EFFICIENCY. EVOLVED.
Lubrication Management is Key to Axle Efficiency.
Sometimes, simpler solutions can
be better. In other words, building
components that are less complex can
often get the job done more effectively
and reduce the service and maintenance
headaches that frequently come with more
complicated parts.
a tube to the housing legs to keep
wheel-ends properly lubricated. It then
flows downward over the baffles and
back to the main axle sump to maintain
an optimum level and temperature during
cruising speeds.
Lubricant is also air-cooled as it flows over
the arms, ensuring optimal life of the oil.
Although there are several axle lubrication
management systems on the market
today, Meritor’s solution features a simple,
yet unique design offering increased
efficiency.
“Unlike competing
systems, ours has
no electronics,
mechanical pumps or
complicated controls”
Meritor’s 14X HE offers efficiency gains
up to 1.5 percent over the current 14X.
The lubrication management system
is an innovative solution that improves
axle efficiency and takes overall vehicle
performance to a new level, Hogan added.
“Unlike competing systems, ours has
no electronics, mechanical pumps or
complicated controls,” said Ken Hogan,
vice president, Rear Drivetrain for Meritor.
“By reducing complexity, fewer things can
go wrong, which lowers maintenance costs
for fleets and extends product life.”
The patented system launched earlier
this year as a standard component on
Meritor’s new 14X HE tandem drive axle
takes a revolutionary approach to marketleading efficiency.
The lube management system’s innovative
mechanical design directs oil away
from the ring gear to reduce churning
losses and improve efficiency. When a
vehicle equipped with Meritor’s 14X HE
is in motion, the ring gear teeth carry the
lubricant upward and oil splash is caught
by a collector tube in the carrier’s upper
portion. From there, the oil travels through
Other products on the market utilize
complex vehicle parameters and electronic
controls to monitor and manage oil
temperature, according to Hogan.
“Ours is more efficient, because other
systems monitor engine and transmission
performance, axle temperature and
vehicle speed to make decisions on the
flow of lubrication while the truck is in
motion,” Hogan said. “Meritor’s solution,
which is based on the natural circulation
of lubricant in the axle, cools the oil
consistently, and technicians don’t have to
use electronic diagnostics to service it.”
This cooling helps prevent the oil’s
chemistry from breaking down
prematurely due to excessive heat and
lead to premature component wear-out,
Hogan said.
“Managing the flow of oil is really critical
because churning makes up a major
portion of efficiency loss in many axles
on the market,” he said. “The new axle
achieves its level of performance due in
large part to effective lube management.”
Hogan said Meritor will consider installing
lubrication management on future axle
products.
For more information on the
Meritor 14X HE tandem drive
axle and to see the lubrication
management system in action,
visit meritor14xhe.com.
Meritor’s technology turns the axle into a
heat exchanger, with the side walls of the
housing arms radiating heat away from the
oil as it circulates throughout the assembly.
MERITOR14XHE.COM