Front axle differential bearing cap and lubrication/cooling method

• US 6,186,277 B1
• Filed: 12/02/1998
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Tervo, Martin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bucci, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, CHONG HWA
• Application Number:
  US09/204,420
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 384/462, 384/466, 384/472, 384/473, 384/397, 475/160, 184/6.12, 184/6.27, 184/11.1
• US Class Current: 184/6.12
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/06 with gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0482 Gearings with gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0483 Axle or inter-axle differentials

Abstract

An apparatus for lubricating a cooling rotary components in a vehicle drivetrain. The apparatus is defined by a single component bearing cap having integrally formed lubricant deflectors to direct lubricant flow to lubricant-starved side bearings in a drive axial differential carrier assembly. The lubricant deflectors extend angularly outward from the ends of the bearing cap. The bearing cap is secured to a housing portion of a drive axle differential carrier assembly of the vehicle drivetrain. A differential bearing assembly is pinched between the bearing cap and bearing mounting surfaces of the drive axle differential carrier assembly.

Claims

1. A lubricating and cooling apparatus for directing the flow of lubricant to a side bearing assembly in an axle differential carrier of a vehicle drivetrain, the axle differential carrier including a housing portion and a differential bearing assembly and mounting members within an interior of the housing portion, said lubricating and cooling apparatus comprising:

a bearing cap affixed to the mounting members in the housing portion of the axle differential carrier, wherein the differential bearing assembly is pinched between said bearing cap and the mounting members, said bearing cap being an elongated member with two ends and two substantially planar sides, each end including an integrally angularly extending lubricant deflector for directing the flow of lubricant to lubricant-starved areas of the side bearing assembly, each said deflector extending radially outwardly and axially into an area of the interior of the housing portion, each said deflector extending on the same side of said bearing cap elongated member at a transverse angle from a plane of the same one of said planar sides from which said deflector extends.

2. The lubricating and cooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bearing cap has a recess for receiving said bearing assembly.

5. A lubricating and cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said deflectors extends from one end of said elongated member and is substantially co-extensive therewith but angled at said transverse angle from the same side of said bearing cap.

3. A bearing cap in with a front axle differential bearing assembly housed within an interior of a housing portion of an axle differential carrier and having mounting members within the housing portion, said bearing cap comprising:

a bearing cap affixed to the mounting members in the housing portion of the axle differential carrier;

wherein the differential bearing assembly is pinched between said bearing cap and the mounting members, said bearing cap being an elongated member with two ends and two substantially planar sides, each end including an integrally angularly extending lubricant deflector for directing the flow of lubricant to lubricant-starved areas of the bearing assembly, each said deflector extending radially outwardly and axially into an area of the interior of the housing portion on the same side of said bearing cap elongated member at a transverse angle from a plane of one of said planar sides from which said deflector extends.

4. The bearing cap of claim 3 wherein said bearing cap has a recess for receiving the differential bearing assembly.

6. A bearing cap according to claim 3, wherein each of said deflectors extends from one end of said elongated member and is substantially co-extensive therewith but angled at said transverse angle from the same side of said bearing cap.