Patent ID: 6360840
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
An apparatus for controlling temperature of fluid in a rear axle assembly, the apparatus comprising:a rear axle housing having a number of sidewalls which collectively define an internal component chamber, wherein (i) said internal component chamber has a rear axle sump located therein, and (ii) said rear axle sump has a sump input port defined therein; a temperature control operational pressure source coupled to said internal component chamber of said rear axle housing to advance fluid therefrom; a diverter valve coupled to said temperature control operational pressure source to receive fluid advanced from said internal component chamber by said temperature control operational pressure source, said diverter valve having a cold fluid output port and a hot fluid output port; a heating fluid return line interposed between said cold fluid output port of said diverter valve and said sump input port of said rear axle sump; and a cooling fluid return line interposed between said hot fluid output port of said diverter valve and a housing input port of said rear axle housing; wherein said temperature control operational pressure source is selectively operable between (i) a first rate mode in which it advances fluid from said internal component chamber of said rear axle housing at a first flow rate, and (ii) a second rate mode in which it advances fluid from said internal component chamber of said rear axle housing at a second flow rate; and wherein said diverter valve is selectively operable between (i) a heating position in which fluid advanced by said temperature control operational pressure source is diverted to said rear axle sump of said rear axle housing via said heating fluid return line, and (ii) a cooling position in which fluid advanced by said temperature control operational pressure source is diverted to said housing input port of said rear axle housing via said cooling fluid return line.