Drive axle assembly with insert
View Patent ↗A drive axle assembly is provided which includes a gear housing and differential gear set. An insert is provided which is disposed in a lubricant reservoir of the gear housing. The insert directs lubricant away from the reservoir upon rotation of the differential gear housing.
1. A drive axle assembly, comprising:
a gear housing;
a differential gear set disposed within said gear housing;
an enclosure member connected to said gear housing and enclosing an opening formed in said gear housing, said gear housing and said enclosure member forming a lubricant reservoir through which a member of said differential gear set rotates; and
a hollow insert disposed in said lubricant reservoir, said insert filling a portion of a volume defining said lubricant reservoir and directing lubricant away from said lubricant reservoir upon rotation of said differential gear set.
2. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 1 , wherein said insert has a pocket forming an enclosed pool accessible from the top to capture lubricants therein, said pocket having a magnet placed within.
3. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 2 , wherein said pocket is positioned underneath a bearing.
4. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 2 wherein said insert has a plurality of pockets.
5. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 1 , wherein said insert is connected with a filter for filtering lubricants within said gear housing.
6. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 1 , wherein said insert is disposed within said gear housing by a fastener connecting said enclosure member with said gear housing.
7. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 1 , wherein said insert is adhesively connected with said gear housing.
8. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 2 , wherein said insert has a passage with respect to said gear housing underneath said insert adjacent said pocket to allow contaminants within said lubricating oil to be settled therein.
9. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 1 having a filter connected with said insert.
10. A drive axle assembly, comprising:
a gear housing;
a differential gear set disposed within said gear housing;
an enclosure member connected to said gear housing and enclosing an opening formed in said gear housing, said gear housing and said enclosure member forming a lubricant reservoir through which a member of said differential gear set rotates; and
an insert disposed in said lubricant reservoir, said insert filling a portion of a volume defining said lubricant reservoir, said insert having a pocket forming an enclosed pool accessible from the top to capture lubricants therein, said pocket having a magnet placed therein.
11. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 10 , wherein said insert is hollow.
12. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 10 wherein said insert has a plurality of pockets.
13. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 10 , wherein said insert is connected with a filter for filtering lubricants within said gear housing.
14. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 10 , wherein said insert is connected with said gear housing with a fastener connecting said enclosure member with said gear housing.
15. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 10 , wherein said insert is adhesively connected with said gear housing.
16. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 10 , wherein said insert has a deflector to direct lubricating oil laterally outward from said gear set.
17. A drive axle assembly as described in claim 10 , wherein said insert has a passage with respect to said gear housing underneath said insert adjacent said pocket to allow contaminants within said lubricating oil to be settled therein.