US 12,455,005 B2
Axle assembly having a lubricant deflector
Dhanapal Vittala Raya, Troy, MI (US); Mark Smith, Troy, MI (US); and Kristen G. Byrd, Troy, MI (US)
Assigned to ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC, Troy, MI (US)
Filed by ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC, Troy, MI (US)
Filed on May 13, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/662,389.
Application 18/662,389 is a continuation of application No. 17/846,255, filed on Jun. 22, 2022, granted, now 12,038,083.
Prior Publication US 2024/0301946 A1, Sep. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. F16H 57/04 (2010.01); F16H 57/037 (2012.01)
CPC F16H 57/0483 (2013.01) [F16H 57/037 (2013.01); F16H 57/0423 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An axle assembly comprising:
a housing assembly comprising an axle housing and a differential carrier that cooperate to define a sump portion that receives lubricant, the differential carrier comprising a lubricant passage;
a differential assembly mounted to the differential carrier, the differential assembly being rotatable about a differential axis and comprising a ring gear;
a drive pinion that meshes with the ring gear; and
a lubricant deflector comprising a first panel that is mounted to the differential carrier, a second panel that extends from the first panel toward the differential assembly and that comprises an opening, an upper panel comprising an upper opening, and a first side panel that engages the upper panel and extends from the first panel in a direction that extends away from the lubricant passage of the differential carrier, wherein the lubricant deflector is configured to direct lubricant that is splashed or sprayed by the ring gear into the lubricant passage, and wherein the ring gear is disposed in the opening and the upper opening.