Refrigeration utilized to cool driveline lubricants
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A driveline component comprising:
- a housing receiving a lubricant, and rotating parts cooled by said lubricant;
an enclosed reservoir within said housing and in contact with said lubricant;
a first flow line from said enclosed reservoir to a cooling chamber, and a second flow line from said cooling chamber back to said reservoir, a fluid refrigerant, distinct from said lubricant, being received in said reservoir and flowing through said first flow line to said cooling chamber and back through said second flow line to said reservoir; and
said refrigerant being selected such that it will vaporize within operational temperatures expected in said housing, and said vaporized refrigerant driving itself into said cooling chamber where it is cooled back to a liquid, and returns to said reservoir.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A refrigerant fluid is placed within a driveline component, and in particular an axle housing. This refrigerant fluid is received within a sealed reservoir such that it is sealed from the typical lubricant in the driveline component. The lubricant heats the refrigerant through a housing such that the refrigerant vaporizes within the driveline component housing, thus cooling the lubricant. The vaporized refrigerant travels to a cooling chamber mounted remotely from the reservoir. The cooled refrigerant is cooled to a liquid state, and then returned to the reservoir. Preferably the cooling chamber is positioned on the vehicle frame vertically above the driveline component.
36 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A driveline component comprising:
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a housing receiving a lubricant, and rotating parts cooled by said lubricant;
an enclosed reservoir within said housing and in contact with said lubricant;
a first flow line from said enclosed reservoir to a cooling chamber, and a second flow line from said cooling chamber back to said reservoir, a fluid refrigerant, distinct from said lubricant, being received in said reservoir and flowing through said first flow line to said cooling chamber and back through said second flow line to said reservoir; and
said refrigerant being selected such that it will vaporize within operational temperatures expected in said housing, and said vaporized refrigerant driving itself into said cooling chamber where it is cooled back to a liquid, and returns to said reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A driveline component comprising:
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a housing receiving a lubricant, and rotating parts cooled by said lubricant;
an enclosed reservoir within said housing and in contact with said lubricant;
a first flow line from said enclosed reservoir to a cooling chamber, and a second flow line from said cooling chamber back to said reservoir, a fluid refrigerant, distinct from said lubricant, being received in said reservoir and flowing through said first flow line to said cooling chamber and back through said second flow line to said reservoir;
said driveline component being an axle housing and a differential being among said rotating parts, a drive pinion positioned within said housing on one side of an axis defined by a rotational axis of spider gears associated with said housing, and said reservoir being positioned on an opposed side of said axis; and
an end cap housing secured to an axle housing, said reservoir being positioned inwardly of said end cap housing and within said axle housing. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A driveline component comprising:
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a housing receiving a lubricant, and rotating parts cooled by said lubricant;
an enclosed reservoir within said housing and in contact with said lubricant;
a first flow line from said enclosed reservoir outwardly of said housing and to a cooling chamber, and a second flow line from said cooling chamber back to said reservoir, and a fluid refrigerant, distinct from said lubricant, being received in said reservoir and flowing through said first flow line to said cooling chamber and back through said second flow line to said reservoir;
said cooling chamber being positioned vertically above said reservoir; and
said refrigerant being selected such that it will vaporize within operational temperatures expected in said housing, and said vaporized refrigerant driving itself into said cooling chamber where it is cooled back to a liquid, and returns to said reservoir.- View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification