Gkn Viscodrive Gmbh

Gkn Driveline International Gmbh

Viscodrive Gmbh

Gkn Automotive Gmbh

Adrian Chludek

Georg Kwoka

Heinz Madsack

Theodor Gassmann

Mark Schmidt

Wolfgang Hildebrandt

Kurt Müller

Christian Gasch

Fred Kramer

Artur Grunwald

Bernd Bender

Alexey Katsnelson

Andreas Kelbel

Andreas Baer

Horst Görlich

A differential gear for transmitting a torque to an axle of a motor vehicle including a differential basket, a bevel gear, first and second output shafts, and a multi-plate clutch. The bevel gear includes inner and outer circumferential surfaces. The bevel gear is supported by a contact surface of the differential basket with respect to a radial direction. The output shafts have a common rotary axis, the first output shaft forming a positive connection with the bevel gear with respect to a circumferential direction via a outer circumferential surface of the first output shaft and the inner circumferential surface of the bevel gear. The multi-plate clutch provides for selectively connecting the first output shaft with the differential basket and includes an inner plate carried by a section of the outer circumferential surface of the bevel gear and an outer plate carried by the differential basket.

Lockable differential transmission

The disclosure relates to a coupling assembly for connecting an optionally drivable secondary driveline to a permanently driven primary driveline, comprising a friction coupling and an axial setting device. The friction coupling has a first coupling part and a second coupling part which are rotatable around an axis of rotation A and which, by axial forces, can be coupled to one another for transmitting torque. The axial setting device is configured for actuating the friction coupling, wherein the axial setting device comprises a first ring which is at least indirectly axially supported relative to a fixed component and a second ring which is supported at least indirectly relative to the first ring and which, when at least one of the first and second rings; is rotated around the axis A, is axially displaceable, wherein, for rotating the at least one of the first and second rings there is provided a linear driving mechanism.

Axial setting device with linear driving mechanism

A differential drive with a rotatably arranged differential carrier () in which a multi-plate coupling () is arranged so as to be effective between the differential carrier () and a sideshaft gear (), wherein the differential carrier () includes a dish-shaped carrier part () in which there are received sideshaft gears () and differential gears (). The differential carrier includes a dish-shaped cover () which receives the plates of the multi-plate coupling ().

Differential carrier with an inner plate package

A drive assembly for use between an axle differential and a sideshaft comprises an intermediate shaft that is rotatably supported around a rotation axis and has a first end fixedly connected to an output gear of the axle differential and a second end fixedly connected at least indirectly to the sideshaft. A controllable coupling unit comprises a coupling cage with outer plates and a coupling hub with inner plates. The coupling cage is rotatably supported around the rotation axis relative to a bearing support. The coupling hub is connected to the intermediate shaft. The outer plates and the inner plates are arranged so as to axially alternate and jointly form a plate package. The coupling cage extends in the axial direction from the differential carrier to the bearing support and is sealed by first and second rotary seals.

Drive assembly with intermediate shaft and coupling unit

A drive assembly for the driveline of a motor vehicle with an axle which can be driven when required. The drive assembly includes a drive and a multi-plate coupling. The drive comprises a drive housing with a sleeve-shaped projection in which a drive input shaft is rotatably supported. The multi-plate coupling which is rotatably supported in a coupling housing connected to the drive housing comprises a coupling input part for introducing torque and a coupling output part connected to the drive input shaft in a rotationally fast way. The multi-plate coupling is arranged coaxially on the outside relative to the sleeve-shaped projection and partially axially covers the latter.

Compact drive assembly with multi-plate coupling

A differential carrier is disclosed containing sideshaft gears supported in the carrier so as to be coaxially rotatable around a longitudinal axis (A). Differential gears are supported in the carrier on axes of rotation (R) positioned radially relative to the longitudinal axis (A) and have teeth engaging those of the sideshaft gears, and a multi-plate coupling in the carrier to extend coaxially relative to the axis. The carrier includes a flange to which a ring gear can be bolted, and is formed of a dish-shaped part with a base and an integrally formed-on flange and a cover which is axially fixed by an annular securing element. The multi-plate coupling and the cover are positioned in the carrier on the side located opposite the flange and the base.

Differential carrier with an increased strength

A differential carrier () for a differential drive, which differential carrier () is supported so as to be rotatable around its longitudinal axis (A) and which is rotatingly drivable, having two output gears () supported in the differential carrier coaxially relative to the longitudinal axis (A), and having four differential gears which are rotatably supported on a cross member with four bearing arms extending radially relative to the longitudinal axis (A) and being held in the differential carrier () and said differential gears engage said output gears (), wherein two first cross member bearing arms positioned opposite one another are connected to one another and form at least one central transverse aperture () and that two second cross member bearing arms positioned opposite one another are produced separately from one another and, by means of their inner ends () are inserted into the at least one transverse aperture ().

Differential cross member for a differential drive

An axial setting device having two discs () which are rotatable relative to one another, which are supported coaxially relative to one another and between which there are guided balls () in pairs of ball grooves () whose depth varies across the circumference. One of the discs () is axially supported and one is axially displaceable against elastic returning forces of first spring (). At least one of the discs can be driven by a motor () via a gear drive. During the return movement of the discs () after the balls () have reached their end position in the ball grooves, which end position is defined by the greatest groove depth, a second spring permits overshooting of the drivable disc () together with the disc () supported with respect to rotation against elastic returning forces of the second spring.

Axial setting device with spring-supported return

The invention relates to a controllable viscous coupling for generating a locking effect between two coupling parts rotatable relative to one another around a common longitudinal axis, more particularly for the driveline of a motor vehicle. The viscous coupling comprises a first coupling part, a second coupling part, wherein the first and the second coupling part form a sealed annular chamber. First plates are connected to the first coupling part in a rotationally fast way and second plates are connectable to the second coupling part in a rotationally fast way, as well as controllable connecting means to allow switching between an open position in which the second plates are freely rotatable relative to the second coupling part, and a closed position in which the second plates are connected to the second coupling part in a rotationally fast way.

Controllable viscous coupling

A shaft coupling having two attachment elements that are rotatable relative to one another and that are connected to one another by a rotationally resilient assembly, and further having a dampening device which is active between the attachment elements for the purpose of suppressing torsional vibrations of the rotationally resilient assembly is disclosed. The rotationally resilient assembly comprises two ramp discs that are rotatable relative to one another and that support one another at least indirectly. One disc is supported in a rotationally fixed and rigid manner on one of the attachment elements and the other disc is supported in a rotationally fixed and axially resilient manner on the other one of the attachment elements by a spring. The dampening device is a viscous coupling having a hub connected to one of the attachment elements and a housing connected to the other one of the attachment elements.

Shaft coupling with a dampening device

A coupling device with two parts which are coaxially rotatable relative to one another, comprising a friction coupling whose friction plates are alternately connected to each of the rotatable parts. Further the coupling device comprises an actuating device for the friction coupling, which comprises an annular chamber formed in one of the rotatable parts and containing a highly viscous fluid. A rotational member is arranged in the annular chamber and is drivingly connected to the other one of the rotatable parts. The actuating device, when the rotatable parts rotate relative to one another, causes an increase in pressure of the highly viscous fluid for the purpose of loading the friction coupling. When the relative rotation between the rotatable parts exceeds a given value, the increase in pressure is checked to limit the torque transferred through the friction coupling.

Device using viscous shear to control a friction coupling which limits

A differential drive has a differential carrier rotatably drivably supported around an axis in a drive housing. Two axle shaft gears are arranged in coaxial bores while being supported around the axis so as to be rotatable relative to the differential carrier. A plurality of differential gears are rotatably supported in axis-parallel cylindrical pockets in the differential carrier and rotate with the differential carrier. A first group of differential gears engage one of the axle shaft gears and a second group of differential gears engage the other one of the axle shaft gears. The axle shaft gears and the differential gears are designed as helical gears. The differential gears, on their tooth heads, rotate in the pockets, and the differential carrier has a central portion with the bores for the axle shaft gears and the pockets for the differential gears. Two cover parts axially close the bores and the pockets. In the central portion, there are provided continuous axis-parallel oil return bores which, by means of connecting grooves in the end faces of the central portion and/or in the inner faces of the cover parts are connected to the open ends of the pockets emerging at the respective end face.

Mechanical locking differential

A coupling device with two parts which are coaxially rotatable relative to one another, comprising a friction coupling whose friction plates are alternately connected to each of the rotatable parts. Further the coupling device comprises an actuating device for the friction coupling, which comprises an annular chamber formed in one of the rotatable parts and containing a highly viscous fluid. A rotational chamber is arranged in the annular chamber and is drivingly connected to the other one of the rotatable parts. The actuating device, when the rotatable parts rotate relative to one another, causes an increase in pressure for the purpose of loading the friction coupling.

Device using viscous shear to control a coupling which limits torque

A differential drive having a drivable differential carrier rotatably supported in a drive housing, said differential carrier comprising a carrier portion and two cover parts. Two axle shaft gears are coaxially rotatably supported in the differential carrier. Further, two sets of differential gears are slidingly received on their tooth heads, in axis-parallel cylindrical bores in the carrier portion. The axis-parallel cylindrical bores are in the form of through-bores in the carrier portion. The differential gears comprise spacing journals with ends having friction bearing portions. Corresponding friction bearing sections are formed in the differential carrier, axially adjoining the carrier portion.

Growing community of inventors

St. Augustin, Germany

Adrian Chludek