Internal lube tank lube level control system
AssigneeDana Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC
InventorsSteven G. Slesinski, Harry W. Trost
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanical device lubrication level control system operates within a mechanical housing having a sump cavity and a lubricant director, where the lubricant director is located at the bottom of the housing. A mechanical gear set is located in the sump cavity and a lube tank is located in the lubricant director. There is located within in lube tank either a motor with a pump or an expandable air bladder that is inflatable by an air source. For the lube tank having the motor with the pump, the pump controls the lubricant within the sump cavity. For the lube tank having the expandable air bladder, the air source controls the lubricant within the sump cavity.
Claims10
A mechanical device lubrication level control system, comprising:
- a differential axle housing, with a sump cavity having an axle gear set disposed therein, capable of containing a lubricant therein;
- and
- a lubricant director comprising a lube tank, with an expandable bladder disposed therein, wherein the lube tank is capable of containing a lubricant therein, and wherein the lube tank is separate from the sump cavity;
- wherein the sump cavity and the lubricant director are hydraulically connected by a passage hole and the bladder is in pneumatic communication with an air pressure source, by way of an air tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.