Method for cooling an axle

• US 7,028,810 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2004
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.), CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Coyle, Edward L., Dunn, Donnell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHONG HWA
• Application Number:
  US10/761,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20040149518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 184/6.12, 184/6.22, 184/104.1, 746/06.A, 744/67, 475/160, 475/161, 475/230
• US Class Current: 184/6.12
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0412 Cooling or heating; Control of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0415 Air cooling or ventilation; Heat exchangers; Thermal insulations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2189 Cooling

Abstract

A work vehicle includes a frame and an axle assembly coupled to the frame. The axle assembly includes a first axle shaft and a first axle housing, with the first axle shaft disposed substantially within the first axle housing; a first wheel coupled to the first axle assembly; an axle lubricating fluid disposed within the first axle housing; and a first axle cooling device disposed within the first axle housing, in contact with at least a portion of the lubricating fluid, and including a first coil. Also disclosed is a method of cooling an axle assembly of a work vehicle. The method includes steps of removing heat from the lubricating fluid by placing the lubricating fluid in contact with the outer surface of a coil, and removing the heat from the inner surface of the coil by circulating the cooling fluid through the passage.

Claims

1. A method of cooling an axle assembly of a work vehicle, wherein the axle assembly includes an axle shaft, an axle housing configured to substantially surround the axle shaft, a cooling coil housed within the axle housing and having a passage therethrough outer and inner surfaces, the axle assembly further including a second cooling coil, wherein the cooling coil is disposed in a left axle housing and the second cooling coil is disposed in a right axle housing, a lubricating fluid disposed within the axle housing, and a cooling fluid disposed within the passage, and further wherein the lubricating fluid is of a higher temperature than is the outer surface of the coil and the outer surface of the coil is of a higher temperature than is the cooling fluid, the method comprising steps of:

removing heat from the lubricating fluid by placing the lubricating fluid in contact with the outer surface of the coil wherein the outer surface of the coil is disposed between a brake assembly and a differential gearset, the coil being entirely disposed underneath the axle shaft;

removing the heat from the inner surface of the coil by circulating the cooling fluid through the passage;

removing heat from the lubricating fluid by placing the lubricating fluid in contact with the outer surface of the second coil;

directing flow of cooling fluid to the coil by using a back pressure regulating valve to impose a pressure difference across the coil; and

removing the heat from the cooling fluid by circulating the cooling fluid through a heat exchanger.

2. The method of 1, wherein the axle assembly includes a second cooling coil, and wherein the cooling coil is disposed in a left axle housing and the second cooling coil is disposed in a right axle housing, and wherein the method further comprises the step of:

removing heat from the lubricating fluid by placing the lubricating fluid in contact with the outer surface of the second coil.

3. A method of cooling an axle assembly of a work vehicle, wherein the axle assembly includes an axle shaft, an axle housing configured to substantially surround the axle shaft, a cooling coil housed within the axle housing and having a passage therethrough outer and inner surfaces, the axle assembly further including a second cooling coil, wherein the cooling coil is disposed in a left axle housing and the second cooling coil is disposed in a right axle housing, a lubricating fluid disposed within the axle housing, and a cooling fluid disposed within the passage, and further wherein the lubricating fluid is of a higher temperature than is the outer surface of the coil and the outer surface of the coil is of a higher temperature than is the cooling fluid, the method comprising steps of:

removing heat from the lubricating fluid by placing the lubricating fluid in contact with the outer surface of the second coil;

removing heat from the lubricating fluid by placing the lubricating fluid in contact with the outer surface of the coil wherein the outer surface of the coil is disposed in one of a left axle housing and a right axle housing and the coil is disposed entirely underneath the axle shaft; and

removing the heat from the inner surface of the coil by circulating the cooling fluid through the passage.

4. The method of 3, wherein the axle assembly includes a second cooling coil, and wherein the cooling coil is disposed in a left axle housing and the second cooling coil is disposed in a right axle housing, and wherein the method further comprises the step of:

removing heat from the lubricating fluid by placing the lubricating fluid in contact with the outer surface of the second coil.

5. A method of cooling an axle assembly of a work vehicle, wherein the axle assembly includes an axle shaft, an axle housing configured to substantially surround the axle shaft, a cooling coil housed within the axle housing and having a passage therethrough outer and inner surfaces, the axle assembly further including a second cooling coil, wherein the cooling coil is disposed in a left axle housing and the second cooling coil is disposed in a right axle housing, a lubricating fluid disposed within the axle housing, and a cooling fluid disposed within the passage, and further wherein the lubricating fluid is of a higher temperature than is the outer surface of the coil and the outer surface of the coil is of a higher temperature than is the cooling fluid, the method comprising steps of:

transmitting heat from a wet multiple disk brake disposed in the axle housing to the lubricating fluid;

removing heat from the lubricating fluid by placing the lubricating fluid in contact with the outer surface of the second coil;

removing heat from the lubricating fluid by placing the lubricating fluid in contact with the outer surface of the coil, the outer surface of the coil being disposed between a brake assembly and a differential gearset and where the coil is disposed entirely underneath the axle shaft; and

removing the heat from the inner surface of the coil by circulating the cooling fluid through the passage.

6. The method of 5, wherein the axle assembly includes a second cooling coil, and wherein the cooling coil is disposed in a left axle housing and the second cooling coil is disposed in a right axle housing, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

removing heat from the lubricating fluid by placing the lubricating fluid in contact with the outer surface of the second coil.