Drive axle with pump managed oil flow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016290484-A1
Application number	US-201514674073-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 31, 2015
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A power transfer device can include a housing, first and second input members, first and second output members, a differential, and a pump. The housing can define a sump. The first input member can receive rotational power and rotate about an axis. The second input member can be meshingly engaged with the first input member and can rotate through the sump. The differential case can be drivingly coupled to the second input member. The differential gearset can transmit rotary power between the differential case and the first and second output members. The pump can be disposed about the first input member and can have an inlet, outlet, and pump element. The inlet can be coupled for fluid communication with the sump. The pump element can be drivingly coupled to the first input member and can pump the fluid from the sump when the first input member rotates about the axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A power transfer device comprising:
a housing defining a sump; a fluid received in the sump; a first input member configured to receive rotational power and rotate about a first axis, the first input member including a first input shaft and a first gear face; a second input member including a second gear face meshingly engaged with the first gear face and configured to rotate through the sump; a first output member and a second output member; a differential including a differential case and a differential gearset, the differential case being drivingly coupled to the second input member, the differential gearset being configured to transmit rotary power between the differential case and the first and second output members; and a pump disposed about the first input shaft and having an inlet, an outlet, and a pump element, the inlet being coupled for fluid communication with the sump, wherein the pump element is drivingly coupled to the first input shaft and configured to pump the fluid from the sump when the first input shaft rotates about the first axis.

2 . The power transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the pump includes an inner rotor and an outer rotor, the inner rotor being coupled to the first input shaft for common rotation about the first axis, the outer rotor being disposed about the inner rotor and configured to rotate about a second axis that is offset from the first axis.

3 . The power transfer device of claim 2 , wherein the pump includes a pump housing non-rotatably coupled to the housing, and the outer rotor is rotatably received within the pump housing.

4 . The power transfer device of claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir that is spaced apart from the sump, the reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the reservoir being coupled for fluid communication with the outlet of the pump, the outlet of the reservoir being configured to dispense the fluid to at least one component of the power transfer device.

5 . The power transfer device of claim 4 , wherein the pump is configured to pressurize the fluid within the reservoir.

6 . The power transfer device of claim 5 , wherein the outlet of the reservoir has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the inlet of the reservoir.

7 . The power transfer device of claim 6 , wherein the at least one component includes one of a bearing, the first gear face, the second gear face, and the differential gearset.

8 . The power transfer device of claim 1 , further comprising a first bearing and a second bearing, the first and second bearings supporting the first input shaft within the housing for rotation about the first axis, wherein the pump is disposed axially between the first and second bearings.

9 . The power transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the pump is a gerotor pump.

10 . A power transfer device comprising:
a housing defining a sump; a fluid received in the sump; a first input member configured to receive rotational power and rotate about a first axis; a second input member being meshingly engaged with the first input member and configured to rotate through the sump; a first output member and a second output member; a differential including a differential case and a differential gearset, the differential case being drivingly coupled to the second input member, the differential gearset being configured to transmit rotary power between the differential case and the first and second output members; and a pump including a pump housing and a first rotor, the pump housing having an inlet coupled for fluid communication with the sump, the first rotor being rotatably received within the pump housing and disposed about a portion of one of the first or second input members, the first rotor being coupled for common rotation with the one of the first and second input members, wherein the pump is configured to pump the fluid from the sump when the first rotor rotates within the housing.

11 . The power transfer device of claim 10 , wherein the pump includes a second rotor, the second rotor being disposed about the first rotor and meshingly engaged with the first rotor, the second rotor being configured to rotate within the pump housing about a second axis that is offset from the first axis.

12 . The power transfer device of claim 10 , further comprising a reservoir that is spaced apart from the sump, the reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the reservoir being coupled for fluid communication with an outlet of the pump, the outlet of the reservoir being configured to dispense the fluid to at least one component of the power transfer device.

13 . The power transfer device of claim 12 , wherein the pump is configured to pressurize the fluid within the reservoir.

14 . The power transfer device of claim 13 , wherein the outlet of the reservoir has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the inlet of the reservoir.

15 . The power transfer device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one component includes one of a bearing, a gear face of one of the first and second members, and the differential gearset.

16 . The power transfer device of claim 10 , further comprising a first bearing and a second bearing, the first and second bearings supporting the first input member within the housing for rotation about the first axis, wherein the pump is disposed axially between the first and second bearings.

17 . The power transfer device of claim 10 , wherein the pump is a gerotor pump.

18 . A power transfer device comprising:
a housing defining a sump; a fluid received in the sump; a first input member configured to receive rotational power and rotate about a first axis; a second input member being meshingly engaged with the first input member and configured to rotate through the sump; a first output member and a second output member; a differential including a differential case and a differential gearset, the differential case being drivingly coupled to the second input member, the differential gearset being configured to transmit rotary power between the differential case and the first and second output members; and a gerotor pump including an inner rotor and an outer rotor, the inner rotor having a plurality of outer teeth and being coupled for common rotation with the first input member about the first axis, the outer rotor having a plurality of inner teeth meshingly engaged with the plurality of outer teeth, the outer rotor being disposed about the inner rotor and rotatable about a second axis that is offset from the first axis, wherein the gerotor pump is configured to pump the fluid from the sump when the inner rotor rotates about the first axis.

19 . The power transfer device of claim 18 , further comprising a reservoir that is spaced apart from the sump, the reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the reservoir being coupled for fluid communication with an outlet of the pump, the outlet of the reservoir being configured to dispense the fluid to at least one component of the power transfer device.

20 . The power transfer device of claim 18 , wherein the at least one component includes one of a bearing, a gear face of the first or second member, and the differential gearset.

Assignees

• American Axle & Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Lenczewski Adrian M
• Degowske Robert

Classifications

• F16H57/0441

  Arrangements of pumps · CPC title

• F16H48/08

  comprising bevel gears · CPC title

• F16H57/0483 Primary

  Axle or inter-axle differentials · CPC title

• F16H57/045

  Lubricant storage reservoirs, e.g. reservoirs in addition to a gear sump for collecting lubricant in the upper part of a gear case · CPC title

• F16H57/0436

  Pumps · CPC title