AXLE ASSEMBLY WITH AXLE HOUSING ASSEMBLY HAVING AIR SCOOPS FOR COOLING

• US 20090173184A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American AXLE & Manufacturing Incorporated (American AXLE & Manufacturing Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American AXLE & Manufacturing Incorporated (American AXLE & Manufacturing Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Johnson, David C., Hilker, Gregory J., Patil, Rajendra D., Beutler, Kevin R., Rea, Jeffrey E., Borowiak, James P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,715,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/606.A
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/305 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/10 Metallic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/102 Steel
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/104 Aluminum
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/147 Castings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/513 Cooling, e.g. of brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/163 characterised by specific shape of the housing, e.g. adaptations to give space for other vehicle elements like chassis or exhaust system
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0416 Air cooling or ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0483 Axle or inter-axle differentials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2186 Gear casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2189 Cooling

Abstract

An axle assembly having a heat sink coupled to an axle housing assembly for ejecting heat from the axle assembly. The heat sink includes an air channel having a body coupled to the carrier housing assembly such that heat is conducted from the carrier housing assembly to the body of the air channel and an air passage formed in the body and having an open leading end and an open trailing end, the leading end being positioned relative to the carrier housing assembly to permit air flowing over the axle assembly when the axle assembly is in use to be received into the air passage such that heat is conducted from the body to the air flowing through the air passage, and the trailing end being positioned relative to the carrier housing assembly to permit air received in the air passage to be expelled through the trailing end.

Claims

1. An axle assembly comprising:

a carrier housing assembly having a carrier housing that defines a cavity with an opening;

a differential housing received in the cavity, the differential housing being supported for rotation by the carrier housing about a first axis;

a gearset received in the differential housing;

a ring gear coupled to the differential housing;

a pinion received in the cavity and supported for rotation about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis; and

an air channel having a body coupled to the carrier housing assembly such that heat is conducted from the carrier housing assembly to the body of the air channel and an air passage formed in the body and having an open leading end and an open trailing end, the leading end being positioned relative to the carrier housing assembly to permit air flowing over the axle assembly when the axle assembly is in use to be received into the air passage such that heat is conducted from the body to the air flowing through the air passage, and the trailing end being positioned relative to the carrier housing assembly to permit air received in the air passage to be expelled through the trailing end.

2. The axle assembly of claim 1, wherein the carrier housing assembly further includes a carrier housing having an opening formed therein and a cover removably coupled to the carrier housing to cover the opening in the carrier housing.

3. The axle assembly of claim 2, wherein at least a first portion of the air channel is integrally formed with the cover.

4. The axle assembly of claim 3, wherein at least a second portion of the air channel is integrally formed with the carrier housing.

5. The axle assembly of claim 2, wherein the leading end of the air channel extends from the cover in a direction toward the carrier housing.

6. The axle assembly of claim 2, wherein the air channel is contoured such that air flowing between the leading end and the trailing end changes direction by about 90 degrees.

7. The axle assembly of claim 2, wherein a plurality of cooling fins are formed within the air channel.

8. The axle assembly of claim 7, wherein a plurality of cooling fins are formed on an interior surface of the cover.

9. The axle assembly of claim 2, wherein an oil gallery is formed within one of the carrier housing and the cover and wherein at least a portion of the oil gallery is disposed between the air channel and one of an interior surface of the carrier housing, an interior surface of the cover, and the interior surfaces of the carrier housing and the cover.

10. The axle assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the air channel is integrally formed with the carrier housing.

11. The axle assembly of claim 1, wherein the leading end of the air channel is disposed at a first distance from the second axis and the trailing end of the air channel is disposed at a second distance from the second axis wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

12. The axle assembly of claim 1, wherein the air channel is contoured such that air flowing between the leading end and the trailing end changes direction by about 90 degrees.

13. The axle assembly of claim 1, wherein a plurality of cooling fins are formed within the air channel.

14. The axle assembly of claim 13, wherein a plurality of cooling fins are formed on an interior surface of the carrier housing.

15. The axle assembly of claim 1, wherein an oil gallery is formed within the carrier housing and wherein at least a portion of the oil gallery is disposed between the air channel and an interior surface of the carrier housing.

16. An axle assembly comprising:

a carrier housing that defines a cavity with an opening;

a differential housing received in the cavity, the differential housing being supported for rotation by the carrier housing about a first axis;

a gearset received in the differential housing;

a ring gear coupled to the differential housing;

a pinion received in the cavity and supported for rotation about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis;

a cover that is removably coupled to the carrier housing to close the opening in the carrier housing; and

an air channel integrally formed with the cover, the air channel having a body coupled to the cover such that heat is conducted from the cover to the body of the air channel and an air passage formed in the body and having an open leading end and an open trailing end, the leading end being positioned relative to the cover to permit air flowing over the axle assembly when the axle assembly is in use to be received into the air passage such that heat is conducted from the body to the air flowing through the air passage, and the trailing end being positioned relative to the cover to permit air received in the air passage to be expelled through the trailing end.

17. The axle assembly of claim 16, wherein a plurality of cooling fins are formed on at least one of an interior surface of the air channel, an exterior surface of the air channel, and an interior surface of the cover.

18. The axle assembly of claim 16, wherein an oil gallery is formed between an interior surface of the cover and the air channel.

19. An axle assembly comprising:

a carrier housing that defines a cavity;

a differential housing received in the cavity, the differential housing being supported for rotation by the carrier housing about a first axis;

a gearset received in the differential housing;

a ring gear coupled to the differential housing;

a pinion received in the cavity and supported for rotation about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis; and

an air channel integrally formed with the carrier housing, the air channel having a body coupled to the carrier housing such that heat is conducted from the carrier housing to the body of the air channel and an air passage formed in the body and having an open leading end and an open trailing end, the leading end being positioned relative to the carrier housing to permit air flowing over the axle assembly when the axle assembly is in use to be received into the air passage such that heat is conducted from the body to the air flowing through the air passage, and the trailing end being positioned relative to the carrier housing to permit air received in the air passage to be expelled through the trailing end.

20. The axle assembly of claim 19, wherein a plurality of cooling fins are formed on at least one of an interior surface of the air channel, an exterior surface of the air channel, and an interior surface of the carrier housing.

21. The axle assembly of claim 19, wherein an oil gallery is formed between an interior surface of the carrier housing and the air channel.