Patent ID: 7028810
Filing Date: 2006-04-18
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of cooling an axle assembly of a work vehicle, wherein the axle assembly includes an axle shaft, an axle housing configured to substantially surround the axle shaft, a cooling coil housed within the axle housing and having a passage therethrough outer and inner surfaces, the axle assembly further including a second cooling coil, wherein the cooling coil is disposed in a left axle housing and the second cooling coil is disposed in a right axle housing, a lubricating fluid disposed within the axle housing, and a cooling fluid disposed within the passage, and further wherein the lubricating fluid is of a higher temperature than is the outer surface of the coil and the outer surface of the coil is of a higher temperature than is the cooling fluid, the method comprising steps of: removing heat from the lubricating fluid by placing the lubricating fluid in contact with the outer surface of the coil wherein the outer surface of the coil is disposed between a brake assembly and a differential gearset, the coil being entirely disposed underneath the axle shaft; removing the heat from the inner surface of the coil by circulating the cooling fluid through the passage; removing heat from the lubricating fluid by placing the lubricating fluid in contact with the outer surface of the second coil; directing flow of cooling fluid to the coil by using a back pressure regulating valve to impose a pressure difference across the coil; and removing the heat from the cooling fluid by circulating the cooling fluid through a heat exchanger.