Temperature controlled axle cooling system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9897253-B2
Application number	US-201514873421-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2015
Priority date	Oct 2, 2015
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

A temperature controlled axle cooling system and method is disclosed. Axle hydraulic circuits cool oil circulating through vehicle axles, and sensors monitor axle temperatures. Pumps are activated to circulate the oil through the axle circuits based on the axle temperatures. Each axle circuit can be a separate closed-loop hydraulic system, not sharing fluid with any other vehicle or axle hydraulic systems. All axle cooling system pumps can be activated when any axle temperature exceeds a high threshold. All pumps can be deactivated when all axle temperatures are below a low threshold. Each pump can be activated and deactivated based only on that axle's temperature. The axle cooling system pumps can be driven by motors powered by the main vehicle hydraulic system flow. A valve can be controlled based on axle temperature to allow main vehicle hydraulic system flow. Multiple pumps can be driven by a single motor.

First claim

We claim:

1. A temperature controlled axle cooling system for an axle of a vehicle, the temperature controlled axle cooling system comprising:
an axle hydraulic circuit that passes through the axle;
a pump that circulates axle oil through the axle hydraulic circuit;
an axle oil cooler that cools the axle oil as it circulates through the axle hydraulic circuit;
a temperature sensor that monitors an axle temperature of the axle;
wherein when the temperature sensor indicates that the axle temperature is above a high axle temperature threshold, the pump is activated to circulate axle oil through the axle hydraulic circuit.

2. The temperature controlled axle cooling system of claim 1 , wherein when the temperature sensor indicates that the axle temperature is below a low axle temperature threshold, the pump is deactivated.

3. The temperature controlled axle cooling system of claim 2 , further comprising:
an axle oil filter that filters the axle oil as it circulates through the axle hydraulic circuit; and
a bypass circuit that monitors a hydraulic pressure in the axle hydraulic circuit between the pump and the axle oil filter;
wherein when the hydraulic pressure is less than a pressure threshold, the axle oil circulates through the axle oil filter; and when the hydraulic pressure is not less than the pressure threshold, the axle oil bypasses the axle oil filter.

4. A temperature controlled axle cooling system for a vehicle having a main vehicle hydraulic system, a first axle and a second axle, the temperature controlled axle cooling system comprising:
a first axle hydraulic circuit that passes through the first axle;
a second axle hydraulic circuit that passes through the second axle;
a first pump that circulates axle oil through the first axle hydraulic circuit;
a second pump that circulates axle oil through the second axle hydraulic circuit;
a first axle oil cooler that cools the axle oil as it circulates through the first axle hydraulic circuit;
a second axle oil cooler that cools the axle oil as it circulates through the second axle hydraulic circuit;
a first temperature sensor that monitors a first axle temperature of the first axle;
a second temperature sensor that monitors a second axle temperature of the second axle;
wherein the first and second pumps are activated to circulate axle oil through the first and second axle hydraulic circuits based on the first and second axle temperatures.

5. The temperature controlled axle cooling system of claim 4 , wherein the first axle hydraulic circuit is a closed-loop hydraulic system, the second axle hydraulic circuit is a separate closed-loop hydraulic system, and neither the first or second axle hydraulic circuits shares hydraulic fluid with the main vehicle hydraulic system.

6. The temperature controlled axle cooling system of claim 5 , further comprising an axle cooling system controller that receives first axle temperature readings from the first temperature sensor and second axle temperature readings from the second temperature sensor, and
wherein the axle cooling system controller activates both the first and second pumps when either of the first or second axle temperature readings is above a high axle temperature threshold.

7. The temperature controlled axle cooling system of claim 6 , wherein the axle cooling system controller deactivates both the first and second pumps when both the first and second axle temperature readings are below a low axle temperature threshold, the low axle temperature threshold being less than the high axle temperature threshold.

8. The temperature controlled axle cooling system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a first motor coupled to the first pump to drive the first pump;
a second motor coupled to the second pump to drive the second pump; and
an on/off valve coupled to the first motor;
wherein when either of the first or second axle temperature readings is above the high axle temperature threshold, the axle cooling system controller opens the on/off valve which activates the first motor which drives the first pump, and return flow from the first motor activates the second motor which drives the second pump.

9. The temperature controlled axle cooling system of claim 8 , wherein the on/off valve is coupled to the main vehicle hydraulic system; and when the on/off valve opens hydraulic fluid flow from the main vehicle hydraulic system flows through the on/off valve, powers the first and second motors and returns to the main vehicle hydraulic system.

10. The temperature controlled axle cooling system of claim 5 , further comprising an axle cooling system controller that receives first axle temperature readings from the first temperature sensor and second axle temperature readings from the second temperature sensor, and
wherein the axle cooling system controller activates the first pump when the first axle temperature reading is above a first high axle temperature threshold; and the axle cooling system controller activates the second pump when the second axle temperature reading is above a second high axle temperature threshold.

11. The temperature controlled axle cooling system of claim 5 , wherein the vehicle further comprises a third axle; and the temperature controlled axle cooling system further comprises:
a third axle hydraulic circuit that passes through the third axle, the third axle hydraulic circuit being a separate closed-loop hydraulic system, and the third axle hydraulic circuit not sharing hydraulic fluid with the main vehicle hydraulic system;
a third pump that circulates axle oil through the third axle hydraulic circuit;
a third axle oil cooler that cools the axle oil as it circulates through the third axle hydraulic circuit;
a third temperature sensor that monitors a third axle temperature of the third axle;
an axle cooling system controller that receives first axle temperature readings from the first temperature sensor, second axle temperature readings from the second temperature sensor and third axle temperature readings from the third temperature sensor;
a first motor coupled to the first pump to drive the first pump;
a second motor coupled to the second and third pumps to drive the second and third pumps; and
an on/off valve coupled to the first motor;
wherein when either of the first, second or third axle temperature readings is above a high axle temperature threshold, the axle cooling system controller opens the on/off valve which activates the first motor which drives the first pump, and return flow from the first motor activates the second motor which drives the second and third pumps.

12. The temperature controlled axle cooling system of claim 11 , wherein the on/off valve is coupled to the main vehicle hydraulic system; and when the on/off valve opens hydraulic fluid flow from the main vehicle hydraulic system flows through the on/off valve, powers the first and second motors and return flow from the second motor returns to the main vehicle hydraulic system.

13. A temperature based method for controlling an axle cooling system for a vehicle having a main vehicle hydraulic system, a first axle and a second axle, the method comprising:
circulating axle oil in a first axle hydraulic circuit that passes through the first axle;
circulating axle oil in a second axle hydraulic circuit that passes through the second axle;
cooling the axle oil in the first axle hydraulic circuit as it circulates in the first axle hydraulic circuit;
cooling the axle oil in the second axle hydraulic circuit as it circulates in the second axle hydraulic circuit;
monitoring a first axle temperature that indicates a temperature of the axle oi

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Delp Ethan H
• Turnis Justin J

Classifications

• F16N39/02

  by cooling (heat-exchangers in general F28) · CPC title

• F01M5/005

  Controlling temperature of lubricant · CPC title

• F16N39/06

  by filtration (filters in general B01D; magnetic separators B03C1/00; {centrifugal separators or filters B04B5/005}) · CPC title

• F16N7/40 Primary

  in a closed circulation system · CPC title