US 11,988,274 B2
Passive gearbox lubrication system with a secondary sump
Nuwan Janaka Gallege, Columbus, IN (US); and Neil Graham McNab, Kenilworth (GB)
Assigned to CUMMINS INC., Columbus, IN (US)
Filed by Cummins Inc., Columbus, IN (US)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/104,708.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/315,321, filed on Mar. 1, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0279944 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. F16H 57/04 (2010.01); F16H 1/08 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 57/0457 (2013.01) [F16H 1/08 (2013.01); F16H 57/0424 (2013.01); F16H 57/043 (2013.01); F16H 57/045 (2013.01); F16H 57/0465 (2013.01); F16H 57/0471 (2013.01); F16H 57/0495 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gearbox, comprising:
a housing,
a first sump formed in the housing, the first sump for holding a lubricant fluid for lubricating one or more components of the gearbox,
a gear wheel configured to rotate through the lubricant fluid in the first sump, and
a second sump formed in the housing, the second sump for capturing the lubricant fluid displaced, by rotation of the gear wheel, from the first sump, the second sump having one or more openings for directing the lubricant fluid captured in the second sump to the one or more components of the gearbox to provide lubrication to the one or more components of the gearbox, and
a channel formed in the housing, the channel for channeling the lubricant fluid, displaced by rotation of the gear wheel, from the first sump to the second sump;
wherein the channel further comprises:
a first opening providing a main entry point for the lubricant fluid into the second sump, and
a second opening configured as a secondary entry point for channeling the lubricant fluid into the second sump, the second entry point being lower in the channel relative to the first opening to allow the lubricant fluid to enter the second sump without reaching the main entry point into the second sump.