Patent ID: 6155135
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A final drive unit having a gear housing, a cover attached to the gear housing forming a lubricant reservoir in the gear housing, a rotatable member forming part of a gear assembly rotatably mounted in the gear housing, the rotatable member having a lower portion that is emersed in lubricant in the lubricant reservoir and a lubricant cooling system, the lubricant cooling system comprising:a lubricant cooling passage in the cover in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir via an inlet that is exposed to lubricant in the lubricant reservoir,the inlet being near the bottom of the cover and aligned with the rotatable member so that lubricant flows into the lubricant passage when the rotatable member rotates, andthe lubricant cooling passage having a manifold just above the inlet and a plurality of laterally spaced vertical conduits that extend from the manifold to outlets that are located completely above the inlet and the manifold and above the axis of the rotatable member whereby lubricant flowing into the lubricant cooling passage is divided amongst the plurality of laterally spaced vertical conduits before the lubricant is returned to the reservoir through the outlets.