Patent ID: 6997841
Filing Date: 2006-02-14
Classification: B60K,F01C,F04C,F16H

Abstract:
1. An inter-axle differential assembly for a vehicular power transmission unit provided with a supply of lubricant, said inter-axle differential assembly comprising: a differential input shaft; a differential output shaft; a differential gearing, said a differential gearing including: a dedicated lubrication pump for lubricating components of said differential assembly, said pump mounted between said input shaft and said output shaft, wherein said pump generates lubrication flow whenever differential action between said differential input shaft and said differential output shaft occurs, said lubrication pump including a rotor non-rotatably coupled to said input shaft and an impeller positioned within said first side gear, wherein said rotor is rotatably disposed within said impeller and is operative upon rotation with respect to said impeller; said lubrication pump being axially spaced from both said differential input shaft and said differential output shaft; a hydraulic fluid suction passage providing an inlet fluid communication passage between said supply of lubricant and an inlet port of said lubrication pump; and a gallery of fluid passages supplying said lubricant for lubricating said components of said inter-axle differential assembly; said gallery of fluid passages fluidly connected to an outlet port of said lubrication pump.