Heat exchanger and system for warming and cooling a fluid circulating in a housing

Abstract

A system for warming/cooling oil circulating within a power and torque transfer system of an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The system incorporates at least a first heat exchanger positioned between the inner wall of the outer housing and the outer surface of a gear forming part of the gear system enclosed within the housing, for instance a ring gear and/or pinion gear. The heat exchanger is generally formed as a single tubular member for conducting a first heat exchange fluid therethrough, the tubular member being curved to generally follow the curvature of the geometry of the inner wall of the housing and to fit within corresponding annular gaps. A second fluid channel is formed between the outer surface of the gear and the inner surface of the heat exchanger for bringing the oil into heat transfer relationship with the first heat exchanger fluid through rotation of the gear(s).