss due to agitation resistance due to the oil being agitated by a rotating body such as a gear increases or breather blowing (a phenomenon in which oil blows out from the breather) ) Etc. may occur.

  Conventionally, an oil level gauge has been used to check whether or not the amount of oil stored in the oil pan has reached an appropriate amount during an oil injection operation or the like. However, adjustment of the oil storage amount (oil amount adjustment) using the oil level gauge is complicated because the oil level height in the oil pan must be repeatedly checked by removing the oil level gauge. There is.

Conventionally, an oil amount adjusting mechanism that adjusts the oil amount without using an oil level gauge has been proposed that includes an overflow tube (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). The overflow tube is erected so as to surround a drain hole formed at the bottom of an oil storage container such as an oil pan. Then, the height position of the opening of the overflow tube is set so as to coincide with the oil surface height position when the oil is injected in an appropriate amount.
JP 2005-226542 A JP 2004-340244 A JP 2008-019885 A

  In the oil amount adjusting mechanism having the overflow tube as described above, the rotation that constitutes the transmission mechanism of the automatic transmission in order to keep the oil amount adjusted by the overflow tube at an appropriate amount and prevent the occurrence of breather blow or the like. It is necessary to accurately position the overflow tube in the height direction (vertical direction) with respect to elements (for example, sun gear, carrier, ring gear, etc.).

  However, conventionally, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example, the overflow tube is positioned at the bottom of an oil storage container such as an oil pan. There is a problem that the variation of the position becomes large and the variation of the oil amount adjusted by the overflow tube becomes large. This is because the accuracy of the relative position of the overflow tube with respect to the rotating element of the automatic transmission is affected not only by the shape accuracy of the overflow tube and the rotating element but also by the shape accuracy of the parts interposed between them. . Examples of the parts interposed between the overflow tube and the rotating element of the automatic transmission include, for example, a plug seat into which the overflow tube is screwed, an oil pan to which the plug seat is attached, and a transmission case (transmission that houses the transmission mechanism of the automatic transmission). There is a concern that the variation in the relative position increases as the number of parts increases.

  Here, as a measure to reduce the variation in the relative position, it may be possible to strictly control the shape accuracy of the related parts related to the relative position precision (parts that affect the relative position precision). Then, the problem that the unit price of related parts increases occurs. In addition, since oil pans are mainly manufactured by pressing, it is difficult to increase the shape accuracy of oil pans to the same accuracy as other related parts, and even if the shape accuracy of other related parts is increased, There is a problem that it is still difficult to reduce the variation in the relative position.

  Note that Patent Document 3 shows a structure in which the upper part of the cylindrical member is rotatably supported in the lower part of the hydraulic equipment chamber (FIGS. 6 to 9 and the like). The structure relating to the positioning accuracy of the tubular member is a structure that allows the oil in the hydraulic equipment chamber to be discharged from the front end opening of the tubular member by rotating the member between the closed position and the open position. Absent.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and can reduce the variation in the relative position of the overflow tube with respect to the rotating element of the automatic transmission without excessively depending on the shape accuracy of the related parts. An object of the present invention is to provide an oil amount adjusting mechanism that can reduce variation in the oil amount adjusted by the overflow tube.

  In the present invention, means for solving the above-described problems are configured as follows. That is, the present invention provides a transmission case that houses a transmission mechanism, an oil storage container that is provided at a lower portion of the transmission case, and that has an opening at the bottom thereof, and is erected at the bottom of the oil storage container. An oil amount adjusting mechanism comprising: an overflow tube provided with a tip opening for adjusting an oil amount in the oil storage container at a portion; and a closing plug capable of closing the opening of the oil storage container. The height position of the tip opening of the tube is positioned by a regulating member provided on the upper side of the overflow tube.

  According to the above configuration, since the height position of the tip opening of the overflow tube is positioned by the restriction member provided on the upper side of the overflow tube, the overflow tube is positioned at the bottom of the oil storage container. Compared to the structure, it is possible to reduce variation in the relative position of the overflow tube with respect to a rotating element (for example, a sun gear, a carrier, a ring gear, etc.) constituting the transmission mechanism. Thereby, the height position of the tip opening of the overflow tube with respect to the rotating element can be accurately positioned, and variation in the amount of oil adjusted by the overflow tube can be reduced.

  More specifically, in the conventional positioning structure, the oil storage container (oil pan, etc.) is manufactured by press processing, and is inferior to other parts in terms of shape accuracy, so the shape accuracy of other parts is increased. However, it is difficult to reduce the variation in the relative position. On the other hand, in the above configuration, even when an overflow tube is installed at the bottom of such an oil storage container, the overflow tube with respect to the rotating element described above is not excessively dependent on the shape accuracy of related parts. Variations in relative position can be reduced. Thereby, compared with the conventional positioning structure, the dispersion | variation in the oil quantity adjusted with an overflow tube can be reduced, aiming at the cost reduction by suppressing the unit price of a related component.

  In the present invention, from the viewpoint of accurately positioning the tip opening of the overflow tube in the height direction, it is preferable that the upper end surface of the overflow tube is in contact with the lower surface of the regulating member.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the restriction member is a valve body fixed to the transmission case.

  In this configuration, the parts interposed between the overflow tube and the rotating element constituting the transmission mechanism are the valve body and the transmission case. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the number of related parts related to the accuracy of the relative position (parts affecting the accuracy of the relative position). In addition, the related parts related to the accuracy of the relative position do not include an oil reservoir that is manufactured by pressing and inferior to other parts in terms of shape accuracy. Therefore, even when an overflow tube is installed at the bottom of such an oil storage container, variation in the relative position of the overflow tube with respect to the rotating element is reduced without excessively depending on the shape accuracy of related parts. can do. Thereby, compared with the conventional positioning structure, the dispersion | variation in the oil quantity adjusted with an overflow tube can be reduced, aiming at the cost reduction by suppressing the unit price of a related component.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the restricting member is a protrusion that is formed integrally with the transmission case and extends inward from the wall of the transmission case.

  In this configuration, the part interposed between the overflow tube and the rotating element constituting the transmission mechanism is only the transmission case. For this reason, the number of related parts related to the accuracy of the relative position of the overflow tube with respect to the rotating element can be further reduced. Therefore, variation in the relative position of the overflow tube with respect to the rotating element can be more effectively reduced. Thereby, the dispersion | variation in the oil quantity adjusted with an overflow tube can be reduced more effectively.

  According to the present invention, since the height position of the tip opening of the overflow tube is positioned by the restriction member provided on the upper side of the overflow tube, the overflow tube is positioned at the bottom of the oil storage container. Compared to the structure, it is possible to reduce variation in the relative position of the overflow tube with respect to a rotating element (for example, a sun gear, a carrier, a ring gear, etc.) constituting the transmission mechanism. Thereby, the height position of the tip opening of the overflow tube with respect to the rotating element can be accurately positioned, and variation in the amount of oil adjusted by the overflow tube can be reduced.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In this embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to adjustment of oil stored in an oil pan of an automatic transmission for an automobile will be described. In the following, a case will be described in which the automatic transmission is a transmission mounted in a front engine / rear drive (FR) type automobile.

-Transmission case and oil pan-
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an assembly structure of a transmission housing provided with an oil amount adjusting mechanism according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the transmission housing. It is a figure which fractures | ruptures and shows the arrangement | positioning location of a mechanism.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transmission housing includes a transmission case (transmission case) 1 having an open bottom, and a saucer-shaped oil pan attached to close the bottom of the transmission case 1 ( Oil storage container) 2 and these are integrally assembled by means such as bolting.

  The transmission case 1 includes a gear train (transmission mechanism) 11 that includes gears, shafts, bearings, and the like for shifting and outputting power input from the engine side. The gear train 11 switches, for example, a plurality of planetary gears and a plurality of friction engagement elements (clutches) that enable the establishment of a plurality of shift stages by switching the connection of rotation elements (sun gear, carrier, ring gear, etc.) of the plurality of planetary gears. , Brakes, etc.).

  In addition, it is necessary to switch the oil path inside the transmission case 1 by operating a valve (such as a linear solenoid valve or an ON / OFF solenoid valve) according to the driving state of the vehicle and to operate a plurality of clutches and brakes. A valve body 12 for changing the speed by generating an appropriate hydraulic pressure is provided. In this embodiment, the valve body 12 is provided below the gear train 11 and is fixed at a predetermined height position in the transmission case 1.

  A predetermined amount of oil is sealed in the inside of the transmission casing formed by the transmission case 1 and the oil pan 2. This oil is called ATF and has functions to operate clutches and brakes for shifting, transmit torque of the engine in the torque converter, and lubricate to prevent seizure of various machine elements. Have. A refill plug 13 is attached to a predetermined position on the side of the transmission case 1. The refill plug 13 is a plug that closes a hole (refill hole) for injecting oil into the transmission case 1.

-Oil quantity adjustment mechanism-
FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing the oil amount adjusting mechanism, and shows the positioning structure of the overflow tube of the oil amount adjusting mechanism.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an oil amount adjusting mechanism 3 for adjusting the oil amount is provided at the bottom of the oil pan 2. The oil amount adjusting mechanism 3 includes a drain hole 4 provided at the bottom of the oil pan 2, a plug sheet 5 attached to the bottom of the oil pan 2, an overflow tube 6 for adjusting the oil amount, and a drain hole. A drain plug (blocking plug) 7 for closing 4 is provided.

  The drain hole 4 is a circular opening formed in a predetermined position at the bottom of the oil pan 2. The plug sheet 5 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. A flange 51 extending outward in the horizontal direction is provided at the lower end of the plug sheet 5, and this flange 51 is joined to the bottom surface of the oil pan 2 and the outer periphery of the drain hole 4 by means such as welding. . On the inner peripheral surface of the plug sheet 5, a female screw portion 52 into which the screw portion 63 of the overflow tube 6 and the screw portion 71 of the drain plug 7 are screwed is formed.

  The overflow tube 6 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The overflow tube 6 is positioned on the upper side of the screw part 63 with a lower part 61 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the screw part 63 to be screwed into the female screw part 52 of the plug sheet 5, and the outer diameter of the lower part 61. And an upper portion 62 having a slightly smaller diameter.

  A lower end opening 65 that opens to the outside of the oil pan 2 (below the oil pan 2) is provided at the lower end of the overflow tube 6 (the lower end of the lower portion 61). A tip opening 66 for adjusting the amount of oil in the oil pan 2 is provided at the tip of the overflow tube 6 (upper end of the upper portion 62).

  The tip opening 66 is formed by a notch formed in a part of the tube wall at the tip of the overflow tube 6, and opens into the oil pan 2. In this case, the notch is formed to extend downward from the upper end surface 6 a of the overflow tube 6. And the position (height position) H1 of the height direction of the lower end of the front-end | tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 is a height position which sets an oil surface height.

  The drain plug 7 includes a screw portion 71 that is screwed into the female screw portion 52 of the plug sheet 5, and a head portion 72 that is in contact with the lower surface 2 a of the oil pan 2 via an annular sealing material 73. When the drain hole 4 is closed by the drain plug 7, the screw part 71 of the drain plug 7 is inserted from the lower side of the drain hole 4, and the screw part 71 is screwed into the female screw part 52 of the plug sheet 5. Mount on the oil pan 2. In this case, the sealing material 73 is sandwiched between the head 72 of the drain plug 7 and the oil pan 2. With this sealing material 73, the sealing performance between the oil pan 2 and the drain plug 7 is ensured.

  As described above, an oil pan unit in which the oil amount adjusting mechanism 3 and the oil pan 2 are assembled together is configured. The oil storage amount of the oil pan 2 is adjusted to an appropriate amount by adjusting the oil amount by the oil amount adjusting mechanism 3. Specifically, when adjusting the oil amount by the oil amount adjusting mechanism 3, the operator removes the drain plug 7 from the oil pan 2 and additionally injects oil from the refill hole of the transmission case 1. Adjust the height. In this case, when the oil surface height exceeds the height position H1 of the tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6, the oil is discharged from the lower end opening 65 (drain hole 4) through the inside of the overflow tube 6, and the oil is higher than that. The surface height is not increased. Oil injection is stopped when oil starts to be discharged from the drain hole 4 in this way, and the oil hole height is adjusted by closing the drain hole 4 with the drain plug 7 when the oil discharge stops. The work is complete. Thereby, the oil level height of the oil pan 2 is set to the height position H1 of the tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6, and the oil storage amount of the oil pan 2 is adjusted.

  In this embodiment, the positioning of the tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 of the oil amount adjusting mechanism 3 in the height direction is not performed at the bottom of the oil pan 2 but as a regulating member provided on the upper side of the overflow tube 6. It is characterized by being performed by the valve body 12. Hereinafter, this characteristic part will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper end surface 6 a of the overflow tube 6 is in contact with the lower surface 12 a of the valve body 12 fixed at a predetermined height position in the transmission case 1. Accordingly, the height position H1 of the tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 is regulated by the lower surface 12a of the valve body 12. More specifically, the upper end surface 6a of the overflow tube 6 and the lower surface 12a of the valve body 12 are finished into flat surfaces by cutting or the like, and these surfaces 6a and 12a come into surface contact with each other, thereby overflowing. The height position H1 of the tip opening 66 of the tube 6 is regulated. In this case, the threaded portion 63 of the overflow tube 6 becomes the female threaded portion 52 of the plug seat 5 until the upper end surface 6a of the overflow tube 6 comes into contact with the lower surface 12a of the valve body installed at a predetermined position in the transmission case 1. The overflow tube 6 is positioned by being screwed.

  Further, the overflow tube 6 has a structure that is not positioned at the bottom of the oil pan 2. Specifically, the step surface 6 b between the lower portion 61 and the upper portion 62 of the overflow tube 6 is not in contact with the lower surface 53 a of the protruding portion 53 that protrudes toward the inner diameter side at the upper end portion of the plug sheet 5. A gap C1 is formed between the surfaces 6b and 53a. Therefore, the length in the height direction (vertical direction) of the threaded portion 63 of the overflow tube 6 is such that the gap C1 can be generated in a state where the upper end surface 6a of the overflow tube 6 is in contact with the lower surface 12a of the valve body. Is set.

  According to the positioning structure of this embodiment, the height position H1 of the tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 of the oil amount adjusting mechanism 3 is positioned by the valve body 12 provided on the upper side of the overflow tube 6. The following effects can be obtained. That is, as compared with the conventional positioning structure in which the overflow tube 6 is positioned at the bottom of the oil pan 2, the relative position of the overflow tube 6 with respect to the rotating element constituting the gear train 11 installed on the upper side of the valve body 12 is varied. Can be reduced. As a result, the height position H1 of the tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 can be accurately positioned with respect to the rotating elements constituting the gear train 11, and variations in the amount of oil adjusted by the overflow tube 6 can be reduced. .

  Specifically, in the positioning structure of this embodiment, the parts interposed between the overflow tube 6 of the oil amount adjusting mechanism 3 and the rotating element of the gear train 11 are the valve body 12 and the transmission case 1. For this reason, the conventional positioning in which the plug sheet 5, the oil pan 2, and the transmission case 1 are interposed is used for the number of related parts related to the accuracy of the relative position (parts that affect the accuracy of the relative position). It can be reduced compared to the structure. In addition, the related parts related to the accuracy of the relative position do not include the oil pan 2 that is manufactured by pressing and inferior to other parts in terms of shape accuracy.

  Therefore, even when the overflow tube 6 is installed at the bottom of the oil pan 2, the overflow tube 6 is relative to the rotating elements constituting the gear train 11 without excessively depending on the shape accuracy of the related parts. The variation in position can be reduced. Thereby, compared with the conventional positioning structure, the dispersion | variation in the oil quantity adjusted with the overflow tube 6 can be reduced, aiming at cost reduction by suppressing the unit price of related parts.

-Other embodiments-
The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the embodiment shown here is an example and can be variously modified.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the regulating member that positions the tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 of the oil amount adjusting mechanism 3 in the height direction is the valve body 12, but the regulating member is integrated with the transmission case 1. It is good also as the formed protrusion part. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the height direction of the distal end opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 may be determined by the protrusion 15 extending inward from the side wall of the transmission case 1.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the transmission case 1 is integrally formed with a positioning projection (projection piece) 15 that projects inward from the side wall thereof. The protrusion 15 is provided at a predetermined height position in the transmission case 1. The projecting portion 15 has a shape that can be integrally formed at the time of molding (casting) in the transmission case 1. And the lower surface 15a of the protrusion part 15 is finished by the cutting process etc. at the flat surface.

  The upper end surface 6a of the overflow tube 6 is in contact with the lower surface 15a of the protruding portion 15, and the height position H1 of the tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 is regulated by the lower surface 15a. That is, when the upper end surface 6a of the overflow tube 6 and the lower surface 15a of the protruding portion 15 are in surface contact with each other, the height position H1 of the tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 is regulated. In this case, the threaded portion 63 of the overflow tube 6 is the female threaded portion of the plug sheet 5 until the upper end surface 6a of the overflow tube 6 contacts the lower surface 15a of the protruding portion 15 provided at a predetermined position on the side wall of the transmission case 1. By being screwed into 52, the overflow tube 6 is positioned.

  In this way, in the positioning structure in which the overflow tube 6 is positioned by the transmission case 1, the part interposed between the overflow tube 6 and the rotating element of the gear train 11 is the transmission case 1 alone. For this reason, the number of related parts related to the accuracy of the relative position of the overflow tube 6 with respect to the rotating element of the gear train 11 can be reduced by one more than in the case of the above embodiment. Therefore, variation in the relative position of the overflow tube 6 with respect to the rotating elements constituting the gear train 11 can be reduced more effectively. Thereby, the dispersion | variation in the oil amount adjusted with the overflow tube 6 can be reduced more effectively.

  (2) The form of contact between the upper end surface 6a of the overflow tube 6 and the lower surface 12a of the valve body 12 (or the lower surface 15a of the protruding portion 15 of the transmission case 1) is not limited to the case of the above embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, only a part of the upper end surface 6 a of the overflow tube 6 may be in contact with the lower surface 12 a of the valve body 12. From the viewpoint of accurately positioning the tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 in the height direction, it is preferable that the upper end surface 6a of the overflow tube 6 and the lower surface 12a of the valve body 12 are in surface contact with each other.

  (3) The shape, number, position, and the like of the tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 are not limited to those in the above embodiment. That is, the shape, number, position, and the like of the notch that becomes the tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 can be appropriately changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, it is good also as a structure which provides the notch used as the front-end | tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 in the vicinity of the upper end surface 6a. For example, in the case as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to configure the tip opening 66 of the overflow tube 6 without providing a notch.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the drain hole 4 is closed by screwing the drain plug 7 into the plug sheet 5, but the drain plug 7 is screwed into the female screw portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the overflow tube 6. The drain hole 4 may be closed. In the above embodiment, the plug sheet 5 into which the overflow tube 6 is screwed is provided as a separate member from the oil pan 2. However, the female screw portion into which the overflow tube 6 is screwed by processing the bottom of the oil pan 2 is used as the oil pan 2. It is good also as a structure provided in the bottom part of 2 integrally.

  (5) In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a transmission. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to other in-vehicle devices (for example, a differential, a transaxle, a transformer power unit, etc.). The present invention can also be applied to a case where the automatic transmission is a continuously variable transmission (CVT: Continuously Variable Transmission). The present invention is also applicable when the transmission is a manual transmission.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the assembly | attachment structure of the housing | casing of the transmission provided with the oil quantity adjustment mechanism which concerns on embodiment. It is a side view which shows typically the housing | casing of a transmission, Comprising: It is a figure which fractures | ruptures and shows the arrangement | positioning location of an oil quantity adjustment mechanism. It is front sectional drawing which shows the oil quantity adjustment mechanism which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 3 which shows the positioning structure of the overflow tube of the oil quantity adjustment mechanism which concerns on other embodiment. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 3 which shows the positioning structure of the overflow tube of the oil quantity adjustment mechanism which concerns on other embodiment. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 3 which shows the positioning structure of the overflow tube of the oil quantity adjustment mechanism which concerns on other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transmission case 2 Oil pan 3 Oil quantity adjustment mechanism 4 Drain hole 6 Overflow tube 6a Upper end surface 66 Tip opening H1 Height position of tip opening 7 Drain plug 11 Gear train 12 Valve body 12a Bottom surface

Claims (4)

A transmission case that houses the transmission mechanism;
An oil reservoir provided at the bottom of the transmission case and having an opening at the bottom thereof;
An overflow tube which is erected at the bottom of the oil storage container and provided with a front end opening for adjusting the amount of oil in the oil storage container at the front end;
An oil amount adjusting mechanism comprising a closing plug capable of closing the opening of the oil storage container,
An oil amount adjusting mechanism, wherein a height position of a tip opening of the overflow tube is positioned by a regulating member provided on an upper side of the overflow tube. In the oil amount adjusting mechanism according to claim 1,
The oil amount adjusting mechanism, wherein the positioning is performed by contacting an upper end surface of the overflow tube with a lower surface of the regulating member. In the oil amount adjustment mechanism according to claim 1 or 2,
The oil amount adjusting mechanism, wherein the restricting member is a valve body fixed to the transmission case. In the oil amount adjustment mechanism according to claim 1 or 2,
The oil amount adjusting mechanism, wherein the regulating member is a protrusion that is formed integrally with the transmission case and extends inwardly from a wall of the transmission case.

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