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:
Apr. 29, 2014
Filed:
Jan. 05, 2010
Lourens M. Jacobs, Cedar Falls, IA (US);
Gerald R. Thom, Livonia, MI (US);
Joseph P. Elser, Milford, MI (US);
Muhammad Hamid Iqbal, Canton, MI (US);
Lourens M. Jacobs, Cedar Falls, IA (US);
Gerald R. Thom, Livonia, MI (US);
Joseph P. Elser, Milford, MI (US);
Muhammad Hamid Iqbal, Canton, MI (US);
Chrysler Group LLC, Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
An axle having a variable volume sump. The axle includes an axle housing that defines a gear chamber and a separate reservoir. The gear chamber and the reservoir are in fluid communication with each other via an opening. A regulator is located adjacent the opening. The regulator is operable to assume a first closed position that obstructs the opening when a temperature in the axle is below a predetermined value, and is also operable to assume a second open position that places the gear chamber and the reservoir in fluid communication via the opening when the temperature is above the predetermined value.