Machine axle housing with integrated oil circulation system

An integrated axle oil lubrication system, comprising:

• an axle housing having an axis and including a central body having an oil reservoir;
• a ring gear disposed within the central body, the ring gear rotatable about the axis, and adapted to interface with the oil reservoir for distributing oil radially within the central body;
• a pair of axle housing legs extending axially and oppositely of one another from the central body, the central body defining an interior wall having a first oil channel and a first oil port in communication with the first oil channel, the first oil channel and the first oil port adapted to convey oil externally of the central body;
• an oil conduit secured to the first oil port of the central body for conveying oil out of the central body to each leg, the oil conduit secured to a second oil port formed at an extremity of each leg, the oil conduit and second oil port adapted for conveying oil to the extremity of each leg;
• a pair of axle shafts extending axially and oppositely of one another, the pair of axle shafts enclosed in the pair of axle housing legs, the oil conduit and second oil port supplying oil for lubricating the pair of axle shafts;
• a pair of brake assemblies positioned at axially outboard portions of the central body, each brake assembly situated within the central body, one brake assembly situated on each side of the ring gear, and each brake assembly including a central brake hub and at least one disc, the pair of brake assemblies rotatably adapted to receive return oil from along the respective axle shaft of each leg and centrifugally move oil radially outwardly of the brake assembly to a second oil channel;
• the second oil channel situated radially outwardly of the brake assemblies, and in communication with a return oil passageway extending axially from each respective brake back to the central body, the return oil passageway accommodates transfer of oil from the second oil channel back to the central body;
• wherein, the ring gear, the first oil channel, the first oil port, and the first oil conduit define a first oil lubrication sub-system adapted to move oil from the central body to the right and left housing legs;
• and
• wherein, the brake assemblies, the at least one disc, the second oil channel and the return oil passageway define a second oil lubrication sub-system adapted to move oil from the legs back to the central body.

A method of making an integrated oil circulation system, comprising:

• forming an axle housing including a central body having an oil reservoir;
• providing a ring gear within the central body, such that the ring gear is rotatable about an axis, and adapted to interface with the oil reservoir for distributing oil radially within the central body;
• providing and adapting a pair of axle housing legs to extend axially and oppositely of one another from the central body;
• forming a first oil channel and a first oil port in an interior wall of the central body, the first oil port having communication with the first oil channel, the first oil channel and first oil port being adapted to convey oil externally of the central body;
• providing an oil conduit and securing the oil conduit to the oil port of the central body for conveying oil to each leg;
• the oil conduit secured to a second oil port formed at an extremity of each leg, the oil conduit and second oil port being adapted to convey oil to the extremity of each leg;
• providing a pair of axle shafts extending axially and oppositely of one another, the pair of axle shafts enclosed in the pair of axle housing legs, the oil conduit and second oil port supplying oil for lubricating the pair of axle shafts;
• providing a pair of brake assemblies including a central brake hub and at least one disc, the pair of brake assemblies rotatably adapted to receive return oil from along the respective axle shaft of each leg and centrifugally move oil radially outwardly of the brake assemblies, and positioning the brake assemblies at axially outboard portions of the central body, each brake assembly is situated within the central body with one brake assembly situated on each side of the ring gear;
• providing a second oil channel within the central body, the second oil channel being positioned radially outwardly of the brake assemblies, and in communication with a return oil passageway extending axially from each respective brake back to the central body, the second oil channel and return oil passageway accommodate transfer of oil from the legs back to the central body;
• wherein, the ring gear, the first oil channel, the first oil port, and the first oil conduit define a first oil lubrication sub-system adapted to move oil from the central body to the right and left housing legs;
• and
• wherein, the brake assembly, the at least one disc, the second oil channel and the return oil passageway define a second oil lubrication sub-system adapted to move oil from the legs back to the central body.