Axle system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An axle system comprising:
- an axle assembly including an axle member, a gear coupled with said axle member, and a housing encasing a lubrication fluid and at least a portion of said axle member and said gear therein;
a device selectively transferring heat to said lubrication fluid in a heating mode by passing a fluid through said housing;
a sensor detecting at least one property of said lubrication fluid; and
a control module in communication with said sensor and controlling said device in response to information received from said sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An axle system is provided that included an axle assembly having an axle member, a gear coupled with the axle member, and a housing encasing a lubrication fluid and at least a portion of the axle member and the gear therein. A device may selectively heat and/or cool the lubrication fluid at one or more regions of the axle system.
31 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An axle system comprising:
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an axle assembly including an axle member, a gear coupled with said axle member, and a housing encasing a lubrication fluid and at least a portion of said axle member and said gear therein; a device selectively transferring heat to said lubrication fluid in a heating mode by passing a fluid through said housing; a sensor detecting at least one property of said lubrication fluid; and a control module in communication with said sensor and controlling said device in response to information received from said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An axle system for a vehicle comprising:
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an axle assembly including a first axle member, a second axle member, a gear set, and a housing, said gear set transmitting rotational energy to said first and second axle members, said housing encasing a lubrication fluid and at least one of said first axle member, said second axle member, and said gear set; a temperature-control apparatus selectively passing a fluid through an inner volume of at least one of said first axle member, said second axle member, and said housing in a heating mode to heat said lubrication fluid; a sensor measuring a parameter indicative of an operating condition of the vehicle and generating a signal indicative of said operating condition; and a control module in communication with said temperature-control apparatus and said sensor, said control module receiving said signal from said sensor and causing said temperature-control apparatus to operate in said heating mode based on data received from said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An axle system comprising:
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an axle assembly including an axle member, a gear coupled with said axle member, and a housing encasing a lubrication fluid and at least a portion of said axle member and said gear therein; and a device selectively transferring heat from an exhaust system to said lubrication fluid in a heating mode by passing a fluid through said housing.
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Specification