Hybrid transmission coolant flow management system

Abstract

A transmission assembly including a housing, an electric motor, and a baffle is provided. The housing may include first and second drainage channels. The electric motor may be disposed within the housing adjacent the drainage channels and a torque converter. The baffle may be disposed within the housing upon a housing inner surface, and may define an opening to the first and second drainage channels. The baffle may include a baffle flange sized for positioning adjacent the torque converter to minimize contact of oil within the housing to the torque converter. The housing may define first and second partition walls each partially extending over one of the first and second drainage channels. The baffle may further include first and second seal features each disposed at one of two baffle ends.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A transmission assembly comprising:
 a housing including first and second drainage channels; 
 an electric motor disposed within the housing adjacent the drainage channels and a torque converter; and 
 a baffle disposed within the housing upon a housing inner surface, defining an opening to the first and second drainage channels, and including a baffle flange sized for positioning adjacent the torque converter to minimize contact of oil within the housing to the torque converter. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines first and second partition walls each partially extending over one of the first and second drainage channels. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle further includes first and second seal features each disposed at one of two baffle ends, and wherein each of the first and second seal features are secured to the housing inner surface to prevent oil from accumulating between the baffle and the housing inner surface. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes first and second trenches, wherein the baffle defines third and fourth trenches with the opening disposed therebetween and each sized for resting within one of the first and second trenches, and wherein the trenches are arranged with one another to orient the opening to facilitate fluid communication between a housing cavity and the first and second drainage channels. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle further includes first and second caps each sized for securing to an end of one of the first and second drainage channels. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle further includes a baffle flap extending from the baffle flange at an angle based on a shape of the torque converter to influence oil to flow toward the opening and away from the torque converter. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a housing vent open to a cavity defined by the housing to assist in maintaining pressure conditions of the cavity within a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       8. A hybrid vehicle transmission assembly comprising:
 a housing for receiving a torque converter and an adjacent electric machine and defining an inner surface having first and second partition walls each partially extending above one of two oil drainage channels, and 
 a baffle disposed upon the inner surface beneath the electric machine and including a drainage opening open to each of the two oil drainage channels, 
 wherein the baffle is arranged with the torque converter to direct oil introduced within the housing to the two oil drainage channels via the opening. 
 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the baffle further includes first and second seals each disposed at one of two baffle ends, and wherein the first and second seals are sized for securing to the inner surface to prevent oil from accumulating between the baffle and the inner surface. 
     
     
       10. The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the housing defines a substantially circular profile, and wherein the first and second seals are radially spaced from one another at approximately 180 degrees relative to the profile. 
     
     
       11. The assembly of  claim 8  further comprising an oil distributor mounted to the housing for delivering oil within the housing. 
     
     
       12. The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the baffle further includes a baffle flange extending from a baffle body at approximately ninety degrees and a baffle flap extending from the baffle flange, and wherein the baffle flange and the baffle flap are oriented relative to the torque converter to prevent oil within the housing from contacting the torque converter. 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the baffle is further arranged with the torque converter so the baffle flange and flap are located adjacent the torque converter to influence oil to travel toward the drainage opening. 
     
     
       14. The assembly of  claim 8  further comprising a housing vent located adjacent an oil distributor and open to a cavity defined by the inner surface of the housing to assist in maintaining pressure conditions of the cavity within a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       15. A hybrid vehicle transmission assembly comprising:
 a housing including first and second drainage channels extending below a mount location for an electric motor and a torque converter; and 
 a baffle disposed upon the mount location, defining an opening to the drainage channels, and including a first seal located at one of two opposing baffle ends for securing to a housing inner surface to prevent oil from accumulating between the baffle and the housing inner surface. 
 
     
     
       16. The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the housing further includes first and second trenches, wherein the baffle defines third and fourth trenches with the opening disposed therebetween and each of the third and fourth trenches sized for resting within one of the first and second trenches, and wherein the trenches are arranged with one another to orient the opening to facilitate fluid communication between a housing cavity and the first and second drainage channels. 
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein one of the first and second trenches is arranged with the first seal to prevent oil from accumulating upon an inner surface of the housing therebetween. 
     
     
       18. The assembly of  claim 15  further comprising an oil distributor open to a cavity and adjacent a housing vent. 
     
     
       19. The assembly of  claim 15  further comprising a second seal, wherein the first seal and the second seal are each located at one of the two opposing baffle ends. 
     
     
       20. The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the housing defines a substantially circular profile, and wherein each of the first seal and the second seal are radially spaced from one another at approximately 180 degrees relative to the substantially circular profile.