The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 18, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 15, 2007
Tomoaki Suzuki, Nagoya, JP;
Toshiaki Asada, Mishima, JP;
Makoto Ishikawa, Nishikamo-gun, JP;
Toshimisu Shiba, Toyota, JP;
Kazuhito Sakai, Makinohara, JP;
Tomoaki Suzuki, Nagoya, JP;
Toshiaki Asada, Mishima, JP;
Makoto Ishikawa, Nishikamo-gun, JP;
Toshimisu Shiba, Toyota, JP;
Kazuhito Sakai, Makinohara, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
Abstract
The lubricant-return holes are provided in the intermediate portion of the ring gear. Thus, the lubricant stagnating above the first oil sealing member can be easily discharged to the oil pan side via the lubricant-return holes even when the ring gear has stopped rotating in response to the starter motor being turned off after completion of the start of the internal combustion engine. As such, the level of the surface of lubricant stagnating between the ring gear and the outer race member does not rise, and therefore the lubricant surface virtually does not reach the outer race and the one-way clutch that are rotating while the internal combustion engine is running. Thus, bubbling of lubricant and production of sludge, which may otherwise be caused by agitation of the lubricant surface, can be prevented.