Axle assembly having mechanism for circulating lubricating fluid to wheel ends
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An axle assembly comprising:
- an axle housing having a carrier housing portion and an axle shaft housing portion, the axle shaft housing portion including a shaft passage that is arranged about a longitudinal passage axis;
a differential assembly supported in the carrier housing for rotation about a rotational axis that is coincident with the longitudinal passage axis;
an axle shaft received in the axle shaft housing portion and coupled to the differential assembly, the axle shaft including a cylindrical body portion having a first diameter;
an annular disc mounted on the axle shaft and having a central aperture through which the cylindrical body portion is received, the central aperture having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter; and
a pair of change members in the shaft passage, the change members being axially spaced-apart along the longitudinal passage axis;
wherein the annular disc is pivotable on the body portion between a first position, in which the annular disc is disposed at a first angle relative to a plane that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal passage axis, and a second position, in which the annular disc is disposed at a second angle relative to the plane that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal passage axis, the first and second angles extending from opposite sides of the plane; and
wherein contact between the change members and the annular disc while the axle shaft rotates causes the annular disc to move between the first and second positions.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An axle assembly with an axle shaft, an annular disc and a pair of change members. The axle shaft includes an unthreaded body portion having a first diameter. The annular disc is mounted on the body portion and has a central aperture through which the unthreaded body portion is received. The central aperture has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter. Rotation of the axle shaft causes the annular disc to translate on the unthreaded body portion between the change members and wherein a direction in which the annular disc translates is changed through contact between the annular disc and the change members.
10 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An axle assembly comprising:
-
an axle housing having a carrier housing portion and an axle shaft housing portion, the axle shaft housing portion including a shaft passage that is arranged about a longitudinal passage axis; a differential assembly supported in the carrier housing for rotation about a rotational axis that is coincident with the longitudinal passage axis; an axle shaft received in the axle shaft housing portion and coupled to the differential assembly, the axle shaft including a cylindrical body portion having a first diameter; an annular disc mounted on the axle shaft and having a central aperture through which the cylindrical body portion is received, the central aperture having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter; and a pair of change members in the shaft passage, the change members being axially spaced-apart along the longitudinal passage axis; wherein the annular disc is pivotable on the body portion between a first position, in which the annular disc is disposed at a first angle relative to a plane that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal passage axis, and a second position, in which the annular disc is disposed at a second angle relative to the plane that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal passage axis, the first and second angles extending from opposite sides of the plane; and wherein contact between the change members and the annular disc while the axle shaft rotates causes the annular disc to move between the first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An axle assembly comprising:
-
an axle housing having a carrier housing portion and an axle shaft housing portion, the axle shaft housing portion including a shaft passage that is arranged about a longitudinal passage axis; a differential assembly supported in the carrier housing for rotation about a rotational axis that is coincident with the longitudinal passage axis; an axle shaft received in the axle shaft housing portion and coupled to the differential assembly, the axle shaft including an unthreaded body portion having a first diameter; an annular disc mounted on the axle shaft and having a central aperture through which the unthreaded body portion is received, the central aperture having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter; and a pair of change members in the shaft passage, the change members being axially spaced-apart along the longitudinal passage axis; wherein rotation of the axle shaft causes the annular disc to translate on the unthreaded body portion between the change members and wherein a direction in which the annular disc translates is changed through contact between the annular disc and the change members. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification