US5232291A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Axle carrier pinion bearing lube return
Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group LLC
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Filing: 1992-02-28
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Granted: 1993-08-03
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Expires: 2012-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A lubricating device for the inboard and outboard pinion bearings of a carrier comprises a pair of offset angularly disposed deflectors disposed within the carrier adjacent to the pinion shaft. One deflector is located in the lower portion of the carrier adjacent to the outboard pinion bearing and is angled to direct the flow of lubricant toward the inboard pinion bearing, while another deflector is in the upper portion of the carrier adjacent to the inboard pinion bearing and is angled to direct the flow of lubricant toward the outboard pinion bearing. The carrier lubricant is thereby directed along a generally one-way fluid path, minimizing the direct recirculation of high temperature oil through the outboard pinion bearing.
Inventors
- 👤 Chia-Liu Kuan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:19
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H57/00; F16H57/04; F16H57/048; F16H57/0482; F16H57/0483; B; B60; B60R; B60R17/00; F16C; F16C19/00; F16C19/54; F16C19/546; F16C19/547; F16C19/548; F16C33/00; F16C33/30; F16C33/66; F16C33/6637; F16C33/664; F16C33/6651; F16C33/6659; F16H57/042; F16H57/0421; F16C2361/00; F16C2361/61; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19991
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A vehicle axle carrier including pinion bearings and a lubricating device for the pinion bearings comprising: a) a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion; b) a pinion including a pinion shaft rotatably mounted in said housing by spaced apart inboard and outboard pinion bearings; c) first deflector means disposed adjacent said inboard pinion bearing in the upper portion of said housing for directing the flow of lubricant toward said outboard pinion bearing; and d) second deflector means disposed adjacent said outboard pinion bearing in the lower portion of said housing for directing the flow of lubricant toward said inboard pinion bearing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A vehicle axle carrier including pinion bearings and a lubricating device for the pinion bearings comprising: a) a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion; b) a pinion including a pinion shaft rotatably mounted in said housing by spaced apart inboard and outboard pinion bearings; c) first deflector means disposed adjacent said inboard pinion bearing in the upper portion of said housing for directing the flow of lubricant toward said outboard pinion bearing; and d) second deflector means disposed adjacent said outboard pinion bearing in the lower portion of said housing for directing the flow of lubricant toward said inboard pinion bearing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle axle carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein said first deflector means disposed adjacent said inboard pinion bearing is angled outwardly and downwardly toward said outboard pinion bearing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle axle carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein said second deflector means disposed adjacent said outboard pinion bearing is angled upwardly and inwardly toward said inboard pinion bearing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle axle carrier as defined in claim 3, wherein said second deflector means forms a lubricant reservoir in communication with said outboard pinion bearing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle axle carrier as defined in claim 1, where said first deflector means and said second deflector means are formed of a polymeric material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A vehicle axle carrier as defined in claim 5, wherein said polymeric material is polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle axle carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein said first deflector means and said second deflector means are formed as an integral, one piece deflector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle axle carrier as defined in claim 7, wherein said one piece deflector is formed of a polymeric material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A vehicle axle carrier as defined in claim 8, wherein said polymeric material is polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
A vehicle axle carrier including pinion bearings and a lubricating device for the pinion bearings comprising: a) a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion; b) a pinion including a pinion shaft rotatably mounted in said housing by spaced apart inboard and outboard pinion bearings; c) deflector means having a first portion thereof disposed adjacent said inboard pinion bearing in the upper portion of said housing for directing the flow of lubricant toward said outboard pinion bearing and a second portion thereof disposed adjacent said outboard pinion bearing in the lower portion of said housing for directing the flow of lubricant toward said inboard pinion bearing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
A vehicle axle carrier including pinion bearings and a lubricating device for the pinion bearings comprising: a) a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion; b) a pinion including a pinion shaft rotatably mounted in said housing by spaced apart inboard and outboard pinion bearings; c) deflector means having a first portion thereof disposed adjacent said inboard pinion bearing in the upper portion of said housing for directing the flow of lubricant toward said outboard pinion bearing and a second portion thereof disposed adjacent said outboard pinion bearing in the lower portion of said housing for directing the flow of lubricant toward said inboard pinion bearing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle axle carrier as defined in claim 10, wherein said deflector means is comprised of a one piece deflector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle axle carrier as defined in claim 10, wherein said one piece deflector is formed of a polymeric material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vehicle axle carrier as defined in claim 10, wherein said one piece deflector is formed of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
138 words
A vehicle axle carrier including pinion bearings and a lubricating device for the pinion bearings comprising: a) a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion; b) a pinion including a pinion shaft rotatably mounted in said housing by spaced apart inboard and outboard pinion bearings; c) a first deflector disposed adjacent said inboard pinion bearing in the upper portion of said housing and angled downwardly and outwardly toward said outboard pinion bearing to direct the flow of lubricant toward said outboard pinion bearing; and d) a second deflector disposed adjacent said outboard pinion bearing in the lower portion of said housing and angled upwardly and inwardly toward said inboard pinion bearing to direct the flow of lubricant toward said inboard pinion bearing, said second deflector forming a lubricant reservoir in communication with said outboard pinion bearing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
138 words
A vehicle axle carrier including pinion bearings and a lubricating device for the pinion bearings comprising: a) a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion; b) a pinion including a pinion shaft rotatably mounted in said housing by spaced apart inboard and outboard pinion bearings; c) a first deflector disposed adjacent said inboard pinion bearing in the upper portion of said housing and angled downwardly and outwardly toward said outboard pinion bearing to direct the flow of lubricant toward said outboard pinion bearing; and d) a second deflector disposed adjacent said outboard pinion bearing in the lower portion of said housing and angled upwardly and inwardly toward said inboard pinion bearing to direct the flow of lubricant toward said inboard pinion bearing, said second deflector forming a lubricant reservoir in communication with said outboard pinion bearing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
168 words
In an axle carrier including a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, a sump formed in the lower portion of the housing for containing a reservoir of lubricant, a pinion having a pinion shaft rotatably mounted in the housing by means of an inboard pinion bearing and an outboard pinion bearing, a device for controlling the flow of lubricant to the pinion bearings comprising: a) a first deflector disposed in the upper portion of the housing adjacent the inboard pinion bearing and the pinion shaft, said first deflector inclining downwardly in the direction of the outboard pinion bearing; and b) a second deflector disposed in the lower portion of the housing adjacent the outboard pinion bearing and the pinion shaft, said second deflector inclining upwardly toward the inboard pinion bearing; whereby said first and second deflectors direct the flow of lubricant through a generally one-way fluid path from the sump to the outboard pinion bearing, through the inboard pinion bearing and back to the sump.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
168 words
In an axle carrier including a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, a sump formed in the lower portion of the housing for containing a reservoir of lubricant, a pinion having a pinion shaft rotatably mounted in the housing by means of an inboard pinion bearing and an outboard pinion bearing, a device for controlling the flow of lubricant to the pinion bearings comprising: a) a first deflector disposed in the upper portion of the housing adjacent the inboard pinion bearing and the pinion shaft, said first deflector inclining downwardly in the direction of the outboard pinion bearing; and b) a second deflector disposed in the lower portion of the housing adjacent the outboard pinion bearing and the pinion shaft, said second deflector inclining upwardly toward the inboard pinion bearing; whereby said first and second deflectors direct the flow of lubricant through a generally one-way fluid path from the sump to the outboard pinion bearing, through the inboard pinion bearing and back to the sump.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-02 | 1997-02-01 | 1997-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-02 | 2001-02-01 | 2001-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-02 | 2005-02-01 | 2005-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |