American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

Gregory E Woodside

Gregory Joseph Hilker

William Gordon Hunt

Kevin Ray Beutler

Chih-Hung Chung

Robert B Dwyer

James Preston Downs

Douglas J Chemelli

Blair J Swanson

Jeffrey L Gerstenberger

Herbert L Adams, Iii

James M Purington

David R Brandt

Libu M Thamarappallil

W Gordon Hunt

Eugene A Rodden

An axle assembly that is configured with reduced weight and an internal configuration that is configured to reduce losses through, for example, higher efficiency gearing, low viscosity lubricant and reduced lubricant levels as compared with current production automotive axle assemblies that are configured with a similar overall gear ratio and capacity.

Axle assembly

A bearing assembly and a related power transmitting component. The bearing assembly includes a first bearing, which is an angular contact bearing, and a second bearing, which is a tapered roller bearing. The first bearing has a first inner bearing race, a first outer bearing race and a plurality of spherical bearing balls disposed between the first inner bearing race and the first outer bearing race. The second bearing assembly has a second inner bearing race, a second outer bearing race and a plurality of tapered bearing rolls disposed between the second inner bearing race and the second outer bearing race. One of the first inner and first outer bearing races is fixedly coupled to one of the second inner and second outer bearing races for axial and rotational movement therewith. The first and second bearings are configured to handle thrust in a common axial direction.

Bearing assembly configured to handle axial and radial loads

A method for lubricating an axle assembly can include: coupling a pair of tapered roller bearing to opposite ends of a differential housing; placing the differential housing into a carrier housing assembly such that the tapered roller bearings support the differential housing on the carrier housing assembly for rotation about a first axis; collecting a lubricant proximate a side of one of the tapered roller bearings opposite the differential housing; and rotating the differential housing about the first axis to cause the one of the tapered roller bearings to move a portion of the collected lubricant through the differential housing. A related axle assembly is also provided.

Differential lubrication feed system in a drive axle assembly

A power transmitting assembly having a differential case and a differential gearset that is received in an interior chamber in the differential case. The power transmitting assembly is configured to provide improved lubrication into an interior of the differential case.

Method and apparatus for lubricating a differential in an axle assembly

An axle assembly having an axle assembly with first and second sumps for holding a lubricant. A rotating ring gear associated with a differential can rotate through the lubricant in the first sump to cause a portion of the lubricant to cling to the ring gear. A portion of the lubricant that has clung to the ring gear can be removed from the ring gear and transferred to the second sump. The lubricant in the second sump can be drained to lubricate teeth of a pinion that is in meshing engagement with the ring gear and/or to lubricate bearings that support the pinion. A related method is also provided.

Drive axle assembly with gear mesh lubrication systems for lubricating gear mesh and/or differential bearings

A power transmitting assembly having a differential case and a differential gearset that is received in an interior chamber in the differential case. The differential case defines a tubular bearing mount and a plurality of oil galleries. The tubular bearing mount terminates at a radially extending shoulder. Each oil gallery intersects the radially extending shoulder at a first end and extends through the differential case to communicate with the interior chamber. At least one location along the length of each oil gallery has a lateral cross-section that is smaller than a lateral cross-section of that oil gallery's first end.

A method for lubricating an axle assembly can include: coupling a pair of bearing to opposite ends of a differential housing; placing the differential housing into a carrier housing assembly such that the bearings support the differential housing on the carrier housing assembly for rotation about a first axis; collecting a lubricant proximate a side of one of the bearings opposite the differential housing; and rotating the differential housing about the first axis to cause the one of the bearings to move a portion of the collected lubricant through the differential housing. A related axle assembly is also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Gregory E Woodside