Patent ID: 6299561
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A device for controlling a level of gear lubricant in a gear housing of a vehicle comprising:a housing having a sealed interior portion containing lubricant and a gear rotatably mounted in the housing that rotates through the lubricant;said housing having a first wall secured to a bottom portion of the sealed interior portion defining a first and second space, wherein the gear rotates in the first space and displaces the lubricant over the first wall into the second space as the gear rotates at high speeds, the first wall having an opening of a predetermined size for allowing the lubricant to flow back into the first space at a rate greater than the displacement rate at low speeds and less than the displacement rate at high speeds; anda first gate valve secured to said first wall and a controller for controlling said first gate valve to open and close at the opening to control the flow of lubricant from said second space back into said first space, said first gate valve being a solenoid, actuated valve and said device further comprising a switch coupled between said controller and said solenoid, actuated valve for actuating the solenoid, actuated value in response to said controller.