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An axle system is provided that included an axle assembly having an axle member, a gear coupled with the axle member, and a housing encasing a lubrication fluid and at least a portion of the axle member and the gear therein. A device may selectively heat and/or cool the lubrication fluid at one or m

An axle system is provided that included an axle assembly having an axle member, a gear coupled with the axle member, and a housing encasing a lubrication fluid and at least a portion of the axle member and the gear therein. A device may selectively heat and/or cool the lubrication fluid at one or more regions of the axle system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An axle system comprising: an axle assembly including an axle member, a gear coupled with said axle member, and a housing encasing a lubrication fluid and at least a portion of said axle member and said gear therein;a device selectively transferring heat to said lubrication fluid in a heating mod

1. An axle system comprising: an axle assembly including an axle member, a gear coupled with said axle member, and a housing encasing a lubrication fluid and at least a portion of said axle member and said gear therein;a device selectively transferring heat to said lubrication fluid in a heating mode by passing a fluid through said housing;a sensor detecting at least one property of said lubrication fluid; anda control module in communication with said sensor and controlling said device in response to information received from said sensor. 2. The axle system of claim 1, wherein said property is at least one of a temperature and a viscosity of said lubrication fluid. 3. The axle system of claim 1, wherein said device includes a conduit extending into said housing, said conduit being fluidly isolated from said lubrication fluid. 4. The axle system of claim 1, wherein said device is operable to cool said lubrication fluid in a cooling mode. 5. The axle system of claim 1, wherein said device selectively supplies heat from an exhaust system to said lubrication fluid. 6. The axle system of claim 1, wherein said device includes a heat exchanger and a conduit communicating a coolant between the heat exchanger and said housing. 7. The axle system of claim 6, wherein said heat exchanger is an engine-coolant radiator. 8. The axle system of claim 1, wherein said axle assembly is a rear-wheel-drive axle assembly. 9. The axle system of claim 1, wherein said housing is a differential housing. 10. An axle system for a vehicle comprising: an axle assembly including a first axle member, a second axle member, a gear set, and a housing, said gear set transmitting rotational energy to said first and second axle members, said housing encasing a lubrication fluid and at least one of said first axle member, said second axle member, and said gear set;a temperature-control apparatus selectively passing a fluid through an inner volume of at least one of said first axle member, said second axle member, and said housing in a heating mode to heat said lubrication fluid;a sensor measuring a parameter indicative of an operating condition of the vehicle and generating a signal indicative of said operating condition; anda control module in communication with said temperature-control apparatus and said sensor, said control module receiving said signal from said sensor and causing said temperature-control apparatus to operate in said heating mode based on data received from said sensor. 11. The axle system of claim 10, wherein said axle assembly is a rear-wheel-drive axle assembly. 12. The axle system of claim 10, wherein said temperature-control apparatus includes a conduit extending into said housing, said conduit being fluidly isolated from said lubrication fluid. 13. The axle system of claim 10, wherein said temperature-control apparatus selectively supplies heat from a vehicle-exhaust system of the vehicle to said axle assembly. 14. The axle system of claim 10, wherein said control module is in communication with a valve and controls said valve based on said information received from said sensor. 15. The axle system of claim 10, wherein said temperature-control apparatus is selectively operable in a cooling mode. 16. The axle system of claim 10, wherein said temperature-control apparatus includes a heat exchanger and a conduit communicating a coolant between the heat exchanger and said housing. 17. The axle system of claim 16, wherein said heat exchanger is an engine-coolant radiator. 18. The axle system of claim 10, wherein said at least one fluid property includes at least one of a temperature and a viscosity. 19. An axle system comprising: an axle assembly including an axle member, a gear coupled with said axle member, and a housing encasing a lubrication fluid and at least a portion of said axle member and said gear therein; anda device selectively transferring heat from an exhaust system to said lubrication fluid in a heating mode by passing a fluid through said housing.