Final drive having a lubrication system
First Claim
1. A final drive having a lubrication system, the final drive comprising an axle housing having an inner surface;
- a differential housing, wherein the axle housing and the differential housing share a longitudinal axis;
a lubricant ring having a lubricant ring inner diameter traveling about the inner surface;
a longitudinal axis region, wherein the longitudinal axis region is a region formed by the lubricant ring inner diameter about the longitudinal axis; and
the lubrication system, comprising;
a lubrication inlet disposed in the axle housing to capture a portion of the lubricant ring; and
a lubrication outlet in fluid communication with the lubrication inlet, wherein the lubrication outlet is disposed within the differential housing, and the lubrication outlet distributes the portion of the lubricant ring generally to the longitudinal axis region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A final drive comprising a lubrication system is provided. The final drive comprises an axle housing and a differential housing. The differential housing is in alignment with the axle housing, and they share a longitudinal axis. The final drive further comprises a lubricant ring having a lubricant ring inner diameter. The lubricant ring travels about an inner surface of the axle housing. Further, the final drive has a longitudinal axis region, defined as the region formed by the lubricant ring inner diameter. The lubrication system comprises a lubrication inlet in fluid communication with a lubricant outlet. The lubrication inlet is disposed in the axle housing to capture a portion of the lubricant ring. The lubricant outlet is disposed in the differential housing to distribute the portion of the lubricant ring generally to the longitudinal axis region.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A final drive having a lubrication system, the final drive comprising an axle housing having an inner surface;
- a differential housing, wherein the axle housing and the differential housing share a longitudinal axis;
a lubricant ring having a lubricant ring inner diameter traveling about the inner surface;
a longitudinal axis region, wherein the longitudinal axis region is a region formed by the lubricant ring inner diameter about the longitudinal axis; and
the lubrication system, comprising;a lubrication inlet disposed in the axle housing to capture a portion of the lubricant ring; and a lubrication outlet in fluid communication with the lubrication inlet, wherein the lubrication outlet is disposed within the differential housing, and the lubrication outlet distributes the portion of the lubricant ring generally to the longitudinal axis region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- a differential housing, wherein the axle housing and the differential housing share a longitudinal axis;
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8. A final drive having a lubrication system, the final drive comprising an axle housing having an inner surface;
- a differential housing in alignment with the axle housing;
a lubrication ring having a lubricant ring inner diameter traveling about the inner surface;
a shaft disposed within at least one of the housings;
a friction disc having an inner diameter region mounted about the shaft and fixed for rotation therewith, wherein the inner diameter region is the region formed by the lubrication ring inner diameter; and
the lubrication system, comprising;a lubrication inlet disposed in the axle housing, wherein the lubrication inlet projects into the lubrication ring to capture a portion of the lubrication ring; and a lubrication outlet in fluid communication with the lubrication inlet, wherein the lubrication outlet distributes the portion of the lubricant ring in a direction generally towards the inner diameter region of the friction disc. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- a differential housing in alignment with the axle housing;
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17. A method for recirculating lubrication in a final drive, the final drive having an axle housing having an inner surface;
- a differential housing in alignment with the axle housing, wherein the axle housing and the differential housing share a longitudinal axis;
a lubricant ring traveling about the inner surface, wherein the lubricant ring has a lubricant ring inner diameter;
a longitudinal axis region, wherein the longitudinal axis region is a region formed by the lubricant ring inner diameter about the longitudinal axis;
the method comprising the steps of;capturing a portion of the lubricant ring; and distributing the portion of the lubricant ring in a direction generally towards the longitudinal axis region. - View Dependent Claims (18)
- a differential housing in alignment with the axle housing, wherein the axle housing and the differential housing share a longitudinal axis;
Specification