# US 8,739,932 B2 · Axle lubrication and cooling system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,932 B2 - Document ID: US8739932B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/093,646 - Filed: 2011-04-25 - Published: 2012-10-25 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-25 - Assignees: Deere & Company - Applicants: Matthew John Ramler - Inventors: Matthew John Ramler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739932B2 ## CPC - B60B 35/00: Axle units; Parts thereof (steerable vehicle stub axles B62D ){; Arrangements for lubrication of axles} - F01M 1/10: Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant venting or purifying means, e.g. of filters - F01M 5/005: {Controlling temperature of lubricant} - F16N 7/40: in a closed circulation system - Y10T 137/0402: Cleaning, repairing, or assembling - Y10T 137/794: With means for separating solid material from the fluid - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION - F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING - F16N: LUBRICATING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A hydraulic filtering, cooling and lubrication system is disclosed. The system is for use with a vehicle including an engine, a pump coupled to the engine and a plurality of axles. The system includes a separate manifold for each axle of the vehicle and/or each pair of wet disc brakes. Each manifold is separate from every other manifold to minimize cross contamination of axles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydraulic filtering, cooling and lubrication system for use with a vehicle including an engine, a pump coupled to the engine and a plurality of axles, the system comprising: a manifold in fluid communication with the pump and an axle, the manifold located downstream of the pump and upstream of the axle, a filter coupled to the manifold, a filter differential bypass in communication with the filter, wherein the filter differential bypass is located within the manifold and is configured to open and provide oil directly to the axle during a cold start of the engine, if the filter is plugged, or any consistent period of time when the pressure across the filter exceeds a predetermined pressure, a plurality of control valves downstream of the filter, the plurality of control valves located within the manifold, wherein the filter differential bypass is configured to route oil away from the plurality of control valves during a cold start of the engine, if the filter is plugged, or any consistent period of time when the pressure across the filter exceeds a predetermined pressure, the manifold in fluid communication with a heat exchanger of the vehicle, the manifold including a heat exchanger supply passage for supplying oil to the heat exchanger, the manifold including a heat exchanger return passage for returning oil from the heat exchanger, the manifold including an axle supply passage for supplying oil to the axle, the oil configured to lubricate and cool the axle or wet disc brakes of the axle, the manifold including an axle return passage for returning oil from the axle, at least one of the plurality of control valves configured to circulate returning oil through the manifold, and wherein the manifold is a closed oil circuit separated from any other manifold or axle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the filter is a bowl and element type cartridge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the filter is a high temperature filter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the filter is directly mounted to the bottom of the manifold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of control valves includes pressure control valves and at least one differential lock activator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the pressure control valves detect whether sufficient pressure is being supplied to the axle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the pressure control valves detect whether the differential lock activator has been activated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a second manifold in fluid communication with a second axle of the vehicle, the second manifold in a second closed oil circuit from any other manifold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein the second manifold is in fluid communication with a motor-pump-pump setup which separates oil in each manifold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 further comprising a third manifold in fluid communication with a third axle of the vehicle, the third manifold in a third closed oil circuit from any other manifold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the third manifold is in fluid communication with a motor-pump-pump setup which separates oil in each manifold. ### Claim 12 A hydraulic filtering, cooling and lubrication system for use with a vehicle including an engine, a pump coupled to the engine and a plurality of axles, the system comprising: a first hydraulic oil circuit in fluid communication with a first set of wet disc brakes of a first axle, the first hydraulic oil circuit associated with a heat exchanger, the first hydraulic oil circuit for lubricating and cooling the first set of we disc brakes of the first axle, wherein a portion of the first hydraulic oil circuit is enclosed in a first manifold, a second hydraulic oil circuit in fluid communication with a second set of wet disc brakes of a second axle, the second hydraulic oil circuit associated with the heat exchanger, the second hydraulic oil circuit for lubricating and cooling the second set of wet disc brakes of the second axle, wherein a porting of the second hydraulic oil circuit in enclosed in a second manifold, and a third hydraulic oil circuit for lubricating the third axle, wherein a portion of the third hydraulic oil circuit is enclosed in a third manifold, wherein the first, second, and third hydraulic oil circuits are separated from each other. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of hydraulic oil circuits, wherein the plurality of hydraulic oil circuits includes a separate hydraulic oil circuit coupled to each axle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein each of the first manifold, the second manifold and the third manifold include a filter, a differential by pass in communication with the filter, and a control valve downstream of the filter. ### Claim 15 A method of filtering, cooling or lubricating a plurality of wet disc brakes or a plurality of axles of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: providing a manifold including a filter, at least one differential bypass, at least one control valve, a heat exchanger supply passage for supplying oil to a heat exchanger of the vehicle, a heat exchanger return passage for returning oil from the heat exchanger, and axle supply passage for supplying oil to the axle, and an axle return passage for returning oil from the axle, passing oil through the filter of the manifold or bypassing the filter to provide oil directly to the axle during a cold start of an engine of the vehicle, if the filter is plugged, or any consistent period of time where the pressure across the filter exceeds a predetermined pressure, passing oil through the heat exchanger of the vehicle or bypassing the heat exchanger by use of a hydraulic check valve, wherein the hydraulic check valve is configured to allow oil to bypass heat exchanger during cold start or when oil pressure might exceed a predetermined force, providing oil to a pair of wet disc brakes or an axle of a vehicle, and providing a separate manifold for each pair of wet disc brakes of for each axle of the vehicle, wherein each of the separate manifolds is a closed oil circuit which are separated from each of the other manifolds. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of directing oil from the axle of the vehicle to the manifold to repeat the steps of either passing oil through the filter or passing oil through the heat exchanger. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of providing oil from a gear pump of the vehicle to the manifold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of maintaining a constant oil level in each axle of the vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of providing a motor including a plurality of pumps which provides oil to each additional manifold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein the motor including a plurality of pumps separates each manifold from each of the other manifolds.