Patent Description:
With the continuous development of the automobile industry, the gearbox and the entire power system need to face increasingly complex working conditions and users have comprehensive requirements on the maximum speed, temperature rise and service life of the gearbox urgently. The gearbox casing using conventional heat dissipation structures can no longer meet the development requirements of the automobile industry for vehicles with high power, high torque, maximum speed and maximum service life.

At present, the conventional liquid cooling heat dissipation structures of the gearbox casing have the disadvantages of small heat dissipation area and coolant blind area, which leads to low heat exchange rate between the gearbox casing and coolant and poor heat dissipation performance, and to a certain extent, damages the gearbox casing and internal operating parts, and affects the transmission performance and service life of the gearbox system.

Document <CIT>, according to its abstract, discloses a reducer water cooling structure and a reducer assembly. The water cooling structure includes a cavity formed by a reducer housing and a cover plate, and the cover plate is fixedly connected to the cavity; the cavity is provided with a water inlet and a water outlet, one or more partitions are also arranged on the two opposite side walls of the cavity, the partitions are arranged in a staggered manner and are connected to one side wall of the cavity, gaps are reserved between the partitions and the other opposite side wall, and therefore a zigzag water channel is formed; the water inlet and the water outlet are formed in the two ends of the water channel; and the partitions and the cavity side wall parallel to the partitions are also vertically provided with a plurality of baffles, and the baffles are staggered. The water cooling structure is integrated with the reducer housing into one component, the structure is simple, space is saved, distribution on a vehicle is facilitated, and the cooling efficiency is further improved through the specific structure.

Document <CIT>, according to its abstract, discloses a heat dissipation structure for a controller. The water channel comprises a water channel cover plate and a water channel body, heat dissipation columns distributed in an array mode are arranged in an inner cavity of the water channel body. A water channel separating rib of which one end is free and the other end is fixed on the inner wall of the water channel body is arranged in the inner cavity of the water channel body; wherein the partition water channel rib divides an inner cavity of the water channel body into a bent and communicated water channel, and a water inlet and a water outlet which are communicated with the water channel in the inner cavity of the water channel body are respectively arranged outside the water channel body. Original flow guide water channel ribs are replaced by the array type heat dissipation columns and the partition water channel ribs, the contact area with a surface heat source is increased, the heat exchange time is prolonged, the outer heat dissipation columns can effectively conduct out heat absorbed by the interior of the heat dissipation structure in a contact mode, the heat conduction efficiency is improved, and the heat dissipation speed is increased.

In view of the above problems, the present invention discloses a gearbox casing to overcome the above problems or at least partially solve the above problems.

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention adopts the technical solution as described in the independent claim <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first suspended guide ribs are arranged obliquely with respect to the first fixed guide ribs.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom part of the first coolant tank has different depths at two sides of each of the first suspended guide ribs, so that inner and outer sides of the bottom part of the first coolant tank are of a wavy shape, and the depths of the bottom part of the first coolant tank can be adjusted according to positions of gears inside the gearbox casing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a top part of four side walls of the first coolant tank is provided with an annular groove, and the annular groove is provided therein with a sealing washer for sealing the first coolant tank.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a number of threaded holes are provided outside the annular groove, a first cover plate is further provided on the first coolant tank, and the first cover plate is fixed on the first coolant tank via the threaded holes and screws;
the first cover plate and the screws are sunk down so that when the first cover plate is fixed on the first coolant tank, the bottom part of the gearbox casing is in a same plane.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first liquid inlet is communicated with a coolant channel inside a motor water jacket, or the first liquid inlet is connected with an outlet of a motor coolant channel.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second suspended guide rib between the second fixed guide rib and the second liquid inlet is arranged obliquely with respect to a tank wall of the second coolant tank, and remaining second suspended guide ribs are arranged in parallel with the second fixed guide ribs;.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second suspended guide ribs are a truncated cone, and a side surface of the truncated cone is composed of an arc surface and/or an inclined surface to prevent eddies.

The advantages and beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows.

In the gearbox casing according to the present invention, by providing a number of coolant tanks at the bottom part or the side part of the gearbox casing, the lubricating liquid in the gearbox casing can be cooled; by providing suspended guide ribs and fixed guide ribs in the coolant tanks to guide the flow direction of the circulating coolant, the heat dissipation contact area between the coolant and the gearbox casing is increased, and blind areas where the coolant does not flow or eddies are generated can be avoided. The gearbox casing according to the present invention has high heat exchange efficiency and low cost compared with other heat dissipation structures.

By reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments below, various other advantages and benefits will become clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The accompanying drawings are only used for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments, and should not be considered as a limitation to the present invention, which is defined in the appended claims. Moreover, throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same components. In the drawings:.

In the drawings: <NUM>. first coolant tank, <NUM>. partition wall, <NUM>. first fixed guide rib, <NUM>. first liquid inlet, <NUM>. first liquid outlet, <NUM>. first suspended guide rib, <NUM>. annular groove, <NUM>. threaded hole, <NUM>. second coolant tank, <NUM>. second liquid inlet, <NUM>. second liquid outlet, <NUM>. second fixed guide rib, <NUM>. second suspended guide rib.

In order to make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the present invention will be described clearly and completely in conjunction with specific embodiments of the present invention and corresponding drawings.

The technical solutions of embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

An embodiment of the present invention discloses a gearbox casing. As shown in <FIG>, the bottom part or the side part of the gearbox casing is provided with a number of first coolant tanks <NUM>, and the gearbox casing above a bottom part of the first coolant tanks <NUM> is provided therein with a lubricating liquid. By making the lubricating liquid contact the first coolant tanks <NUM> and circulating coolant in the first coolant tanks <NUM>, the first coolant tanks <NUM> can cool the lubricating liquid, and thus reduces the temperature of the parts inside the gearbox casing.

A first coolant tank <NUM> is provided therein with a number of parallel partition walls <NUM>. The first coolant tank <NUM> is separated into at least two communicated sub-tanks by the partition walls <NUM>. The number of sub-tanks can be determined according to the width of the gearbox casing. A plurality of first fixed guide ribs <NUM> interlaced with each other are projected from the partition walls <NUM> or an inner wall of the first coolant tank <NUM> respectively at two sides of each of the sub-tanks, thereby forming a continuous S-shaped or maze shaped channel for the coolant to flow through. The first fixed guide ribs <NUM> are provided to increase the flow path of the coolant in the first coolant tank <NUM>, thereby increasing the contact area between the coolant and inner walls of the first coolant tank <NUM> and promoting heat exchange.

Specifically, one end of the first fixed guide ribs <NUM> is connected with the inner walls of the first coolant tank <NUM> or the partition walls <NUM> at a certain angle, and a certain gap is provided between the other end of the first fixed guide ribs <NUM> and the inner walls of the first coolant tanks <NUM> or the partition walls <NUM> at the facing side. The angle and gap can be adjusted according to the flow path and flow rate of the coolant. The number and thickness of the first fixed guide ribs <NUM> can be adjusted according to the size of the sub-tanks and the wall thickness of the gearbox casing.

The first coolant tank <NUM> is provided with a first liquid inlet <NUM> and a first liquid outlet <NUM>. The first liquid inlet <NUM> and the first liquid outlet <NUM> are provided at one or two ends of the first coolant tank <NUM>. Of course, the positions of the first liquid inlet <NUM> and the first liquid outlet <NUM> can be adjusted as required. First suspended guide ribs <NUM> are isolatedly provided between two adjacent first fixed guide ribs <NUM>, between the first fixed guide rib <NUM> and the first liquid inlet <NUM>, and/or between the first fixed guide rib <NUM> and the first liquid outlet <NUM>, which can prevent the coolant flow blind area and avoid eddies. The first fixed guide ribs <NUM> and the first suspended guide ribs <NUM> are provided to increase the heat dissipation area and improve the heat dissipation performance.

To sum up, in the gearbox casing according to the present invention, by providing a number of coolant tanks at the bottom part or the side part of the gearbox casing, the lubricating liquid in the gearbox casing can be cooled; by providing suspended guide ribs and fixed guide ribs in the coolant tanks to guide the flow direction of the circulating coolant, the heat dissipation contact area between the coolant and the gearbox casing is increased, and blind areas where the coolant does not flow or eddies are generated can be avoided. The gearbox casing according to the present invention has high heat exchange efficiency and low cost compared with other heat dissipation structures.

In an embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the first suspended guide ribs <NUM> are arranged obliquely with respect to the first fixed guide ribs <NUM>, thereby increasing the disturbance of the coolant and facilitating the heat transfer. A certain angle is formed between the first suspended guide ribs <NUM> and the first fixed guide ribs <NUM>. There is respectively a certain gap between each of two ends of the first suspended guide ribs <NUM> and the inner wall of the first coolant tank <NUM> or the partition wall <NUM> oppositing the end. The coolant flows through the gap. The angle and gap can be adjusted according to the flow path and flow rate of the coolant. In addition, the number and thickness of the first suspended guide ribs <NUM> can be adjusted according to the size of the sub-tanks and the wall thickness of the gearbox casing.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the bottom part of the first coolant tanks <NUM> has different depths at two sides of each of the first suspended guide ribs <NUM>, so that the inner and outer sides of the bottom part of the first coolant tanks <NUM> are of a wavy shape, and the depths of the bottom part of the first coolant tanks <NUM> can be adjusted according to the position of gears inside the gearbox casing. The provision of this structure can effectively increase the contact area between the first coolant tanks <NUM> and the lubricating liquid in the gearbox casing, and promote the heat dissipation.

In an embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, a top part of the four side walls of the first coolant tank <NUM> is provided with an annular groove <NUM>, and the annular groove <NUM> is provided therein with a sealing washer for sealing the first coolant tank <NUM>.

In an embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, a number of threaded holes <NUM> are provided outside the annular groove <NUM>. A first cover plate is further provided on the first coolant tank <NUM>, and the first cover plate is fixed on the first coolant tank <NUM> via the threaded holes <NUM> and screws. The number and positions of threaded holes <NUM> can be adjusted as required. The first cover plate and the screw are sunk down, so that when the first cover plate is fixed on the first coolant tanks <NUM>, the bottom part of the gearbox casing is in a same plane, thereby reducing the volume of the gearbox casing.

In an embodiment, the first liquid inlet <NUM> may be disposed on an end face of the gearbox casing that is connected to a motor casing, and the first liquid inlet <NUM> is communicated with a coolant channel inside a motor water jacket via a channel disposed on the motor casing. The circulating coolant enters the first coolant tank <NUM> of the gearbox from the motor coolant channel directly via the first liquid inlet <NUM> disposed on the gearbox casing at the connecting surface.

A water nozzle is provided at the first liquid inlet <NUM>, and then the first liquid inlet <NUM> is connected with an outlet of the motor coolant channel via the coolant pipe. The circulating coolant flows out from the outlet of the motor coolant channel, and enters the first liquid inlet <NUM> disposed at the outer wall of the first coolant tank <NUM> of the gearbox via an external coolant pipe, and thus enters the first coolant tank <NUM> of the gearbox.

In an embodiment, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the bottom part or a side end surface of the gearbox casing is further provided with a second coolant tank <NUM> to cool a side interior of the gearbox casing, such as the lubricating liquid. Of course, the number of second coolant tanks <NUM> may be more than one, which can be set according to a specific situation. The second coolant tank <NUM> is provided thereon with a second cover plate, a sealing ring is provided between the second cover plate and the second coolant tank <NUM>, which is fixed by screws and threaded holes. The second cover plate is also sunk down. The two ends of the second coolant tank <NUM> are respectively provided with a second liquid inlet <NUM> and a second liquid outlet <NUM>, and the first liquid outlet <NUM> is connected with the second liquid inlet <NUM>. The second liquid outlet <NUM> is disposed higher than the first liquid inlet <NUM>, so as to facilitate better heat transfer between the coolant and the gearbox casing.

In an embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the second coolant tank <NUM> is provided therein with a plurality of second fixed guide ribs <NUM>, and two adjacent second fixed guide ribs <NUM> are respectively connected with two opposite inner walls of the second coolant tank <NUM>, so that the coolant flows between the plurality of second fixed guide ribs <NUM> in a continuous S or maze shape. One end of the second fixed guide ribs <NUM> is connected with the inner wall of the second coolant tank <NUM> at a certain angle, and a certain gap is provided between the other end of the second fixed guide ribs <NUM> and the inner wall of the second coolant tank <NUM> at the opposite side. The angle and gap between the second fixed guide ribs <NUM> and the inner walls of the second coolant tank <NUM> can be adjusted according to the coolant flow path and flow rate. Moreover, the number and thickness of the second fixed guide ribs <NUM> can be adjusted according to the size and wall thickness of the gearbox casing.

In addition, second suspended guide ribs <NUM> are isolatedly provided between two adjacent second fixed guide ribs <NUM>, between the second fixed guide rib <NUM> and the second liquid inlet <NUM>, and/or between the second fixed guide rib <NUM> and the second liquid outlet <NUM>, which can prevent the coolant flow blind area and avoid eddies. Only the bottom part of the second suspended guide ribs <NUM> is connected with the bottom part of the second coolant tank <NUM>. The provision of the second fixed guide ribs <NUM> and, in particular, the second suspended guide ribs <NUM> can be used to increase the heat dissipation area, avoid eddies in the flow path, and improve the heat dissipation performance.

In an embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, in order to better divide the coolant, the second suspended guide rib <NUM> between the second fixed guide rib <NUM> and the second liquid inlet <NUM> is arranged obliquely with respect to the tank wall of the second coolant tank <NUM>, and the remaining second suspended guide ribs <NUM> are arranged in parallel with the second fixed guide ribs <NUM>, which can effectively prevent eddies, make the coolant flow smoothly between the second fixed guide ribs <NUM> and the second suspended guide ribs <NUM>. The bottom part of the second coolant tank <NUM> has different depths at two sides of each of the second suspended guide ribs <NUM>, so that inner and outer sides of the bottom part of the second coolant tank <NUM> are of a wavy shape, thereby increasing the contact area between the coolant and the lubricating liquid in the gearbox casing and the bottom part of the second coolant tank <NUM>, and promoting heat dissipation. The amplitude of the wavy shape can be adjusted.

It can be seen from <FIG> that, the amplitude of the wavy shape at the bottom part of the second coolant tank <NUM> decreases step by step from the second liquid inlet <NUM> to the second liquid outlet <NUM>, which can avoid the coolant flow blind area and increase the heat dissipation effect.

In an embodiment, the second suspended guide ribs <NUM> are a truncated cone, and the side surface of the truncated cone is composed of an arc surface and/or an inclined surface to prevent eddies. Of course, the second suspended guide ribs <NUM> can also be other structures with excellent diversion effect. Similarly, the side surface of the second fixed guide ribs <NUM> can also be composed of an arc surface and/or an inclined surface, and have the same effect.

Claim 1:
A gearbox casing, a bottom part or a side part of the gearbox casing is provided with a number of first coolant tanks (<NUM>), the gearbox casing above a bottom part of the first coolant tanks (<NUM>) is provided therein with a lubricating liquid, and the first coolant tanks (<NUM>) are used to cool the lubricating liquid;
one of the first coolant tanks (<NUM>) (<NUM>) is provided therein with a number of parallel partition walls (<NUM>), by which the one of the first coolant tanks (<NUM>) is separated into at least two communicated sub-tanks; a plurality of first fixed guide ribs (<NUM>) interlaced with each other are projected from the partition walls (<NUM>) or an inner wall of the one of the first coolant tanks (<NUM>) at two sides of each of the sub-tanks respectively, thereby forming a continuous S-shaped or maze shaped channel for the coolant to flow through;
the one of the first coolant tanks (<NUM>) is provided thereon with a first liquid inlet (<NUM>) and a first liquid outlet (<NUM>), which are provided at one end or two ends of the one of the first coolant tanks (<NUM>);
first suspended guide ribs (<NUM>) are isolatedly provided between two adjacent first fixed guide ribs (<NUM>), between the first fixed guide rib (<NUM>) and the first liquid inlet (<NUM>), and/or between the first fixed guide rib (<NUM>) and the first liquid outlet (<NUM>),
the bottom part or a side end surface of the gearbox casing is further provided with a second coolant tank (<NUM>) to cool a side interior of the gearbox casing;
a second cover plate is provided on the second coolant tank (<NUM>), two ends of the second coolant tank (<NUM>) are respectively provided with a second liquid inlet (<NUM>) and a second liquid outlet (<NUM>), and the first liquid outlet (<NUM>) is connected with the second liquid inlet (<NUM>),
characterized in that: the second coolant tank (<NUM>) is provided therein with a plurality of second fixed guide ribs (<NUM>), and two adjacent second fixed guide ribs (<NUM>) are respectively connected with two opposite inner walls of the second coolant tank (<NUM>), so that the coolant flows between the plurality of second fixed guide ribs (<NUM>) in a continuous S or maze shape;
second suspended guide ribs (<NUM>) are isolatedly provided between two adjacent second fixed guide ribs (<NUM>), between the second fixed guide rib (<NUM>) and the second liquid inlet (<NUM>), and/or between the second fixed guide rib (<NUM>) and the second liquid outlet (<NUM>).