US 11,708,939 B2
Axle assembly having a dipstick assembly
Andrew Bodary, Troy, MI (US); Mailys Eichsteadt, Troy, MI (US); Ginger St. Cyr, Troy, MI (US); and Florin Patrascu, Troy, MI (US)
Assigned to ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC, Troy, MI (US)
Filed by ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC, Troy, MI (US)
Filed on May 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/752,365.
Application 17/752,365 is a division of application No. 17/197,464, filed on Mar. 10, 2021, granted, now 11,396,976.
Prior Publication US 2022/0290806 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. F16N 19/00 (2006.01); F16H 57/02 (2012.01); F16H 57/04 (2010.01)
CPC F16N 19/003 (2013.01) [F16H 57/02 (2013.01); F16H 57/0457 (2013.01); F16H 57/0483 (2013.01); F16H 2057/02052 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An axle assembly comprising:
a housing assembly that at least partially defines a cavity that receives a lubricant; and
a dipstick assembly that includes:
a fitting that is mounted to the housing assembly and that defines a fitting hole that is disposed along an axis;
a cap that is removably mountable to the fitting; and
a dipstick that includes:
a first end portion that is mounted to the cap;
a second end portion that is disposed opposite the first end portion;
a first intermediate portion that extends from the first end portion and that is at least partially received in the fitting hole when the cap is mounted to the fitting; and
a second intermediate portion that extends from the first intermediate portion to the second end portion, wherein the second intermediate portion is disposed outside of the fitting hole when the cap is mounted to the fitting, wherein the first intermediate portion of the dipstick includes a first segment that extends from the first end portion, a second segment that extends from an end of the first segment, and a third segment that extends from the second segment to the second intermediate portion, the first and third segments are disposed in a nonparallel and non-perpendicular relationship with the axis, and the second segment is offset from and does not intersect the axis.