Differential assembly with lubrication control element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9731552-B2
Application number	US-201514599780-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2015
Priority date	Jan 19, 2015
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

An axle assembly having a differential gear set is provided. The axle assembly includes a housing having an interior portion sized to receive the differential gear set. At least one axle tube extends from a side of the housing. At least one axle is coupled to the differential gear set and extending through the at least one axle tube. A lubrication control member is coupled between the axle and the housing, the lubrication control member having at least one orifice, the orifice defining a lubrication flow path between the interior portion and the at least axle tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An axle assembly having a differential gear set, the axle assembly comprising:
a housing having an interior portion sized to receive the differential gear set;
at least one axle tube extending from a side of the housing;
at least one axle coupled to the differential gear set and extending through the at least one axle tube; and
a lubrication control member coupled between the at least one axle and the housing, the lubrication control member including a body formed from a metal having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the outer diameter being sized to fit within the housing, an inner member formed from an elastomeric material is coupled to the body adjacent the inner diameter, a gap is defined between an opening formed in the inner member and the at least one axle, the body having at least one orifice, the at least one orifice defining a lubrication flow path between the interior portion and the at least one axle tube.

2. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner member has a conical shape.

3. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body is fixed within the housing via a press-fit.

4. The axle assembly of claim 3 , wherein:
the body includes a surface disposed on an end facing the differential gear set; and
the at least one orifice includes a plurality of orifices radially disposed about and extending through the surface.

5. The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein an axis of the at least one orifice is parallel to an axis of the at least one axle.

6. An axle assembly having a differential gear set, the differential gear set having a ring gear and at least one side gear, the axle assembly comprising:
a housing having an interior portion sized to receive the differential gear set, the housing having a first opening arranged coaxially with the at least one side gear, the first opening having a side wall;
at least one axle having an end coupled to the at least one side gear, the at least one axle extending through the first opening; and
a lubrication control member coupled to the side wall adjacent the interior portion, the lubrication control member having a body formed from a metal and an inner member formed from an elastomeric material coupled to the body, the body including a lubrication opening sized to define a gap between the lubrication control member and the at least one axle, the gap defining a first flow path for transfer of lubricant from the interior portion to the first opening, the lubrication control member further having at least one orifice, the at least one orifice defining a second lubrication flow path from the first opening to the interior portion.

7. The axle assembly of claim 6 , wherein the body includes a U-shaped portion that defines an outer diameter of the lubrication control member.

8. The axle assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least one orifice extends through the U-shaped portion.

9. The axle assembly of claim 7 , wherein the body further includes a flange extending radially inward from the U-shaped portion.

10. The axle assembly of claim 7 , wherein the inner member is conically shaped.

11. An axle assembly having a differential gear set, the differential gear set having a ring gear and a pair of opposing side gears, the axle assembly comprising:
a housing having an interior portion sized to receive the differential gear set, the housing having a first opening arranged coaxial with one of the pair of opposing side gears and a second opening arranged coaxial with a second of the pair of opposing side gears, the first opening and the second opening each having a side wall;
a first axle coupled to one of the pair of opposing side gears, the first axle extending through the first opening;
a second axle coupled to the other of the pair of opposing side gears, the second axle extending through the second opening;
a first lubrication control member fixed within the first opening and disposed about the first axle, the first lubrication control member having a first body formed from a metal and a first inner member formed from an elastomeric material coupled to the body, the first inner member defining a third opening sized to define a first gap between the first lubrication control member and the first axle, the first gap defining a first flow path for transfer of lubricant from the interior portion through to the first opening, the first lubrication control member further having at least one first orifice, the at least one first orifice defining a second lubrication flow path from the first opening to the interior portion.

12. The axle assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a second lubrication control member fixed within the second opening and disposed about the second axle, the second lubrication control member having a second body formed from a metal and a second inner member formed from an elastomeric material coupled to the body, the second inner member defining a fourth opening sized to define a second gap between the second inner member and the second axle, the second gap defining a third flow path for transfer of lubricant from the interior portion through to the second opening, the second lubrication control member further having at least one second orifice, the at least one second orifice defining a fourth lubrication flow path from the second opening to the interior portion.

13. The axle assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first body includes a U-shaped portion and a flange extending radially inward from the U-shaped portion, the first inner member being coupled to the flange.

14. The axle assembly of claim 13 , wherein:
the U-shaped portion includes a first wall defining an outer diameter of the first lubrication control member, a second wall adjoining the flange, and a third wall extending between the first wall and the second wall; and
the at least one first orifice extends through the third wall.

15. The axle assembly of claim 14 , wherein the at least one first orifice includes a plurality of orifices radially disposed about the third wall.

16. The axle assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the first body being coupled to the first opening by a press fit.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Puri Bhapinder
• Wilson William J

Classifications

• B60B35/16 Primary

  Axle housings · CPC title

• F16H57/0483

  Axle or inter-axle differentials · CPC title

• F16H57/0443

  for supply of lubricant during tilt or high acceleration, e.g. problems related to the tilt or extreme acceleration of the transmission casing and the supply of lubricant under these conditions · CPC title

• F16H57/0471

  Bearing · CPC title

• F16H57/0457

  Splash lubrication · CPC title