Axle lubricant isolation
First Claim
1. A drive axle assembly comprising:
- an axle housing;
an axle shaft supported at least partially within said axle housing;
a driven shaft supported at least partially within said housing transverse to said axle shafts;
a gear assembly disposed within said housing coupling said axle and driven shafts;
a bearing assembly supporting said driven shaft in said housing;
a seal interposed between said driven shaft and said housing adjacent to said bearing assembly separating said housing into first and second cavities with said bearing assembly and said gear assembly respectively disposed therein;
a first lubricant in said first cavity lubricating said bearing assembly; and
a second lubricant different than said first lubricant in said second cavity lubricating said gear assembly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A drive axle assembly is provided that includes an axle housing that supports axle shafts. The axle housing also typically includes a bearing cage secured to the main axle housing portion for supporting a drive shaft that is arranged transverse to the axle shafts. A differential is arranged within the axle housing and couples the driven shafts to the axle shafts. A bearing assembly supports the driven shaft within the bearing cage. A seal is arranged between the driven shaft and the bearing cage, preferably between the cone and the bearing cage. The seal is adjacent to the bearing assembly and separates the axle housing into first and second cavities in which the bearing assembly is arranged in the first cavity and the differential is arranged in the second cavity. Lubricant containing a GL5 or similar additive may be placed in the second cavity to lubricate the differential. Another lubricant without the GL5 additive more suitable for bearings may be placed in the first cavity to lubricate the bearing assembly.
32 Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A drive axle assembly comprising:
-
an axle housing;
an axle shaft supported at least partially within said axle housing;
a driven shaft supported at least partially within said housing transverse to said axle shafts;
a gear assembly disposed within said housing coupling said axle and driven shafts;
a bearing assembly supporting said driven shaft in said housing;
a seal interposed between said driven shaft and said housing adjacent to said bearing assembly separating said housing into first and second cavities with said bearing assembly and said gear assembly respectively disposed therein;
a first lubricant in said first cavity lubricating said bearing assembly; and
a second lubricant different than said first lubricant in said second cavity lubricating said gear assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A drive axle bearing cage assembly comprising:
-
a bearing cage;
a driven shaft supported by said bearing cage having a yoke at one end;
a bearing assembly supporting said driven shaft in said bearing cage between said yoke and said pinion;
a first seal interposed between said driven shaft and said bearing cage adjacent to said yoke;
a second seal interposed between said driven shaft and said bearing cage adjacent to said pinion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
Specification