Machine Axle Housing with Integrated Oil Circulation System

• US 20140265541A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Dockstader, Stephen, Jensen, Joshua, Weber, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 9,238,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 301/137
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/124 of the helical or worm type
• 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: F16D 2069/004 Profiled friction surfaces, e.g. grooves, dimples
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/853 with closed cooling system
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0423 Lubricant guiding means mounted or supported on the casing, e.g. shields or baffles for collecting lubricant, tubes or pipes means for guiding lubricant into an axial channel of a shaft F16H57/0426; lubrication by injection, injection nozzles or tubes therefore F16H57/0456
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0427 on rotary parts, e.g. using baffles for collecting lubricant by centrifugal force
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0445 for supply of different gearbox casings or sections
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0457 Splash lubrication characterised by the problem reducing losses, e.g. splash losses F16H57/0409
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0473 Friction devices, e.g. clutches or brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0483 Axle or inter-axle differentials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49464 Assembling of gear into force transmitting device

Abstract

A machine axle housing includes a central body having an oil reservoir and a pair of axle legs. The central body includes a ring gear, an oil channel, and oil port for conveying oil through an oil conduit to each leg. Machine brakes within the central body include at least one disc rotatably adapted to centrifugally move oil radially outwardly of the brakes. A second oil channel collects oil from the disc, and a passageway extends from the second oil channel back to the central body to return oil from the legs back to the central body. The ring gear, first oil channel and first oil conduit define a first oil lubrication sub-system for moving oil from the central body to right and left legs, and the disc, second oil channel, and passageway define a second oil lubrication sub-system for moving oil from the legs back to the central body.

Claims

1. An integrated axle oil lubrication system, comprising:

an axle housing having an axis and including a central body having an oil reservoir;

a ring gear disposed within the central body, the ring gear rotatable about the axis, and adapted to interface with the oil reservoir for distributing oil radially within the central body;

a pair of axle housing legs extending axially and oppositely of one another from the central body, the central body defining an interior wall having a first oil channel and an oil port in communication with the first oil channel, the first oil channel and oil port adapted to convey oil externally of the central body;

an oil conduit secured to the oil port of the central body for conveying oil out of the central body to each leg;

a pair of brakes positioned at axially outboard portions of the central body, one brake situated on each side of the ring gear, and each brake including at least one disc rotatably adapted to centrifugally move oil radially outwardly of the brakes to collect oil from the disc;

a second oil channel situated radially outwardly of the brakes, and extending axially from each respective brake back to the central body to accommodate transfer of oil from the legs back to the central body;

wherein, the ring gear, the first oil channel, the first oil port, and the first oil conduit define a first oil lubrication sub-system adapted to move oil from the central body to the right and left housing legs; and

wherein, the at least one disc, and the second oil channel define a second oil lubrication sub-system adapted to move oil from the legs and brakes back to the central body.

2. The integrated axle oil lubrication system of claim 1, further comprising a return oil passageway within the central body, wherein the second oil channel interfaces with the return oil passageway, and wherein the return oil passageway defines a unidirectional flow of oil from the brakes to cause all oil to move only axially inwardly toward the central housing and away from the legs.

3. The integrated axle oil lubrication system of claim 1, wherein a pinion gear is disposed along an axis, the pinion gear positioned orthogonally to the ring gear axis, wherein the pinion gear is meshed with the ring gear, and wherein the pinion gear is adapted to drive the ring gear.

4. The integrated axle oil lubrication system of claim 1, wherein the first channel, the oil port, and the conduit define an oil lubrication supply subsystem adapted to supply oil from the central body toward the legs.

5. The integrated axle oil lubrication system of claim 1, wherein the at least one disc, the second oil channel and the passageway defined in oil lubrication return subsystem adapted to return oil from the legs to the central body.

6. The integrated axle oil lubrication system of claim 1, wherein the pair of legs comprises a right leg defining a right leg cavity, and a left leg defining a left leg cavity, and wherein the first oil conduit comprises separate right and left oil conduits, the right and left oil conduits respectively connecting the right and left leg cavities with the central body.

7. The integrated axle oil lubrication system of claim 1, wherein the at least one disc comprises a plurality of impellers.

8. The integrated axle oil lubrication system of claim 7, wherein the impellers define slots.

9. The integrated axle oil lubrication system of claim 8, wherein the at least one disc comprises an interior hub, and wherein the slots extend radially outwardly from the interior hub to facilitate transfer of oil to the second oil channel.

10. A supply and return axle leg oil circulation system for an axle housing assembly, comprising:

an axle housing including a central body defining a first axis, a pair of legs extending from the central body, each leg extending along the first axis, each leg extending oppositely of the other from the central body;

a ring gear situated within the central body, the central body including a central cavity including an axle oil reservoir, a portion of the ring gear adapted to interface with the axle oil reservoir, the ring gear rotatable about the axis;

a right leg defining a right leg cavity and a left leg defining a left leg cavity, the central cavity disposed between the right and left leg cavities;

a first oil conduit extending from the central body to one leg and a second oil conduit extending from the central body to the second leg, the first and second conduits adapted to transport oil out of the central body and into each leg;

a pair of brakes situated along the axis at axially outboard portions of the central body, each brake situated within the central body, wherein each brake is positioned on an opposite side of the ring gear, each brake including at least one disc rotatably adapted to centrifugally move oil radially outwardly therefrom;

a third and fourth oil conduit situated radially outwardly of each brake, each of the third and fourth oil conduits extending axially from each respective brake back to the central body, the third and fourth oil conduits being adapted to accommodate transfer of oil from the legs back to the central body;

wherein the ring gear, pinion gear, and first and second oil conduits comprise an outbound first axle leg oil porting system adapted for supply of oil to the legs from the central body; and

wherein the at least one disc of each brake, along with the third and fourth oil conduits, comprise an inbound second oil porting system adapted for return of oil from the legs to the central body.

11. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 10, wherein the third and fourth conduits each comprise a second oil channel and a return oil passageway within the central body, wherein the second oil channel interfaces with the return oil passageway, and wherein the return oil passageway defines a unidirectional flow of oil from the brakes to cause all oil to move only axially inwardly toward the central housing and away from the legs.

12. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 10, wherein a pinion gear is disposed along an axis, the pinion gear positioned orthogonally to the ring gear axis, wherein the pinion gear is meshed with the ring gear, and wherein the pinion gear is adapted to drive the ring gear.

13. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 10, wherein the third conduit and the fourth conduit are axially spaced apart at respective outboard ends of the central body.

14. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 10, wherein the first channel, the oil port, and the first and second oil conduits define an oil lubrication supply subsystem adapted to supply oil from the central body to the legs.

15. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 10, wherein the at least one disc and the third and fourth conduits define an oil lubrication return subsystem adapted to return oil from the legs to the central body.

16. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 10, wherein the at least one disc comprises a plurality of impellers.

17. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 16, wherein the impellers define slots.

18. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 17, wherein the at least one disc comprises an interior hub, and wherein the slots extend radially outwardly from the interior hub to facilitate transfer of oil to the third and fourth conduits.

19. A method of making an integrated oil circulation system, comprising:

forming an axle housing including a central body having an oil reservoir;

providing a ring gear within the central body, such that the ring gear is rotatable about an axis, and adapted to interface with the oil reservoir for distributing oil radially within the central body;

providing and adapting a pair of axle housing legs to extend axially and oppositely of one another from the central body;

forming a first oil channel and an oil port in an interior wall of the central body, the oil port having communication with the first oil channel, the first oil channel and oil port being adapted to convey oil externally of the central body;

providing an oil conduit and securing the oil conduit to the oil port of the central body for conveying oil to each leg;

providing a pair of brakes including at least one disc rotatably adapted to centrifugally move oil radially outwardly of the brakes, and positioning the brakes at axially outboard portions of the central body with one brake situated on each side of the ring gear;

providing a second oil channel within the central body, the second oil channel being positioned radially outwardly of the brakes, and extending axially from each respective brake back to the central body to accommodate transfer of oil from the legs back to the central body;

wherein, the ring gear, the first oil channel, the first oil port, and the first oil conduit define a first oil lubrication sub-system adapted to move oil from the central body to the right and left housing legs; and

wherein, the at least one disc, and the second oil channel define a second oil lubrication sub-system adapted to move oil from the legs and brakes back to the central body.

20. The method of claim 19, further providing a return oil passageway within the central body, such that the second oil channel interfaces with the return oil passageway, and wherein the return oil passageway defines a unidirectional flow of oil from the brakes to cause all oil to move only axially inwardly toward the central housing and away from the legs.