Drive axle assembly with lubricant cooling system
First Claim
1. A drive axle asembly having a gear housing and axle tubes extending outwardly of the gear housing, a lubricant reservoir in the gear housing, a rotatable member forming part of a gear assembly rotatably rotatable member forming part of a gear assembly rotatably mounted in the gear housing, the rotatable member being at least partially disposed in lubricant in the lubricant reservoir and a lubricant cooling system, the lubricant cooling system comprising:
- a lubricant passage in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir via an inlet that is exposed to lubricant in the lubricant reservoir,the inlet being disposed with respect to the rotatable member so that lubricant flows into the lubricant passage when the rotatable inenber rotates,the lubricant passage having outlets adjacent inner ends of the respective axle tubes and communicating directly with the respective inner ends of the axle tubes for delivering lubricant from the lubricant passage to the respective axle tubes,the axle tubes communicating with outlet passages that are in fluid communication with the reservoir for returning lubricant from the axle tubes to the reservoir, andthe outlets of the lubricant passage and the outlet passages being sized so that there is a flood of lubricant in the axle tubes that engages inner surfaces of the axle tubes and outer surfaces of the axle shafts when the rotatable member rotates at a predetermined minimum speed.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A drive axle assembly has a gear housing, two axle tubes extending outwardly of the gear housing, a lubricant reservoir in the gear housing and a gear assembly rotatably mounted in the gear housing that has a rotatable ring gear that is partially disposed in lubricant in the lubricant reservoir. The drive axle assembly also has a lubricant cooling system that includes a cooler cover that is attached to the gear housing to provide a lubricant passage in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir via an inlet that is juxtaposed the rotatable ring gear. The lubricant passage has elevated outlets that are connected to the respective axle tubes. The axle tubes are connected to the reservoir via restricted outlet passages that are below the outlets of the lubricant passage. The outlets of the lubricant passage and the axle tubes a re sized so that there is a flood of lubricant in the axle tubes when the rotatable ring gear is driven at or above a predetermined speed. The flood of lubricant extends for the length of the axle tubes and cools the lubricant in the axle tubes. The rotating axle shafts are immersed in the flood of lubricant and churn the lubricant in the axle tubes to enhance heat transfer.
101 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A drive axle asembly having a gear housing and axle tubes extending outwardly of the gear housing, a lubricant reservoir in the gear housing, a rotatable member forming part of a gear assembly rotatably rotatable member forming part of a gear assembly rotatably mounted in the gear housing, the rotatable member being at least partially disposed in lubricant in the lubricant reservoir and a lubricant cooling system, the lubricant cooling system comprising:
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a lubricant passage in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir via an inlet that is exposed to lubricant in the lubricant reservoir, the inlet being disposed with respect to the rotatable member so that lubricant flows into the lubricant passage when the rotatable inenber rotates, the lubricant passage having outlets adjacent inner ends of the respective axle tubes and communicating directly with the respective inner ends of the axle tubes for delivering lubricant from the lubricant passage to the respective axle tubes, the axle tubes communicating with outlet passages that are in fluid communication with the reservoir for returning lubricant from the axle tubes to the reservoir, and the outlets of the lubricant passage and the outlet passages being sized so that there is a flood of lubricant in the axle tubes that engages inner surfaces of the axle tubes and outer surfaces of the axle shafts when the rotatable member rotates at a predetermined minimum speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A drive axle assembly having a gear housing and a hollow member attached to the gear housing that is kept at relatively low temperature by ambient air flowing over outer surfaces of the member caused by motion of a vehicle in which the drive axle assembly is installed, a lubricant reservoir in the gear housing, a rotatable member forming part of a gear assembly rotatably mounted in the gear housing, the rotatable member being at least partially disposed in lubricant in the lubricant reservoir and a lubricant cooling system, the lubricant cooling system comprising:
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a lubricant passage in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir via an inlet that is exposed to lubricant in the lubricant reservoir, the inlet being disposed with respect to the rotatable member so that lubricant flows into the lubricant passage when the rotatable member rotates, the lubricant passage having an outlet adjacent an inner end of the hollow member and communicating directly with the hollow inner end of the member for delivering lubricant from the lubricant passage to the hollow member, the hollow member communicating with an outlet passage that is in fluid communication with the reservoir for returning lubricant from the hollow member to the reservoir, and the outlet of the lubricant passage and the outlet passage being sized so that there is a flood of lubricant in the hollow member that engages an inner surface of the hollow member without any need for an internal or external duct when the rotatable member rotates at a predetermined minimum speed.
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Specification