Multi-speed planetary drive axle assembly

Claim 1

In a multi-speed drive axle assembly of the type comprising an axle housing for holding a pool of lubricant, a differential carrier mounted to said housing; a differential case having a pair of oppositely disposed substantially parallel end walls, a boss extending axially outward from each of said end walls and being rotatably mounted in bearings seated in said differential carrier, a differential cage including a pair of side members rotatably supporting a differential mechanism within said differential case and adjacent one end wall of said differential case, a planetary reduction within said differential case and adjacent the other said end wall of said differential case, said planetary reduction including a plurality of pinion gears with each pinion gear mounted for rotation about a shaft, each said shaft being seated at one end in an aperture provided to one of said differential cage side members and the other end of each shaft being seated in an aperture provided to an end plate secured to said one differential cage side member, said end plate being closely adjacent and substantially parallel to said other end wall of said differential case and having an outer peripheral edge in close proximity to an interior surface of said differential case, a plurality of grooves extending axially across the outer peripheral edge of said end plate, a plurality of lubricant inlet passages through said one end wall of said differential case, a groove formed on the interior surface of said one differential cage side member and common to said apertures mounting said pinion gear shafts, a lubricant passage extending axially along each of said pinion shafts interiorly of its respective pinion gear, a plurality of lubricant outlet passages through said other end wall of said differential case, said outlet passages being spaced radially outward from said pinion shafts, a lubricant discharge groove on the interior surface of said other end wall of said differential case, said discharge groove being common to said outlet passages and means providing lubricant at said lubricant inlet passages whereby said lubricant will flow into said differential case and said differential cage and radially outward from said groove on the interior surface of said one differential cage side member through said passages along said pinion shafts and through said grooves extending axially across the outer peripheral edge of said end plate to said discharge groove and said lubricant outlet passages.