System and method for transmission gearbox noise control utilizing localized oil cooling/heating

摘要

A transmission gearbox noise control system is operative during normal operations of a transmission system to effectively null temperature variations among selected localized areas of the transmission gearbox housing by utilizing oil jets for cooling/heating thereof, thereby reducing or eliminating differential thermal expansion effects or minor manufacturing errors among such localized areas wherein transmission vibration levels (noise) emanating from the gearbox are abated. The system includes one or more metering valves, a spray rod mounted in combination with each metering valve, an oil reservoir, a fluid pathway for fluidically interconnecting each metering valve to the oil reservoir, at least one pump for circulating oil through the fluid pathway, and a regulating subsystem that is automatically or manually operative to initiate/terminate the operation of each metering valve, to regulate the rate of fluid flow therethrough, and/or to adjust the impingement pattern of the fluid jet discharged therefrom. Each metering valve is mounted in combination with the gearbox housing so that the corresponding spray rod is orientated to discharge the fluid jet to impinge upon a predetermined target area of the gearbox housing. The predetermined target area is an internal, localized wall region of the gearbox housing adjacent the structural members that support the transmission gearing.