Dual level oil impeller for drive axle assembly
First Claim
1. A drive axle assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- an input to be operably coupled to a power source;
at least one axle shaft driven by said input;
an axle housing substantially enclosing said at least one axle shaft;
at least one wheel end including a gear set driven by said at least one axle shaft wherein said gear set is substantially enclosed within a gear housing; and
a pumping mechanism driven by said at least one axle shaft wherein said pumping mechanism includes an impeller shared as an auger and mounted for rotation with said at least one axle shaft wherein said impeller pumps a lubricating fluid from a first predetermined fluid level in said axle housing to a second predetermined fluid level in said gear housing, said second predetermined fluid level being vertically higher than said first predetermined fluid level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A drive axle assembly includes an input operably coupled to a power source. The input drives first and second axle shafts, which in turn drive laterally spaced wheel ends. Each wheel end includes a gear set that is driven by one of the axle shafts. The axle shafts are enclosed within a center axle housing and the gear sets are enclosed within gear housings. The drive axle includes a pumping mechanism that maintains predetermined oil levels within the center axle housing and gear housings. The oil level in the center axle housing is lower than the oil level in the gear housing. The pumping mechanism includes an impeller that is mounted for rotation with the axle shaft. The impeller draws oil from the center axle housing into a cavity, which transfers the oil to the gear housing.
30 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A drive axle assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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an input to be operably coupled to a power source; at least one axle shaft driven by said input; an axle housing substantially enclosing said at least one axle shaft; at least one wheel end including a gear set driven by said at least one axle shaft wherein said gear set is substantially enclosed within a gear housing; and a pumping mechanism driven by said at least one axle shaft wherein said pumping mechanism includes an impeller shared as an auger and mounted for rotation with said at least one axle shaft wherein said impeller pumps a lubricating fluid from a first predetermined fluid level in said axle housing to a second predetermined fluid level in said gear housing, said second predetermined fluid level being vertically higher than said first predetermined fluid level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for maintaining a dual fluid level in a drive axle assembly comprising the steps of:
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(a) driving an axle shaft with a power source; (b) substantially enclosing the axle shaft within an axle housing; (c) driving a wheel end gear set with the axle shaft; (d) substantially enclosing the wheel end gear set within a gear housing; and (e) mounting an impeller shaped as an auger for rotation with the axle shaft and pumping lubricating fluid with the auger from a first fluid level in the axle housing to a second fluid level in the gear housing where the second fluid level is different than the first fluid level. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A drive axle assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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first and second axle shafts coupled to a differential assembly; an axle housing substantially enclosing said first and second axle shafts; a first wheel end including a first gear set driven by said first axle shaft wherein said first gear set is substantially enclosed within a first gear housing; a second wheel end including a second gear set driven by said second axle shaft wherein said second gear set is substantially enclosed within a second gear housing; and a pumping mechanism including a first impeller driven by said first axle shaft to pump a lubricating fluid from a first predetermined fluid level in said axle housing to a second predetermined fluid level in said first gear housing, and a second impeller driven by said second axle shaft to pump the lubricating fluid from said first predetermined fluid level in said axle housing to a second predetermined fluid level in said second gear housing, said second predetermined fluid level in said first and second gear housings being different than said first predetermined fluid level. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification