Fluid circulatory system for an axle assembly
First Claim
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1. An axle assembly, comprising:
- a pair of final drive assemblies positioned on opposite end portions of the axle assembly;
a differential assembly defining a bevel gear supported for rotation within the differential assembly by a plurality of bearings, an output gear adapted for rotation with the bevel gear, said differential assembly being adapted for driving engagement with each of said final drive assemblies;
a fluid reservoir defined by the axle assembly;
a pump adapted for driving engagement with the output gear and being in communication with the fluid reservoir for delivery of pressurized fluid therefrom; and
a flow control valve adapted to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and selectively deliver it to each of the final drive assemblies and the bevel gear bearings, said flow control valve being operable in a first condition wherein fluid flow is directed to each of the wheel assemblies and the bearings in the differential assembly and a second condition wherein fluid flow is directed to each of the wheel assemblies, the bevel gear bearings and the fluid reservoir to limit the flow of fluid to the wheel assemblies when the rate of flow within the flow control valve reaches a preselected rate.
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Abstract
In the operation of modern day construction machinery, especially those of relatively large size, it is a common occurrence for the bearings in the axle assemblies to wear during the normal course of operation of the machine. As the wear occurs, minute particles become suspended in the fluid circulated within the axle assembly. As the particulate matter increases the wear is also accelerated and failure of one or more components in the axle assembly will frequently occur. The present invention provides an axle assembly with a filter and a cooler and flow control valve to remove the particulate matter and reduce the heat from the fluid circulated within the axle assembly.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An axle assembly, comprising:
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a pair of final drive assemblies positioned on opposite end portions of the axle assembly; a differential assembly defining a bevel gear supported for rotation within the differential assembly by a plurality of bearings, an output gear adapted for rotation with the bevel gear, said differential assembly being adapted for driving engagement with each of said final drive assemblies; a fluid reservoir defined by the axle assembly; a pump adapted for driving engagement with the output gear and being in communication with the fluid reservoir for delivery of pressurized fluid therefrom; and a flow control valve adapted to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and selectively deliver it to each of the final drive assemblies and the bevel gear bearings, said flow control valve being operable in a first condition wherein fluid flow is directed to each of the wheel assemblies and the bearings in the differential assembly and a second condition wherein fluid flow is directed to each of the wheel assemblies, the bevel gear bearings and the fluid reservoir to limit the flow of fluid to the wheel assemblies when the rate of flow within the flow control valve reaches a preselected rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An axle assembly, comprising:
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an axle housing defining a fluid reservoir; a differential assembly having a bevel gear rotatably mounted therein and being mounted to the axle housing in a manner wherein at least a portion of the bevel gear is submerged within the fluid reservoir; a shroud member mounted to the differential assembly and being positioned to surround the bevel gear in closely adjacent relationship thereto, said shroud member being adapted to reduce the churning of the fluid within the reservoir as the bevel gear rotates therewithin. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification