Controlling lubrication in a stand-alone rear axle drive
AssigneeBorgWarner Sweden AB
InventorBo Lundstrom
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rear axle drive (2) for an AWD vehicle is presented. The rear axle drive (2) is connected to an hydraulic AWD coupling (3), wherein the rear axle drive (2) comprises a lubrication valve (4) for controlling the level of lubricant in at least one lubricant reservoir (6, 7) of the rear axle drive (2) for providing lubricant to gears and/or bearings of the rear axle drive (2). The lubrication valve (4) is functionally connected to a shut-off valve (5) of the AWD coupling (3) and the lubrication valve (4) of the rear axle drive (3) is controlled by movement of an actuating member (51, 54) of the AWD coupling (3).
Claims20
Rear axle drive (2) for an AWD vehicle, the rear axle drive (2) being connected to an hydraulic AWD coupling (3), wherein the rear axle drive (2) comprises a lubrication valve (4) for controlling the level of lubricant in at least one lubricant reservoir (6, 7) of the rear axle drive (2) for providing lubricant to gears and/or bearings of the rear axle drive (2), wherein the lubrication valve (4) is functionally connected to a shut-off valve (5) of the AWD coupling (3) and wherein the lubrication valve (4) of the rear axle drive (3) is controlled by movement of an actuating member (51, 54) of the AWD coupling (3).
A hydraulic AWD coupling (3), configured to control torque transfer through an associated rear axle drive (2), said AWD coupling (3) having a shut-off valve (5), wherein the shut-off valve (5) is functionally connected to a lubrication valve (4) of the rear axle drive (2), said lubrication valve (4) being provided for controlling the level of lubricant in at least one lubricant reservoir (6, 7) of the rear axle drive (2) and for providing lubricant to gears and/or bearings of the rear axle drive (2), and where the lubrication of the rear axle drive (2) is controlled by movement of an actuating member (51, 54) of the AWD coupling.
A rear drive module (1) configured to distribute torque to the rear wheels of a vehicle, said rear drive module (1) comprising a rear axle drive (2) for an AWD vehicle, the rear axle drive (2) being connected to an hydraulic AWD coupling (3), wherein the rear axle drive (2) comprises a lubrication valve (4) for controlling the level of lubricant in at least one lubricant reservoir (6, 7) of the rear axle drive (2) for providing lubricant to gears and/or bearings of the rear axle drive (2), wherein the lubrication valve (4) is functionally connected to a shut-off valve (5) of the AWD coupling (3) and wherein the lubrication valve (4) of the rear axle drive (3) is controlled by movement of an actuating member (51, 54) of the AWD coupling (3).
A method for controlling the lubrication of a rear axle drive (2), wherein the rear axle drive (2) comprises a lubrication valve (4) for controlling the level of lubricant in at least one lubricant reservoir (6, 7) of the rear axle drive (2) for providing lubricant to gears and/or bearings of the rear axle drive (2), the method comprising:
- providing an AWD coupling (3) configured to control torque transfer through the rear axle drive (2), said AWD coupling (3) having a shut-off valve (5), and
- connecting the lubrication valve (4) of the rear axle drive (2) to an actuating member (51, 54) of the AWD coupling (3) such that the supply of lubricant in the rear axle drive (2) is controlled in response to movement of the actuating member (51, 54) thus functionally connecting the lubrication valve (4) to a shut-off valve (5) of the AWD coupling (3).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.