Cooling an axle using series flow
First Claim
1. A work vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
an axle assembly coupled to the frame and including a first axle shaft and a first axle housing, wherein the first axle shaft is disposed substantially within the first axle housing;
a first wheel coupled to the axle assembly;
an axle lubricating fluid disposed within the first axle housing;
a first axle cooling device disposed substantially within the first axle housing, in contact with at least a portion of the lubricating fluid, including a first coil;
a cooling fluid contained within the first coil, wherein the first coil is configured to conduct cooling fluid therethrough and to maintain the cooling fluid separate from the lubricating fluid;
a cooling fluid circuit fluidly coupled to the first coil, wherein the cooling circuit includes a cooling fluid pump and a cooling fluid reservoir, and wherein the first coil receives cooling fluid from the pump and delivers cooling fluid to the reservoir; and
a second wheel, wherein the axle assembly is further coupled to the second wheel and further includes a second axle shaft, a second axle housing, and a second coil, and further wherein the second axle shaft and the second coil are disposed substantially within the second axle housing, wherein the cooling circuit further includes a crossover conduit, an inlet of the first coil receives cooling fluid from the pump, an outlet of the first coil delivers cooling fluid through the crossover conduit to an inlet of the second coil, and an outlet of the second coil delivers cooling fluid to the reservoir, the second coil being thereby coupled to the first coil in series flow relationship by the crossover conduit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A work vehicle includes a frame and an axle assembly coupled to the frame. The axle assembly includes a first axle shaft and a first axle housing, with the first axle shaft disposed substantially within the first axle housing; a first wheel coupled to the first axle assembly; an axle lubricating fluid disposed within the first axle housing; and a first axle cooling device disposed within the first axle housing, in contact with at least a portion of the lubricating fluid, and including a first coil. Also disclosed is a method of cooling an axle assembly of a work vehicle. The method includes steps of removing heat from the lubricating fluid by placing the lubricating fluid in contact with the outer surface of a coil, and removing the heat from the inner surface of the coil by circulating the cooling fluid through the passage.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A work vehicle comprising:
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a frame;
an axle assembly coupled to the frame and including a first axle shaft and a first axle housing, wherein the first axle shaft is disposed substantially within the first axle housing;
a first wheel coupled to the axle assembly;
an axle lubricating fluid disposed within the first axle housing;
a first axle cooling device disposed substantially within the first axle housing, in contact with at least a portion of the lubricating fluid, including a first coil;
a cooling fluid contained within the first coil, wherein the first coil is configured to conduct cooling fluid therethrough and to maintain the cooling fluid separate from the lubricating fluid;
a cooling fluid circuit fluidly coupled to the first coil, wherein the cooling circuit includes a cooling fluid pump and a cooling fluid reservoir, and wherein the first coil receives cooling fluid from the pump and delivers cooling fluid to the reservoir; and
a second wheel, wherein the axle assembly is further coupled to the second wheel and further includes a second axle shaft, a second axle housing, and a second coil, and further wherein the second axle shaft and the second coil are disposed substantially within the second axle housing, wherein the cooling circuit further includes a crossover conduit, an inlet of the first coil receives cooling fluid from the pump, an outlet of the first coil delivers cooling fluid through the crossover conduit to an inlet of the second coil, and an outlet of the second coil delivers cooling fluid to the reservoir, the second coil being thereby coupled to the first coil in series flow relationship by the crossover conduit. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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2-3. -3. (Canceled).
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6-8. -8. (Canceled).
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9. An axle assembly for a work vehicle, the axle assembly comprising:
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a first axle shaft and a first axle housing, wherein the first axle shaft is disposed substantially within the first axle housing;
a second axle shaft and a second axle housing, wherein the second axle shaft is disposed substantially within the second axle housing, and wherein the second axle shaft and the second axle housing are disposed coaxial with, and in opposing relationship to, the first axle shaft and the first axle housing, respectively;
a differential gearset housing positioned intermediate the first and second axle housings and defining a chamber configured therein to receive a differential gearset, which is rotatively coupled to the first and second axle shafts;
a lubricating fluid disposed within the first and second axle housings;
a cooling device including a first axle cooling device disposed within the first axle housing, and a second axle cooling device disposed within the second axle housing; and
a crossover conduit for coupling an outlet of the first axle cooling device to an inlet of the second axle cooling device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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12. (Canceled).
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17-20. -20. (Canceled)
Specification