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US 8,714,310 B2Granted
Axle cooling using hydraulic return oil
AssigneeCNH America LLC
InventorsMichael Sylvester Bares, Jarrod Lemire, Jeffrey Alan Roeber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A work vehicle includes a frame and an axle assembly coupled to the frame, including a first axle shaft and coil substantially disposed in an axle housing. A first wheel couples to the first axle shaft of the axle assembly. An axle lubricating fluid is disposed within the axle housing. A cooling circuit fluidly coupled to the axle assembly circulates cooling fluid therethrough. The coil conducts cooling fluid through the first axle housing separately from the lubricating fluid. A cooling fluid circuit is selectively fluidly coupled to the first coil to circulate the cooling fluid therethrough.
Claims15
A work vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- a first axle assembly coupled to the frame and including a first axle shaft, a second axle shaft and a first axle housing, wherein the first and second axle shaft and a first coil are disposed substantially within the first axle housing;
- a first wheel coupled to the first axle shaft and a second wheel coupled to the second axle shaft of the first axle assembly;
- a second axle assembly coupled to the frame and including a third axle shaft, a fourth axle shaft and a second axle housing, wherein the third and fourth axle shaft and a second coil are disposed substantially within the second axle housing;
- a third wheel coupled to the third axle shaft and a fourth wheel coupled to the fourth axle shaft of the second axle assembly;
- an axle lubricating fluid disposed within the first and second axle housing, the first coil is configured to conduct cooling fluid through the first axle housing and the second coil is configured to conduct cooling fluid through the second axle housing, the first and second coils maintaining the cooling fluid separate from the lubricating fluid;
- a cooling fluid circuit having a pump selectively fluidly coupled to the first coil and the second coil to circulate the cooling fluid therethrough wherein flow passing from the pump will flow through at least one vehicle control component and the coils unless diverted by a pressure relief valve in parallel with at least one of the coils;
- and
- wherein the pressure relief valve is fluidly coupled in parallel to at least one of the first and second coil downstream from a heat exchanger.
6 more elements
A work vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- a first axle assembly coupled to the frame and including a first axle shaft, a second axle shaft and a first axle housing, wherein the first and second axle shaft and a first coil are disposed substantially within the first axle housing;
- a first wheel coupled to the first axle shaft and a second wheel coupled to the second axle shaft of the first axle assembly;
- a second axle assembly coupled to the frame and including a third axle shaft, a fourth axle shaft and a second axle housing, wherein the third and fourth axle shaft and a second coil are disposed substantially within the second axle housing;
- a third wheel coupled to the third axle shaft and a fourth wheel coupled to the fourth axle shaft of the second axle assembly;
- an axle lubricating fluid disposed within the first and second axle housing, the first coil is configured to conduct cooling fluid through the first axle housing and the second coil is configured to conduct cooling fluid through the second axle housing, the first and second coils maintaining the cooling fluid separate from the lubricating fluid;
- a cooling fluid circuit having a pump selectively fluidly coupled to the first coil and the second coil to circulate the cooling fluid therethrough wherein flow passing from the pump will flow through at least one vehicle control component and the coils unless diverted by a pressure relief valve in parallel with at least one of the coils;
- and
- wherein the circuit includes the pump, a reservoir and heat exchanger oriented such that flow from the pump will travel from the pump through the heat exchanger and then through the coils before returning to the reservoir unless diverted by one of a thermal bypass valve or the pressure relief valve.
6 more elements
A work vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- a first axle assembly coupled to the frame and including a first axle shaft, a second axle shaft and a first axle housing, wherein the first and second axle shaft and a first coil are disposed substantially within the first axle housing;
- a first wheel coupled to the first axle shaft and a second wheel coupled to the second axle shaft of the first axle assembly;
- a second axle assembly coupled to the frame and including a third axle shaft, a fourth axle shaft and a second axle housing, wherein the third and fourth axle shaft and a second coil are disposed substantially within the second axle housing;
- a third wheel coupled to the third axle shaft and a fourth wheel coupled to the fourth axle shaft of the second axle assembly;
- an axle lubricating fluid disposed within the first and second axle housing, the first coil is configured to conduct cooling fluid through the first axle housing and the second coil is configured to conduct cooling fluid through the second axle housing, the first and second coils maintaining the cooling fluid separate from the lubricating fluid;
- and
- a cooling fluid circuit is fluidly coupled to the first coil and the second coil to circulate the cooling fluid therethrough wherein the circuit includes a pump, reservoir and heat exchanger oriented such that flow from the pump will travel from the pump through the heater exchanger and then through coils before returning to the reservoir unless diverted by one of a thermal bypass valve or a pressure relief valve.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.