Patent ID: 9238386
Filing Date: 2016-01-19
CPC Classification: B60B,F16D,F16H,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A supply and return axle leg oil circulation system for an axle housing assembly, comprising: an axle housing including a central body defining a first axis, a pair of legs extending from the central body, each leg extending along the first axis, each leg extending oppositely of the other from the central body; a ring gear situated within the central body, the central body including a central cavity including an axle oil reservoir, a portion of the ring gear adapted to interface with the axle oil reservoir, the ring gear rotatable about the axis; a right leg defining a right leg cavity and a left leg defining a left leg cavity, the central cavity disposed between the right and left leg cavities; a first oil conduit extending from the central body to one leg and a second oil conduit extending from the central body to the second leg, the first and second conduits adapted to transport oil out of the central body and into each leg; a right axle extending axially from the central body, a left axle extending axially from the central body, the right and left axles enclosed in the right and left leg cavities respectively, the first and second oil conduits supplying oil for lubricating the right and left axles; a pair of brake assemblies situated along the axis at axially outboard portions of the central body, each brake assembly situated within the central body, wherein each brake assembly is positioned on an opposite side of the ring gear, each brake assembly including a central brake hub and at least one disc, each brake assembly rotatably adapted to receive return oil from along the respective axle shaft of each leg and centrifugally move oil radially outwardly therefrom; a third and fourth oil conduit situated radially outwardly of each brake assembly, each of the third and fourth oil conduits extending radially and axially from each respective brake assembly toward the central body, the third and fourth oil conduits being adapted to accommodate transfer of oil from the legs back to the central body; wherein the ring gear, a pinion gear, and first and second oil conduits comprise an outbound first axle leg oil porting system adapted for supply of oil to the legs from the central body; and wherein the at least one disc of each brake assembly, along with the third and fourth oil conduits, comprise an inbound second oil porting system adapted for return of oil from the legs to the central body.