US 11,949,319 B2
Multi-speed gearbox and the drive axle made therewith
Gowrisankar Devaraj, Ghent (BE); Eric M. Engerman, Plymouth, MI (US); Charles B. Lohr, III, Jonestown, TX (US); Gordon M. McIndoe, Volente, TX (US); Travis J. Miller, Austin, TX (US); Ryan D. Nelms, Weatherford, TX (US); Matthew Simister, Austin, TX (US); and Ned W. Wright, Toledo, OH (US)
Assigned to DANA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC, Maumee, OH (US)
Filed by Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC, Maumee, OH (US)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/174,527.
Application 18/174,527 is a division of application No. 16/589,185, filed on Oct. 1, 2019, granted, now 11,621,606.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/739,643, filed on Oct. 1, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0216374 A1, Jul. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. H02K 7/00 (2006.01); B60K 6/36 (2007.10); F16H 3/12 (2006.01); H02K 7/116 (2006.01); F16H 3/093 (2006.01)
CPC H02K 7/1163 (2013.01) [B60K 6/36 (2013.01); F16H 3/126 (2013.01); F16H 2003/0936 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a gear-clutch assembly, comprising:
providing an idler assembly including a rotatable shaft having a first gear-clutch assembly selectively coupled to a first end thereof and a second gear-clutch assembly selectively coupled to a second end thereof;
providing a first fluid source in fluid communication with at least one of the first gear-clutch assembly and the second gear-clutch assembly through at least one fluid passage; and
selectively causing a first fluid to flow from the first fluid source to facilitate at least one of selective engagement and lubrication to at least one of the first and second gear-clutch assemblies,
wherein the at least one fluid passage comprises a first section extending radially outward to an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable shaft, and a second section fluidly connected to at least one aperture formed about a circumference of a clutch drum of the first gear-clutch assembly.