Machine axle housing with integrated oil circulation system

• US 9,238,386 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Dockstader, Stephen, Jensen, Joshua, Weber, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Dondero, William E
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, MINH D
• Application Number:
  US13/843,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20140265541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/124 of the helical or worm type
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/163 characterised by specific shape of the housing, e.g. adaptations to give space for other vehicle elements like chassis or exhaust system
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2069/004 Profiled friction surfaces, e.g. grooves, dimples
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/853 with closed cooling system
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0423 Lubricant guiding means mounted or supported on the casing, e.g. shields or baffles for collecting lubricant, tubes or pipes means for guiding lubricant into an axial channel of a shaft F16H57/0426; lubrication by injection, injection nozzles or tubes therefore F16H57/0456
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0427 on rotary parts, e.g. using baffles for collecting lubricant by centrifugal force
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0445 for supply of different gearbox casings or sections
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0457 Splash lubrication characterised by the problem reducing losses, e.g. splash losses F16H57/0409
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0473 Friction devices, e.g. clutches or brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0483 Axle or inter-axle differentials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49464 Assembling of gear into force transmitting device

Abstract

A machine axle housing includes a central body having an oil reservoir and a pair of axle legs. The central body includes a ring gear, an oil channel, and oil port for conveying oil through an oil conduit to each leg. Machine brakes within the central body include at least one disc rotatably adapted to centrifugally move oil radially outwardly of the brakes. A second oil channel collects oil from the disc, and a passageway extends from the second oil channel back to the central body to return oil from the legs back to the central body. The ring gear, first oil channel and first oil conduit define a first oil lubrication sub-system for moving oil from the central body to right and left legs, and the disc, second oil channel, and passageway define a second oil lubrication sub-system for moving oil from the legs back to the central body.

Claims

1. A supply and return axle leg oil circulation system for an axle housing assembly, comprising:

an axle housing including a central body defining a first axis, a pair of legs extending from the central body, each leg extending along the first axis, each leg extending oppositely of the other from the central body;

a ring gear situated within the central body, the central body including a central cavity including an axle oil reservoir, a portion of the ring gear adapted to interface with the axle oil reservoir, the ring gear rotatable about the axis;

a right leg defining a right leg cavity and a left leg defining a left leg cavity, the central cavity disposed between the right and left leg cavities;

a first oil conduit extending from the central body to one leg and a second oil conduit extending from the central body to the second leg, the first and second conduits adapted to transport oil out of the central body and into each leg;

a right axle extending axially from the central body, a left axle extending axially from the central body, the right and left axles enclosed in the right and left leg cavities respectively, the first and second oil conduits supplying oil for lubricating the right and left axles;

a pair of brake assemblies situated along the axis at axially outboard portions of the central body, each brake assembly situated within the central body, wherein each brake assembly is positioned on an opposite side of the ring gear, each brake assembly including a central brake hub and at least one disc, each brake assembly rotatably adapted to receive return oil from along the respective axle shaft of each leg and centrifugally move oil radially outwardly therefrom;

a third and fourth oil conduit situated radially outwardly of each brake assembly, each of the third and fourth oil conduits extending radially and axially from each respective brake assembly toward the central body, the third and fourth oil conduits being adapted to accommodate transfer of oil from the legs back to the central body;

wherein the ring gear, a pinion gear, and first and second oil conduits comprise an outbound first axle leg oil porting system adapted for supply of oil to the legs from the central body; and

wherein the at least one disc of each brake assembly, along with the third and fourth oil conduits, comprise an inbound second oil porting system adapted for return of oil from the legs to the central body.

2. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 1, wherein the third and fourth conduits each comprise a second oil channel and a return oil passageway within the central body, wherein the second oil channel interfaces with the return oil passageway, and wherein the return oil passageway defines a unidirectional flow of oil from the brakes toward the central body and away from the legs.

3. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 1, wherein the pinion gear is disposed along an axis, the pinion gear positioned orthogonally to the ring gear axis, wherein the pinion gear is meshed with the ring gear, and wherein the pinion gear is adapted to drive the ring gear.

4. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 1, wherein the third conduit and the fourth conduit are axially spaced apart at respective outboard ends of the central body.

5. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 1, wherein a first channel, an oil port, and the first and second oil conduits define an oil lubrication supply subsystem adapted to supply oil from the central body to the legs.

6. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 1, wherein the brake assembly including a central brake hub and at least one disc, the central hub having a plurality of impellers.

7. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 6, wherein the brake assembly having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots, the slots being positioned radially outwardly of the impellers.

8. The supply and return axle leg oil circulation system of claim 7, wherein the slots extend radially outwardly from the central brake hub to facilitate transfer of oil to the third and fourth conduits.

9. An integrated axle oil lubrication system, comprising:

an axle housing having an axis and including a central body having an oil reservoir;

a ring gear disposed within the central body, the ring gear rotatable about the axis, and adapted to interface with the oil reservoir for distributing oil radially within the central body;

a pair of axle housing legs extending axially and oppositely of one another from the central body, the central body defining an interior wall having a first oil channel and a first oil port in communication with the first oil channel, the first oil channel and the first oil port adapted to convey oil externally of the central body;

an oil conduit secured to the first oil port of the central body for conveying oil out of the central body to each leg, the oil conduit secured to a second oil port formed at an extremity of each leg, the oil conduit and second oil port adapted for conveying oil to the extremity of each leg;

a pair of axle shafts extending axially and oppositely of one another, the pair of axle shafts enclosed in the pair of axle housing legs, the oil conduit and second oil port supplying oil for lubricating the pair of axle shafts;

a pair of brake assemblies positioned at axially outboard portions of the central body, each brake assembly situated within the central body, one brake assembly situated on each side of the ring gear, and each brake assembly including a central brake hub and at least one disc, the pair of brake assemblies rotatably adapted to receive return oil from along the respective axle shaft of each leg and centrifugally move oil radially outwardly of the brake assembly to a second oil channel;

the second oil channel situated radially outwardly of the brake assemblies, and in communication with a return oil passageway extending axially from each respective brake back to the central body, the return oil passageway accommodates transfer of oil from the second oil channel back to the central body;

wherein, the ring gear, the first oil channel, the first oil port, and the first oil conduit define a first oil lubrication sub-system adapted to move oil from the central body to the right and left housing legs; and

wherein, the brake assemblies, the at least one disc, the second oil channel and the return oil passageway define a second oil lubrication sub-system adapted to move oil from the legs back to the central body.

10. The integrated axle oil lubrication system of claim 9, further comprising the return oil passageway extending axially from the brake assembly to the central body, wherein the second oil channel interfaces with the return oil passageway, and wherein the return oil passageway defines a unidirectional flow of oil from the brake assembly toward the central body and away from the legs.

11. The integrated axle oil lubrication system of claim 9, wherein a pinion gear is disposed along an axis, the pinion gear positioned orthogonally to the ring gear axis, wherein the pinion gear is meshed with the ring gear, and wherein the pinion gear is adapted to drive the ring gear.

12. The integrated axle oil lubrication system of claim 9, wherein the pair of legs comprises a right leg defining a right leg cavity, and a left leg defining a left leg cavity, and wherein the first oil conduit comprises separate right and left oil conduits, the right and left oil conduits respectively connecting the right and left leg cavities with the central body.

13. The integrated axle oil lubrication system of claim 9, wherein the brake assembly including a central brake hub and at least one disc, the central brake hub having a plurality of circumferentially spaced and radially extending impellers.

14. The integrated axle oil lubrication system of claim 13, wherein the brake assembly having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots, the slots being positioned radially outwardly of the impellers.

15. The integrated axle oil lubrication system of claim 14, wherein the brake assembly having a plurality of slots, and wherein the slots extend radially outwardly from the central brake hub to facilitate transfer of oil to the second oil channel.

16. A method of making an integrated oil circulation system, comprising:

forming an axle housing including a central body having an oil reservoir;

providing a ring gear within the central body, such that the ring gear is rotatable about an axis, and adapted to interface with the oil reservoir for distributing oil radially within the central body;

providing and adapting a pair of axle housing legs to extend axially and oppositely of one another from the central body;

forming a first oil channel and a first oil port in an interior wall of the central body, the first oil port having communication with the first oil channel, the first oil channel and first oil port being adapted to convey oil externally of the central body;

providing an oil conduit and securing the oil conduit to the oil port of the central body for conveying oil to each leg;

the oil conduit secured to a second oil port formed at an extremity of each leg, the oil conduit and second oil port being adapted to convey oil to the extremity of each leg;

providing a pair of axle shafts extending axially and oppositely of one another, the pair of axle shafts enclosed in the pair of axle housing legs, the oil conduit and second oil port supplying oil for lubricating the pair of axle shafts;

providing a pair of brake assemblies including a central brake hub and at least one disc, the pair of brake assemblies rotatably adapted to receive return oil from along the respective axle shaft of each leg and centrifugally move oil radially outwardly of the brake assemblies, and positioning the brake assemblies at axially outboard portions of the central body, each brake assembly is situated within the central body with one brake assembly situated on each side of the ring gear;

providing a second oil channel within the central body, the second oil channel being positioned radially outwardly of the brake assemblies, and in communication with a return oil passageway extending axially from each respective brake back to the central body, the second oil channel and return oil passageway accommodate transfer of oil from the legs back to the central body;

wherein, the ring gear, the first oil channel, the first oil port, and the first oil conduit define a first oil lubrication sub-system adapted to move oil from the central body to the right and left housing legs; and

wherein, the brake assembly, the at least one disc, the second oil channel and the return oil passageway define a second oil lubrication sub-system adapted to move oil from the legs back to the central body.

17. The method of claim 16, further providing the return oil passageway within the central body, such that the second oil channel interfaces with the return oil passageway, and wherein the return oil passageway defines a unidirectional flow of oil from the brake assemblies toward the central body and away from the legs.