US Patent 7445574 Drive axle with variable oil flow mechanism

Patent 7445574 was granted and assigned to American Axle on November, 2008 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

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Is a

Patent

Patent attributes

Current Assignee

American Axle

Patent Jurisdiction

United States Patent and Trademark Office

Patent Number

74455740

Patent Inventor Names

Frank C. Weith0

Date of Patent

November 4, 2008

Patent Application Number

117142880

Date Filed

March 5, 2007

Patent Primary Examiner

‌

Richard M Lorence

Patent abstract

An axle assembly including a differential gear set having a ring gear. The axle assembly includes a carrier assembly housing that contains the differential gear set and an arcuate fence disposed adjacent to the ring gear that connects to the carrier assembly housing. A moveable plate slidingly connects to the arcuate fence. The moveable plate has an open position, a closed position and a plurality of positions therebetween. The closed position is closer to the ring gear than the open position. The arcuate fence and/or the moveable plate may reduce churning of the lubrication to increase the cooling efficacy of the lubrication.