APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AIR THROUGH POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLIES

• US 20080127773A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of Oklahoma State University
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of Oklahoma State University
• Inventors: SOLIE, JOHN B., STONE, MARVIN L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,896,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/606A
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00318 on the wheels or the hubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00336 on the axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00345 Details of the rotational joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00363 Details of sealings
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/04 Features relating to lubrication or cooling or heatingin hydrokinetic gearing F16H41/30; control of lubrication or cooling in hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4165
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2189 Cooling

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering air through a powered axle assembly and an improved powered axle assembly which incorporates the apparatus. The apparatus comprises: a base attachable to a non-rotating structure within the axle assembly and a rotor mountable in the axle assembly for rotating with the drive axle and for forming an air chamber between the rotor and the base. The base includes at least one air inlet for delivering air to the air chamber and the rotor includes at least one air outlet for air flow out of the chamber.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering air through a powered axle assembly, said powered axle assembly including a drive axle which extends through a non-rotating structure and is powered for rotation with respect to said non-rotating structure, said apparatus comprising:

a base attachable to a non-rotating structure;

a rotor mountable in a powered axle assembly for rotation with a drive axle such that said rotor will rotate with respect to said base and being configured so as to form an air chamber between said rotor and said base;

said base including at least one air inlet for delivering air into said air chamber; and

said rotor including at least one air outlet for air flow out of said air chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said base or said rotor includes a projecting ring structure and the other of said base or said rotor includes a cavity which is receivable over said projecting ring structure for forming said air chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising at least one seal positioned on said projecting ring structure in a manner effective for sealing said air chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said projecting ring structure projects from said base.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive axle of said powered axle assembly includes an outer hub and said apparatus further comprises an air conduit connectable to said air outlet of said rotor such that said air conduit will extend through said outer hub.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotor includes at least two air outlets and said apparatus further comprises two air conduits connectable to said air outlets such that said two air conduits will extend through said outer hub.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a retainer for retaining said rotor when disassembling said apparatus, wherein said rotor will rotate with respect to both said base and said retainer.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said non-rotating structure is a spindle.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one oil collector extending from said base.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said oil collector is a machined block having an oil gallery provided therein.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an oil passageway in said base for delivering oil from said oil collector to a seal within said air chamber.

12. In a powered axle assembly including a drive axle which extends through a non-rotating structure and is powered for rotation with respect to said non-rotating structure, the improvement comprising:

a base attached to said non-rotating structure;

a rotor mounted for rotation with said drive axle such that said rotor will rotate with respect to said base and being configured so as to form an air chamber between said rotor and said base;

said base including at least one air inlet for delivering air into said air chamber; and

said rotor including at least one air outlet for air flow out of said air chamber.

13. The powered axle assembly of claim 12 wherein the improvement further comprises one of said base or said rotor including a projecting ring structure and the other of said base or said rotor including a cavity which is received over said projecting ring structure to form said air chamber.

14. The powered axle assembly of claim 13 wherein the improvement further comprises at least one seal positioned on said projecting ring structure in a manner effective for sealing said air chamber.

15. The powered axle assembly of claim 13 wherein the improvement further comprises said projecting ring structure projecting from said base.

16. The powered axle assembly of claim 12 wherein the powered axle assembly further includes a wheel hub supported by a tapered roller bearing and wherein the improvement further comprises said rotor being mounted in a manner effective such that axial forces resulting from air pressure within said air chamber will be transferred to and borne by said tapered roller bearing.

17. The powered axle assembly of claim 12 wherein the improvement further comprises said base being threadedly secured on an outer end of said non-rotating structure.

18. The powered axle assembly of claim 12 wherein said drive axle includes an outer hub and the improvement further comprises an air conduit extending from said air outlet of said rotor through said outer hub.

19. The powered axle assembly of claim 12 wherein the improvement further comprises:

said rotor having at least two air outlets and

two air conduits extending from said two air outlets of said rotor through said outer hub.

20. The powered axle assembly of claim 12 wherein the improvement further comprises a retainer attached to said base which will retain said rotor on said base during disassembly of said apparatus, said rotor being rotatable with respect to said retainer.

21. The powered axle assembly of claim 12 wherein the improvement further comprises an oil collector extending from said base.

22. The powered axle assembly of claim 21 wherein the improvement further comprises said oil collector being a machined block having an oil gallery provided therein.

23. The powered axle assembly of claim 21 wherein the improvement further comprises an oil passageway in said base for delivering oil from said oil collector to said rotor.