# US 7,611,435 B2 · Power transfer assembly with gasket having magnet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,435 B2 - Document ID: US7611435B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/804,046 - Filed: 2007-05-16 - Published: 2007-09-27 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2004-11-18 - Assignees: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. - Inventors: Kevin R. Beutler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611435B2 ## CPC - B03C 1/286: {disposed at the inner circumference of a recipient, e.g. magnetic drain bolt} - B03C 1/0332: {using permanent magnets} - F16H 57/029: characterised by means for sealing the gearboxes, e.g. to improve airtightness - F16H 57/031: characterised by covers or lids for gearboxes - F16H 57/0483: {Axle or inter-axle differentials} - B03C 2201/18: Magnetic separation whereby the particles are suspended in a liquid - B03C 2201/30: for use in or with vehicles - F16H 48/08: comprising bevel gears - F16H 57/02: Gearboxes; Mounting gearing therein - F16H 57/0404: {Lubricant filters} - F16H 2057/02052: {Axle units; Transfer casings for four wheel drive} - B03C: MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS (separating isotopes B01D59/00; combinations of magnetic or electrostatic separation with separation of solids by other means B03B, B07B) - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract An axle assembly for a vehicle includes a housing, a differential assembly rotatably supported within the housing, a differential cover and a gasket assembly positioned between the housing and the differential cover. The gasket assembly includes a body and a magnet coupled to the body. The magnet is positioned in communication with a lubricant located within the interior of the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An axle assembly comprising: a housing; a differential assembly rotatably supported within said housing; a differential cover; and a gasket assembly including a body and a magnet coupled to said body, said gasket assembly disposed between said housing and said differential cover to seal an interior of said housing from an external environment, wherein said magnet is positioned in communication with a lubricant located within said interior of said housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The axle assembly of claim 1 wherein said gasket body is substantially rigid and is shaped as a closed loop. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The axle assembly of claim 1 wherein the gasket body includes an aperture within which said magnet is retained. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The axle assembly of claim 1 wherein the magnet is operable to attract undesirable metallic particles located in the lubricant. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The axle assembly of claim 4 including fasteners for securing said magnet to said body of said gasket assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The axle assembly of claim 1 further including an elastomer coupled to said body, said elastomer in engagement with one of said housing and said differential cover. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The axle assembly of claim 1 further including a ring gear coupled to said differential assembly, wherein said ring gear is at least partially submersed in said lubricant, and wherein said magnet is positioned within said interior of said housing to be in proximity to said ring gear. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The axle assembly of claim 1 wherein said gasket assembly includes a tab to indicate a desired orientation of said gasket assembly relative to said housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The axle assembly of claim 1 wherein said gasket assembly includes a plurality of mounting apertures, at least one of said mounting apertures having a fastener extending therethrough for removably securing said differential cover to said housing. ### Claim 10 A drive axle assembly, comprising: a housing; a pinion shaft rotatably supported by said housing; a differential assembly rotatably supported by said housing and driven by said pinion shaft; a differential cover; and a gasket assembly including a body portion positioned between said housing and said differential cover and a magnet positioned within a cavity defined by said housing and said differential cover, said magnet in communication with a lubricant located within said cavity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The drive axle assembly of claim 10 wherein said magnet is secured to said body portion of said gasket assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The drive axle assembly of claim 10 wherein said body portion of said gasket assembly forms a closed ring. ### Claim 13 A gasket assembly for a power transfer assembly having a housing, a gearset rotatably supported in a cavity defined by the housing, a cover pan coupled to the housing for providing access to the gearset, and a lubricant located within the cavity, the gasket assembly comprising: a body portion having a first planar surface adapted to engage the cover pan and an opposite second planar surface adapted to engage the housing; an elastomer coupled to one of said first and second planar surfaces; and a magnet coupled to said body portion, said magnet adapted to attract metallic particles suspended within the lubricant located within the cavity of the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The gasket assembly of claim 13 wherein said elastomer is coupled to both of said first and second planar surfaces. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The gasket assembly of claim 13 wherein said body portion includes an aperture extending therethrough within which said magnet is disposed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The gasket assembly of claim 15 including fasteners for interconnecting said magnet and said body portion. ### Claim 17 A power transfer assembly, comprising: a housing defining a cavity; a gearset supported for rotation in said cavity of said housing; a cover adapted to be secured to said housing to enclosed said cavity; and a gasket assembly disposed between said housing and said cover to define a fluid-tight seal therebetween and maintain lubricant in a sump portion of said cavity, said gasket assembly having a body portion and a magnet secured to said body portion, said magnet is in communication with said lubricant within said sump portion of said cavity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The power transfer assembly of claim 17 wherein said body portion of said gasket assembly is a ring having an aperture formed therein, and wherein said magnet is secured to said body portion adjacent to said aperture. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The power transfer assembly of claim 18 wherein said aperture is positioned below the surface of said lubricant such that said magnet functions to attract magnetic particles suspended in said lubricants. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The power transfer assembly of claim 17 wherein said gearset is a differential assembly.