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US 2025/0155014 A1Published application
Axle gear housing with bi-directional lubrication channels
AssigneeArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
InventorsWaseem Kaakarni, Andrew Bodary, Robert Martin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An axle assembly including a differential carrier having a guide structure positioned in an upper portion of an interior face of the differential carrier. The guide structure includes a plurality of guides for directing the flow of lubricant during operation of the axle assembly. For example, the guide structure may include a plurality of guides, each guide having at least one surface on which to receive lubricant and direct flow of the received lubricant to at least one of a first feed opening and a second feed opening.
Claims23
An axle assembly comprising:
- an axle housing defining a sump portion configured to house lubricant;
- a ring gear mounted within the axle housing so at least a portion of the ring gear is positioned within the sump portion to interact with the lubricant, the ring gear configured to spin in a first direction in a first configuration so that the lubricant is moved in the first direction and to spin in a second direction in a second configuration so that the lubricant is moved in the second direction, the first direction being different than the second direction;
- and
- a differential carrier coupled to the axle housing and configured to support a differential assembly, the differential carrier including an interior face facing the axle housing, the interior face of the differential carrier including a guide structure positioned on the interior face, the guide structure having:
- a first guide configured to receive lubricant from the sump portion when the ring gear is in the first configuration and when the ring gear is in the second configuration, the first guide including a first end positioned adjacent to a first feed opening of the differential carrier, and
- a second guide configured to receive lubricant from the sump portion when the ring gear is in the first configuration and when the ring gear is in the second configuration, the second guide including a first end positioned adjacent to a second feed opening.
3 more elements
A differential carrier, comprising:
- a housing defining a central opening and an interior face surrounding the central opening;
- a first feed opening defined by the housing within the interior face;
- a second feed opening defined by the housing within the interior face;
- and
- a guide structure fixedly attached to the interior face, the guide structure including a central portion, a first guide extending from the central portion away from the central opening, a second guide extending from the central portion toward the central opening, a third guide extending laterally from the central portion in a first direction, and a fourth guide extending laterally from the central portion in a second direction.
2 more elements
An axle assembly comprising:
- an axle housing defining a sump portion configured to house lubricant;
- and
- a differential carrier coupled to the axle housing and configured to support a differential assembly, the differential carrier including an interior face facing the axle housing and a guide structure fixed to an upper portion of the interior face, the guide structure including:
- a first guide extending laterally from a central portion of the guide structure, the first guide including a first distal end positioned adjacent a first feed opening defined by the interior face;
- and
- a second guide extending laterally from the central portion of the guide structure, the second guide including a first distal end positioned adjacent a second feed opening defined by the interior face;
- a third guide extending longitudinally from the central portion of the guide structure in a first direction;
- and
- a fourth guide extending longitudinally from the central portion of the guide structure in a second direction.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.