US3590954A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Differential mechanism
Assignee: Volvo White Truck Corp
•
Filing: 1969-12-05
•
Granted: 1971-07-06
•
Expires: 1989-12-05
Abstract
Abstract A motor vehicle having a tandem driven axle in which the driven axles are driven from an interaxle differential mechanism. The interaxle differential mechanism is connected to a positive displacement lubricant pump which pumps lubricant upon differentiation of the interaxle differential mechanism. The discharge of the pump communicates with passageways which direct pumped lubricant to relatively moving parts of the interaxle differential. The pump discharge is throttled by these passageways so that the back pressure of the oil impedes the operation of the pump. The pump is then effective to transmit torque between relatively moving parts of the interaxle differential to limit slipping of the differential.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald S Plantan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:03
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H48/00; F16H48/20; F16H48/27; B; B60; B60K; B60K17/00; B60K17/34; B60K17/344; B60K17/346; B60K17/3462; B60K17/3465; F16H48/06; F16H48/08; F16H57/00; F16H57/04; F16H57/048; F16H57/0482; F16H57/0483; F16H48/38; F16H48/40; F16H57/0434
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
In a vehicle having driven tandem axles, an interaxle differential mechanism for transmitting drive to said driven axles from a propeller shaft of the vehicle comprising: a. a planet gear carrier assembly driven by said propeller shaft including planet gears carried by a carrier member; b. a drive train for one driven axle including a first side gear meshing with said planet gears; c. a drive train for the other driven axle including a second side gear meshing with said planet gears; d. a lubricant pump drivingly connected between said carrier assembly and the drive train for one of said axles, said pump operative to direct lubricant to parts of said differential mechanism in response to slipping of said differential mechanism; e. means for restricting flow of pumped lubricant from said pump to said parts whereby lubricant back pressure impedes operation of said pump; and, f. said pump transferring torque between said carrier assembly and said one drive train when slipping occurs to limit slipping of said differential mechanism while pumping lubricant to said parts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a vehicle having driven tandem axles, an interaxle differential mechanism for transmitting drive to said driven axles from a propeller shaft of the vehicle comprising: a. a planet gear carrier assembly driven by said propeller shaft including planet gears carried by a carrier member; b. a drive train for one driven axle including a first side gear meshing with said planet gears; c. a drive train for the other driven axle including a second side gear meshing with said planet gears; d. a lubricant pump drivingly connected between said carrier assembly and the drive train for one of said axles, said pump operative to direct lubricant to parts of said differential mechanism in response to slipping of said differential mechanism; e. means for restricting flow of pumped lubricant from said pump to said parts whereby lubricant back pressure impedes operation of said pump; and, f. said pump transferring torque between said carrier assembly and said one drive train when slipping occurs to limit slipping of said differential mechanism while pumping lubricant to said parts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A differential mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said planet gear carrier assembly includes an input shaft for driving said planet carrier member, said input shaft supporting said first side gear for relative rotation, said flow restricting means including at least a lubricant passageway in said input shaft for directing lubricant between said first side gear and said input shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A differential mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said passageway includes an axial opening in said input shaft and a plurality of radial passages communicating said axial opening to the exterior of said input shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A differential mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein the drive to which said pump is connected further includes an output shaft member supporting one of said side gears, said output shaft including an axial opening communicating with said axial opening in said input shaft, said pump directing discharge lubricant into said axial opening in said output shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A differential mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein said input and output shafts have a common axis of rotation and said axial openings extend along said axis of rotation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A differential mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein ends of said input and output shafts are adjacent each other and said openings in said shafts extend from said ends, and a surface bridges said ends of said shafts for confining lubricant between said shaft ends whereby pumped lubricant is forced into the opening in said input shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A differential mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein said surface is formed in a socket defined by the side gear carried by said output shaft, said socket snugly receiving said input shaft and rotatable with respect to said input shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said driven tandem axles each includes an axle differential mechanism driven by said interaxle differential mechanism, one of said axle differential mechanisms and said interaxle differential mechanism located in a common case with said interaxle differential vertically above said axle differential.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein said case defines a lubricant reservoir remote from said interaxle differential, an inlet of said pump communicating with said reservoir through an inlet flow passageway extending to said reservoir from said pump.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A differential mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said input and output shafts coextend along a common axis of rotation, each of said shafts defining axially extending holes opening at adjacent ends of said shafts, said pump having its discharge communicating with the axial opening in said output shaft for directing pumped lubricant into said holes, in said input and output shafts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A differential mechanism as claimed in claim 10 wherein said pump includes a first part fixed to said output shaft and a second part fixed to said planet carrier member, said first and second pump parts effecting pumping of lubricant when relative rotation between them occurs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
145 words
A differential mechanism comprising: a. a power input shaft; b. a planet gear carrier assembly fixed to said input shaft; c. a first output drive transmission including a side gear rotatably supported on said input shaft adjacent said planet gear carrier assembly; d. a second output drive transmission including a second side gear fixed to an output shaft; e. a positive displacement lubricant pump connected between said planet gear carrier assembly and one of said drive transmission, said pump operating to pump lubricant only when slip occurs between said planet gear carrier assembly and said one drive transmission; and, f. lubricant directing means communicating the discharge from said pump to relatively moving parts of said differential mechanism, said lubricant-directing means including a lubricant passageway in said input shaft and a plurality of passages for directing pumped lubricant from said passageway to said relatively moving parts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
145 words
A differential mechanism comprising: a. a power input shaft; b. a planet gear carrier assembly fixed to said input shaft; c. a first output drive transmission including a side gear rotatably supported on said input shaft adjacent said planet gear carrier assembly; d. a second output drive transmission including a second side gear fixed to an output shaft; e. a positive displacement lubricant pump connected between said planet gear carrier assembly and one of said drive transmission, said pump operating to pump lubricant only when slip occurs between said planet gear carrier assembly and said one drive transmission; and, f. lubricant directing means communicating the discharge from said pump to relatively moving parts of said differential mechanism, said lubricant-directing means including a lubricant passageway in said input shaft and a plurality of passages for directing pumped lubricant from said passageway to said relatively moving parts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A differential as claimed in claim 12 wherein said passageway in said input shaft opens at one end thereof, said end of said input shaft rotatably received in a socket defined by said second side gear, said socket closely surrounding said input shaft and minimizing the flow of lubricant beTween said input shaft and said socket.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A differential as claimed in claim 13 and further including a second passage for directing pumped lubricant into said first passage through said end of said input shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A differential as claimed in claim 14 wherein said second passage is defined in said output shaft, said input and output shafts aligned with said end of said input shaft disposed closely adjacent an end of said output shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A differential as claimed in claim 12 wherein said lubricant-directing means includes at least a flow restricting portion to restrict the flow of lubricant to said parts of said differential and create back pressure for impeding operation of said pump.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
A differential as claimed in claim 16 wherein said pump includes a first member fixed to said one drive transmission, a second member fixed to said planet gear carrier assembly, said first and second pump members moved relative to each other to effect pumping lubricant in proportion to slipping of said differential, said lubricant back pressure retarding relative rotation between said pump members whereby torque is transmitted between said planet carrier assembly and said one drive transmission to limit slipping of said differential.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a differential mechanism: a. an input drive comprising a propeller shaft and a planetary gear assembly; b. a pair of output drives comprising output drive gears meshing with gears of said planetary assembly and driven members connected to respective output drive gears; c. a lubricant pump connected between said input drive and one output drive for pumping lubricant only when said differential mechanism slips; d. at least one lubricant-directing passageway extending from an outlet of said pump to parts of said differential mechanism which move relative to each other when said differential mechanism slips whereby said relatively moving parts are lubricated when said differential slips; and, e. said at least one passageway restricting flow of lubricant therethrough from said pump at differential slip speeds above a given speed whereby the back pressure on said pump is increased and slipping between said input drive and said one output drive is retarded by said lubricant pump.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a differential mechanism: a. an input drive comprising a propeller shaft and a planetary gear assembly; b. a pair of output drives comprising output drive gears meshing with gears of said planetary assembly and driven members connected to respective output drive gears; c. a lubricant pump connected between said input drive and one output drive for pumping lubricant only when said differential mechanism slips; d. at least one lubricant-directing passageway extending from an outlet of said pump to parts of said differential mechanism which move relative to each other when said differential mechanism slips whereby said relatively moving parts are lubricated when said differential slips; and, e. said at least one passageway restricting flow of lubricant therethrough from said pump at differential slip speeds above a given speed whereby the back pressure on said pump is increased and slipping between said input drive and said one output drive is retarded by said lubricant pump.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The differential mechanism claimed in claim 18 wherein said lubricant pump is a positive displacement pump and said at least one passageway is defined by openings in said propeller shaft and a driven member of one of said output drives.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
70 words
The differential mechanism claimed in claim 19 wherein said pump comprises a first pump member connected to said planetary gear assembly for rotation therewith, a second pump member connected to one of said output drive gears for rotation therewith, and an outlet communicating with said at least one passageway, said pump operative to pump lubricant through said outlet when said first and second pump members rotate relative to each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1638228A
Cited
US2272416A
Cited
US2375938A
Cited
US2400964A
Cited
US2397374A
Cited
US2638173A
Cited
US3040600A
Cited
US2861478A
Cited
US3441106A
Cited
US3448635A
Cited
US3495479A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |