US 12,188,552 B2
Beam axle drain back valve
Peter Rentfrow, Doylestown, OH (US)
Assigned to Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed by Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed on Feb. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/115,166.
Prior Publication US 2024/0288061 A1, Aug. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. F16H 57/00 (2012.01); B60B 35/12 (2006.01); B60K 17/16 (2006.01); F16H 57/04 (2010.01); F16K 1/14 (2006.01); B60B 35/16 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 57/0443 (2013.01) [B60B 35/122 (2013.01); B60K 17/165 (2013.01); F16H 57/0483 (2013.01); F16K 1/14 (2013.01); B60B 35/16 (2013.01); F16H 57/0454 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A beam axle comprising:
a differential case;
a differential gear set located in the differential case;
an axle shaft extending from the differential gear set;
an axle tube extending from the differential case, the axle tube being concentric with and surrounding the axle shaft; and
a valve positioned between the differential case and the axle tube, the valve comprising:
a valve housing including a fluid flow path extending through the valve housing; and
a valve member positioned within the fluid flow path of the valve housing, the valve member being a ball that is configured to selectively prevent a fluid from flowing through the fluid flow path and into the axle tube.