Driven axle for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9453568-B2
Application number	US-201414477139-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2014
Priority date	Sep 4, 2013
Publication date	Sep 27, 2016
Grant date	Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

A drivable axle, in particular a rigid axle, is provided for a motor vehicle the axle has a differential gear, at least one gear bearing, at least one axle tube, and at least one axle shaft. The differential gear features a volume (V 1 ) for lubricant separate from the axle tube. The differential gear is sealed at the axle tube by using a gap-type seal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drive axle for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a differential gear;
an axle shaft configured in an axle tube;
a gear bearing mounting the axle shaft to the differential gear;
the differential gear comprising a lubricant volume that is separated from the axle tube by a gap-type seal comprising a first form section on the axle shaft that cooperates with a second form section on the axle tube or on the differential gear; and
a bypass channel in the differential gear around the gap-type seal, the bypass channel including a one-way valve therein.

2. The drive axle as in claim 1 , wherein the gap-type seal further comprises a sealing element arranged on the axle shaft, the first form section defined at an outer surface of the sealing element on the axle shaft.

3. The drive axle as in claim 2 , wherein the gap-type seal further comprises a setting nut or setting disk that surrounds the sealing element, the second form section defined at a radially inner surface of the setting nut or setting disk on the axle tube or on the differential gear.

4. The drive axle as in claim 3 , wherein the setting nut or setting disk comprises an internal lubricant reservoir, the setting nut or setting disk further comprising lubricant channels through which lubricant flows into and out of the lubricant reservoir, thereby limiting the lubricant reservoir.

5. The drive axle as in claim 1 , wherein the first form section and the second form section generate a conveying effect on the lubricant upon rotation of the axle and first form section.

6. The drive axle as in claim 5 , comprising a conveyor groove operatively configured on one of the first form section or the second form section.

7. The drive axle as in claim 6 , wherein the conveyor groove is defined as a spiral-shaped groove defined on the first form section.

8. The drive axle as in claim 7 , wherein the conveyor groove generates the conveying effect for the lubricant in a direction towards the differential gear upon rotation of the axle.

9. A drive axle for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a differential gear;
an axle shaft configured in an axle tube;
a gear bearing mounting the axle shaft to the differential gear; and
the differential gear comprising a lubricant volume that is separated from the axle tube by a gap-type seal defined between an inner surface of a first form section on the axle shaft and an outer surface of a second form section on the axle tube or on the differential gear, and wherein the first form section does not contact the second form section at the gap-type seal.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Anetzberger Michael
• Peter Robert
• Geier Manfred

Classifications

• F16H57/0401

  using different fluids, e.g. a traction fluid for traction gearing and a lubricant for bearings or reduction gears · CPC title

• F16H48/08

  comprising bevel gears · CPC title

• F16H48/06 Primary

  with gears having orbital motion · CPC title

• F16H57/0457

  Splash lubrication · CPC title

• F16H48/38

  Constructional details (the outer casing comprising the differential and supporting input and output shafts F16H57/037) · CPC title