1. A differential axle system comprising:
a housing containing a pinion gear, a ring gear, a first oil reservoir, and a second oil reservoir, the ring gear configured to be driven by the pinion gear and rotate through a volume of oil contained within the second oil reservoir;
a reservoir separator at a floor of the housing, the reservoir separator protruding upwardly and configured to act as a dam separating the first oil reservoir from the second oil reservoir such that the second oil reservoir is configured to contain a lower level of oil than the first oil reservoir; and
wherein the reservoir separator is configured to create a barrier with no holes and prevent the passage of oil between the first oil reservoir and the second oil reservoir through the reservoir separator and;
wherein the reservoir separator includes a pinion ramp positioned below the pinion gear, wherein the pinion ramp is downwardly sloped toward the second oil reservoir and configured to provide a gravity fed return of oil to the second oil reservoir.
2. The differential axle system of claim 1, further comprising a differential carrier rotatably mounted within the housing and configured to be rotated by the ring gear.
3. The differential axle system of claim 2, wherein the reservoir separator is arcuate and medially positioned within the housing to surround the differential carrier at the floor of the housing.
4. The drive axle housing system of claim 3, wherein the differential carrier includes a differential gear set that contains at least two spider gears and two opposed side gears, the spider and the two opposed side gears being in meshed engagement, and wherein the two opposed side gears are affixed directly to final drive half shafts, wherein the final drive half shafts and the ring gear define an axis through the housing.
5. The differential axle system of claim 3, wherein the reservoir separator is separated from the differential carrier by a gap, the gap between the reservoir separator and the differential carrier measuring a radial distance of between 3 millimeters and 12 millimeters.
6. The differential axle system of claim 5, wherein the pinion ramp is separated from the pinion gear by a gap, the gap between the pinion ramp and the pinion gear measuring a distance of about 2.5 millimeters.
7. The differential axle system of claim 3, wherein the reservoir separator comprises a thin-walled baffle.
8. A drive axle housing system for reducing gear oil churning losses comprising:
a differential axle including a housing having a pinion gear and a differential carrier rotatably mounted within the housing, the differential carrier including a differential gear set and a pinion-driven ring gear affixed to the differential carrier for rotation therewith;
an oil churning reduction member within the interior of the housing, the oil churning reduction member including interior surfaces positioned circumferentially about the differential carrier and the ring gear, the oil churning reduction member including a reservoir separator at a floor of the housing configured to create a first oil reservoir and a second oil reservoir proximate the ring gear such that the second oil reservoir contains a lower level of oil than the first oil reservoir and wherein the reservoir separator is configured to create a barrier with no holes and prevent the passage of oil between the first oil reservoir and the second oil reservoir through the reservoir separator;
the oil churning reduction member including an inner top wall portion and an outer top wall portion, the inner top wall portion positioned proximate to a back side of the ring gear and spaced radially inwardly with respect to the outer top wall portion of the oil churning reduction member; and
wherein the oil churning reduction member further includes a pinion ramp positioned below the pinion gear, wherein the pinion ramp is downwardly sloped toward the second oil reservoir and configured to provide a gravity fed return of oil to the second oil reservoir.
9. The drive axle housing system of claim 8, wherein the reservoir separator is medially positioned and surrounds the differential carrier at the floor of the housing.
10. The drive axle housing system of claim 9, wherein the differential carrier including the differential gear set contains at least two spider gears and two opposed side gears, the at least two spider and the two opposed side gears being in meshed engagement, and wherein the two opposed side gears are affixed directly to final drive half shafts, wherein the final drive half shafts and the ring gear define an axis through the housing, and wherein the oil churning reduction member is circumferentially disposed about the axis.
11. The drive axle housing system of claim 9, wherein the oil churning reduction member is integrally formed as a part of the housing.
12. The drive axle housing system of claim 11, wherein the oil churning reduction member is integrally formed as a die cast part of the housing.
13. The drive axle housing system of claim 9, wherein the reservoir separator comprises a thin-walled baffle.
14. The drive axle housing system of claim 9, wherein the reservoir separator is separated from the differential carrier by a gap, the gap between the reservoir separator and the differential carrier measuring a radial distance of between 3 millimeters and 12 millimeters.
15. A differential axle system comprising:
a housing containing a pinion gear, a ring gear, a first oil reservoir, and a second oil reservoir, the ring gear configured to be driven by the pinion gear and rotate through a volume of oil contained within the second oil reservoir;
an oil churning reduction member within an interior of said housing, the oil churning reduction member including a reservoir separator at a floor of the housing, the reservoir separator protruding upwardly and configured to act as a dam separating the first oil reservoir from the second oil reservoir such that the second oil reservoir is configured to contain a lower level of oil than the first oil reservoir, wherein the reservoir separator is configured to create a barrier with no holes and prevent the passage of oil between the first oil reservoir and the second oil reservoir through the reservoir separator;
the oil churning reduction member including an inner top wall portion and an outer top wall portion, the inner top wall portion positioned proximate to a back side of the ring gear and spaced radially inwardly with respect to the outer top wall portion of the oil churning reduction member; and
the oil churning reduction member including a pinion ramp positioned below the pinion gear, wherein the pinion ramp is downwardly sloped toward the second oil reservoir and configured to provide a gravity fed return of oil to the second oil reservoir.
16. The differential axle system of claim 15, wherein the oil churning reduction member is integrally formed as a cast part of the housing.
17. The differential axle system of claim 16, further comprising a differential carrier rotatably mounted within the housing and configured to be rotated by the ring gear, the differential carrier including opposed side gears are affixed directly to final drive half shafts, wherein the final drive half shafts and the ring gear define an axis through the housing, wherein the oil churning reduction member is circumferentially disposed about the axis, and wherein the reservoir separator is arcuate and medially positioned within the housing to surround the differential carrier at the floor of the housing.
18. The differential axle system of claim 17, wherein the reservoir separator comprises a thin-walled baffle.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A waste water extraction system for an aquaculture receptacle having a side wall and a bottom wall, said receptacle filled with water to a particular water level, said system including at least:
a first conduit having first and second ends;
a second conduit disposed inside said first conduit, said second conduit having first and second ends;
a plate extending transversely across and sealing said first end of said first conduit and extending laterally of said first conduit, said plate provided with an axial hole in fluid communication with said first end of said second conduit, and said first end of said first conduit provided with at least one aperture near said plate; and,
spacer means on a surface of said plate opposite said first conduit for spacing said plate from said bottom wall;
said first and second conduits configured to exit said receptacle at a location at least partially below said pre-determined water level.
2. The waste water extraction system according to claim 1 including a sleeve extending about a length of said first conduit to define a region between an inside surface of said sleeve and an outside surface of said length of said first conduit, said sleeve having a first end above said at least one aperture and a second end above said first end of said sleeve; and,
means for delivering a gas through said region.
3. The waste water extraction system according to claim 2 wherein said means for delivering a gas includes a distributor at said first end of said sleeve for distributing said gas to flow from near said first end of said sleeve about said first conduit.
4. The waste water extraction system according to claim 3 wherein said first conduit includes an opening between its first and second ends, said opening disposed above said pre-determined water level.
5. The waste water extraction system according to claim 4 wherein each of said first and second conduits include a first length that contains the respective first ends of said conduits, and extends generally vertically; and,
a second length that extends generally horizontally, said second length disposed at least partially below said pre-determined water level.
6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said first and second conduits are arranged to enable lifting of said plate from said bottom wall of said receptacle.
7. An aquaculture system including:
a receptacle for holding a volume of water, said receptacle having a side wall and a bottom wall;
a water inlet through which water is delivered to said receptacle, said inlet configured to induce a circular flow of water within said receptacle;
a first conduit having first and second ends;
a second conduit disposed inside said first conduit, said second conduit having first and second ends;
a plate extending transversely across and sealing said first end of said first conduit and extending laterally of said first conduit, said plate provided with an axial hole in fluid communication with said first end of said second conduit, and said first end of said first conduit provided with at least one aperture near said plate; and,
spacer means on a surface of said plate opposite said first conduit for spacing said plate from said bottom wall;
said first and second conduits configured to exit said receptacle at a location at least partially below said pre-determined water level.
8. A waste water extraction system for an aquaculture receptacle having a side wall and a bottom wall, said receptacle filled with water to a particular water level, said system comprising:
a first conduit having first and second ends;
a second conduit disposed inside said first conduit, said second conduit having first and second ends, a flow chamber being defined between said first and second conduits through which water flows;
a plate extending transversely across and sealing said first end of said first conduit and extending laterally of said first conduit, said plate provided with an axial hole in fluid communication with said first end of said second conduit, and said first end of said first conduit provided with at least one aperture near said plate;
at least one spacer disposed on a surface of said plate opposite said first conduit for spacing said plate from said bottom wall;
said first and second conduits being configured to exit said receptacle at a location at least partially below said pre-determined water level.
9. A waste water extraction system according to claim 8 comprising a sleeve extending about a length of said first conduit to define a region between an inside surface of said sleeve and an outside surface of said length of said first conduit, said sleeve having a first end above said at least one aperture and a second end above said first end of said sleeve; and,
means for delivering a gas through said region.
10. The waste water extraction system according to claim 9 wherein said means for delivering a gas includes a distributor at said first end of said sleeve for distributing said gas to flow from near said first end of said sleeve about said first conduit.
11. The waste water extraction system according to claim 10 wherein said first conduit includes an opening between its first and second ends, said opening disposed above said pre-determined water level.
12. The waste water extraction system according to claim 11 wherein each of said first and second conduits include a first length that contains the respective first ends of said conduits, and extends generally vertically; and,
a second length that extends generally horizontally, said second length disposed at least partially below said pre-determined water level.
13. A system according to claim 8 wherein said first and second conduits are arranged to enable lifting of said plate from said bottom wall of said receptacle.
14. An aquaculture system comprising:
a receptacle for holding a volume of water, said receptacle having a side wall and a bottom wall;
a water inlet through which water is delivered to said receptacle, said inlet configured to induce a circular flow of water within said receptacle;
a first conduit having first and second ends;
a second conduit disposed inside said first conduit, said second conduit having first and second ends, a flow chamber being defined between said first and second conduits through which water flows;
a plate extending transversely across and sealing said first end of said first conduit and extending laterally of said first conduit, said plate provided with an axial hole in fluid communication with said first end of said second conduit, and said first end of said first conduit provided with at least one aperture near said plate; and,
at least one spacer disposed on a surface of said plate opposite said first conduit for spacing said plate from said bottom wall;
said first and second conduits being configured to exit said receptacle at a location at least partially below said pre-determined water level.
15. A method of extracting waste water from an aquaculture receptacle having a side wall and a bottom wall, said receptacle filled with water to a particular water level, said method comprising:
providing a first conduit having first and second ends;
providing a second conduit inside said first conduit to form a flow chamber therebetween, said second conduit having first and second ends;
providing a plate extending transversely across and sealing said first end of said first conduit and extending laterally of said first conduit;
forming an axial hole in said plate and in fluid communication with said first end of said second conduit;
forming at least one aperture in said first end of said first conduit near said plate;
spacing a surface of said plate opposite said first conduit from said bottom wall;
disposing first and second conduits to exit said receptacle at a location at least partially below said pre-determined water level; and,
pumping water to said receptacle,
wherein water is continually pumped into said receptacle while maintaining said pre-determined water level wherein water is drawn from above the plate through the apertures in said first conduit into said flow chamber thereby creating a general upflow of water.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising generating a circular flow of water in the receptacle about said first conduit.