US-12624752-B2 - Axle gear housing with bi-directional lubrication channels

US12624752B2US 12624752 B2US12624752 B2US 12624752B2US-12624752-B2

Abstract

An axle assembly including a differential carrier having a guide structure positioned in an upper portion of an interior face of the differential carrier. The guide structure includes a plurality of guides for directing the flow of lubricant during operation of the axle assembly. For example, the guide structure may include a plurality of guides, each guide having at least one surface on which to receive lubricant and direct flow of the received lubricant to at least one of a first feed opening and a second feed opening.

Inventors

Waseem Kaakarni
Andrew Bodary
Robert Martin

Assignees

ARVINMERITOR TECHNOLOGY, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20241115

Claims (13)

1 . A differential carrier, comprising: a housing defining a central opening and an interior face surrounding the central opening; a first feed opening defined by the housing within the interior face; a second feed opening defined by the housing within the interior face; and a guide structure fixedly attached to the interior face, the guide structure including a central portion, a first guide extending from the central portion away from the central opening, a second guide extending from the central portion toward the central opening, a third guide extending laterally from the central portion in a first direction, and a fourth guide extending laterally from the central portion in a second direction.
2 . The differential carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first guide and the second guide are longitudinally aligned relative to the central portion.
3 . The differential carrier of claim 1 , wherein the third guide and the fourth guide extend from the central portion in opposite directions.
4 . The differential carrier of claim 1 , wherein the third guide and the fourth guide each curve toward a general direction of the central opening.
5 . The differential carrier of claim 1 , wherein a first end of the third guide opposite of the central portion is positioned adjacent to the first feed opening.
6 . The differential carrier of claim 1 , wherein a first end of the fourth guide opposite of the central portion is positioned adjacent to the second feed opening.
7 . An axle assembly comprising: an axle housing defining a sump portion configured to house lubricant; and a differential carrier coupled to the axle housing and configured to support a differential assembly, the differential carrier including an interior face facing the axle housing and a guide structure fixed to an upper portion of the interior face, the guide structure including: a first guide extending laterally from a central portion of the guide structure, the first guide including a first distal end positioned adjacent a first feed opening defined by the interior face; and a second guide extending laterally from the central portion of the guide structure, the second guide including a first distal end positioned adjacent a second feed opening defined by the interior face; a third guide extending longitudinally from the central portion of the guide structure in a first direction; and a fourth guide extending longitudinally from the central portion of the guide structure in a second direction.
8 . The axle assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a first guide extending laterally from a central portion of the guide structure, the first guide including a first distal end positioned adjacent a first feed opening defined by the interior face.
9 . The axle assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a second guide extending laterally from the central portion of the guide structure, the second guide including a first distal end positioned adjacent a second feed opening defined by the interior face.
10 . The axle assembly of claim 7 , further comprising: a third guide extending longitudinally from the central portion of the guide structure in a first direction; and a fourth guide extending longitudinally from the central portion of the guide structure in a second direction.
11 . The axle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the third guide and the fourth guide are longitudinally aligned.
12 . The axle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite directions.
13 . The axle assembly of claim 7 , wherein the guide structure extends axially from the interior face of the differential carrier so that the guide structure is configured to receive lubricant.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/599,159, filed Nov. 15, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to lubrication of axle assemblies. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to inclusion and/or integration of lubrication channels for lubrication of a corresponding axle assembly within the gear housing of the axle assembly. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Demand for hybrid electric and battery electric vehicles continues to increase and, correspondingly, demand for electric motor driven axles has also increased. To ensure proper operation of an electric motor driven axle, proper lubrication is needed. Conventional systems rely on the splashing of lubricant within the axle assembly during operation for lubrication of components. Such an arrangement may be unreliable, as there is no guarantee that the appropriate amount of lubrication reaches the necessary places. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure provides an axle assembly including a differential carrier having a guide structure positioned in an upper portion of an interior face of the differential carrier. The guide structure includes a plurality of guides for directing the flow of lubricant during operation of the axle assembly. For example, the guide structure may include a plurality of guides, each guide having at least one surface on which to receive lubricant and direct flow of the received lubricant to at least one of a first feed opening and a second feed opening. In a first aspect of the disclosure, an axle assembly is disclosed. The axle assembly includes an axle housing defining a sump portion configured to house lubricant; a ring gear mounted within the axle housing so at least a portion of the ring gear is positioned within the sump portion to interact with the lubricant; and a differential carrier coupled to the axle housing and configured to support a differential assembly. The ring gear is configured to spin in a first direction in a first configuration so that the lubricant is moved in the first direction and to spin in a second direction in a second configuration so that the lubricant is moved in the second direction. The first direction is different than the second direction. The differential carrier includes an interior face facing the axle housing. The interior face of the differential carrier includes a guide structure positioned on the interior face. The guide structure has a first guide configured to receive lubricant from the sump portion when the ring gear is in the first configuration and when the ring gear is in the second configuration and a second guide configured to receive lubricant from the sump portion when the ring gear is in the first configuration and when the ring gear is in the second configuration. The first guide includes a first end positioned adjacent to a first feed opening of the differential carrier. The second guide includes a first end positioned adjacent to a second feed opening. In another aspect of the disclosure, a differential carrier is disclosed. The differential carrier including a housing defining a central opening and an interior face surrounding the central opening; a first feed opening defined by the housing within the interior face; a second feed opening defined by the housing within the interior face; and a guide structure fixedly attached to the interior face. The guide structure includes a central portion, a first guide extending from the central portion away from the central opening, a second guide extending from the central portion toward the central opening, a third guide extending laterally from the central portion in a first direction, and a fourth guide extending laterally from the central portion in a second direction. In yet another aspect of the disclosure, an axle assembly is disclosed. The axle assembly includes an axle housing defining a sump portion configured to house lubricant and a differential carrier coupled to the axle housing and configured to support a differential assembly. The differential carrier includes an interior face facing the axle housing and a guide structure fixed to an upper portion of the interior face. The guide structure includes a first guide extending laterally from a central portion of the guide structure, a second guide extending laterally from the central portion of the guide structure, a third guide extending longitudinally from the central portion of the guide structure in a first direction, and a fourth guide extending longitudinally from the central portion of the guide structure in a second direction. The first guide includes a first distal end positioned adjacent a first feed opening defined by the interior face. The second guide includes a first distal end positioned adjacent a second feed opening defined by the interior face. In vari