Vehicle driveline component having heat sink for increased heat rejection capabilities
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An axle assembly comprising:
- an axle housing that defines a cavity, the axle housing having a first layer that is formed of a ferrous material and a second layer that is formed of another material having a thermal conductivity that is greater than about 1.30 W/cm °
K, the first and second layers being in thermal communication to transmit heat therebetween, the first layer including an interior surface and an exterior surface, the second layer not passing through the first layer and being arranged upon the first layer to encase a majority of the interior surface or the exterior surface to form a heat sink;
a differential received in the cavity in the axle housing;
an input pinion coupled to the axle housing and adapted to transmit a rotary input to the differential;
a pair of axle shafts coupled to the differential, the differential transmitting rotary power from the input pinion to the axle shafts; and
a cover coupled to the axle housing to enclose the cavity in the axle housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An axle assembly that includes an axle housing assembly, a differential disposed in the axle housing assembly, an input pinion, a pair of axle shafts and a heat sink. The input pinion is coupled to the axle housing assembly and is configured to transmit a rotary input to the differential. The axle shafts are coupled to the differential and housed in the axle housing assembly. The heat sink is coupled to the axle housing assembly and is formed of a material having a thermal conductivity that is greater than that of the axle housing assembly. The heat sink does not consist entirely of a chrome plating, a zinc plating or a cadmium plating.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An axle assembly comprising:
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an axle housing that defines a cavity, the axle housing having a first layer that is formed of a ferrous material and a second layer that is formed of another material having a thermal conductivity that is greater than about 1.30 W/cm °
K, the first and second layers being in thermal communication to transmit heat therebetween, the first layer including an interior surface and an exterior surface, the second layer not passing through the first layer and being arranged upon the first layer to encase a majority of the interior surface or the exterior surface to form a heat sink;a differential received in the cavity in the axle housing; an input pinion coupled to the axle housing and adapted to transmit a rotary input to the differential; a pair of axle shafts coupled to the differential, the differential transmitting rotary power from the input pinion to the axle shafts; and a cover coupled to the axle housing to enclose the cavity in the axle housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An axle assembly comprising:
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an axle housing that includes a carrier housing and a pair of axle tubes, the carrier housing defining a cavity and having a first layer that is formed of a ferrous material and a second layer that is formed of another material having a thermal conductivity that is greater than about 1.30 W/cm °
K, the first and second layers being in thermal communication to transmit heat therebetween, the first layer including an interior surface and an exterior surface, the second layer not passing through the first layer and being arranged upon the first layer to encase a majority of the interior surface or the exterior surface to form a heat sink;a differential received in the cavity in the axle housing; an input pinion coupled to the axle housing and adapted to transmit a rotary input to the differential; and a pair of axle shafts arranged within the pair of axle tubes and coupled to the differential, the differential transmitting rotary power from the input pinion to the axle shafts. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An axle assembly comprising:
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an axle housing that includes a carrier housing and a pair of axle tubes, the carrier housing defining a cavity and each of the pair of axle tubes having a first layer that is formed of a ferrous material and a second layer that is formed of another material having a thermal conductivity that is greater than about 1.30 W/cm °
K, the first and second layers being in thermal communication to transmit heat therebetween, the first layer including an interior surface and an exterior surface, the second layer not passing through the first layer and being arranged upon the first layer to encase substantially all of the interior surface or the exterior surface to form a heat sink;a differential received in the cavity in the axle housing; an input pinion coupled to the axle housing and adapted to transmit a rotary input to the differential; and a pair of axle shafts arranged within the pair of axle tubes and coupled to the differential, the differential transmitting rotary power from the input pinion to the axle shafts. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification