The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 07, 2012
Filed:
Aug. 22, 2008
Gregory J Hilker, Canton, MI (US);
Kevin R Beutler, Columbiaville, MI (US);
Kirk a Broome, Clawson, MI (US);
Gregory J Hilker, Canton, MI (US);
Kevin R Beutler, Columbiaville, MI (US);
Kirk A Broome, Clawson, MI (US);
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An axle assembly with an axle housing assembly and a differential that is mounted in the axle housing assembly for rotation about a first axis. The axle housing assembly defines an interior cavity with a sump having a static liquid lubricant level. The axle housing assembly includes a housing structure and a cover that is coupled to the housing structure. First and second sets of ribs are coupled to the cover and extend into the interior cavity. The first and second sets of ribs are disposed on opposite sides of a ring gear associated with the differential and include a plurality of ribs. A first portion of at least one of the ribs extends below the static liquid lubricant level to thereby be immersed when a liquid lubricant fills the sump to a level that coincides with the static liquid lubricant level.