American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

Charles G Stuart

John Clinton Hibbler

James Preston Downs

Paul Joseph Valente

Robert S Kleinhardt

Zugang Huang

Robert J DeGowske

Christopher D Pump

Thomas Christopher Bowen

Frederick E Zink

Russell T Capito

Shawn S Proctor

Adrian M Lenczewski

Paul W Kornosky

Chad R Umscheid

Brian McCormick

Kent A Shoemaker

Firoz Ali S Jafri

A method for manufacturing in which alternating layers of a powdered magnetically susceptible material and a powdered insulating material are deposited onto a table as it is rotated about a first rotational axis.

Method of additive manufacturing using a rotary table

A power transmitting component can include a friction clutch, a ram, a pump, a fluid storage device and a valve. The ram can have a piston chamber and a piston movable therein between a first and second position to engage the friction clutch. A first inlet/outlet of the pump can be fluidly coupled to a reservoir. The fluid storage device can hold pressurized hydraulic fluid. The valve can be fluidly coupled with the piston chamber, a second inlet/outlet of the pump, and the fluid storage device. When in a first mode, the valve can permit fluid communication between the pump and the fluid storage device, inhibit fluid communication between the piston chamber and the pump, and inhibit fluid communication between the piston chamber and the fluid storage device. When in a second mode, the valve can permit fluid communication between the pump, the fluid storage device, and the piston chamber.

Clutched power transmitting device with reduced lag time for actuation

A shaft assembly that includes a shaft, which has a wall with an interior surface, a universal joint member, which is coupled to an end of the shaft and a balance weight that is received in the shaft and fixedly coupled to the interior surface. The balance weight includes an ultraviolet light-curable or light-cured resin.

Shaft assembly with internal balance weight formed at least partly by an ultraviolet light-curable resin

A method for forming a shaft assembly includes: providing a shaft structure, the shaft structure comprising a shaft and a universal joint member that is coupled to an end of the shaft; inserting a weight member to the shaft structure to form an intermediate assembly, the weight member being formed at least partly from a liquid resin, the intermediate assembly having an initial rotational unbalance; rotating the intermediate assembly about a longitudinal axis of the shaft structure to re-distribute a least a portion of the weight member circumferentially about the shaft structure to at least partly attenuate the initial rotational unbalance; and curing the liquid resin while rotating the intermediate assembly to fix the re-distributed portion of the weight member to the shaft structure to thereby form a balance weight that at least partly attenuates the initial rotational unbalance. A shaft assembly is also provided.

Shaft assembly with internal UV-cured balance weight

A vehicle driveline having a torque transfer device and a fluid circuit for operating the torque transfer device. The fluid circuit has a motor, a pump driven by the motor, an actuator, and a pair of valves. The valves are arranged in the fluid circuit to control fluid circulation within the fluid circuit and can be operated such that fluid pressure in the actuator can be maintained (i.e., to maintain engagement of the torque transfer device) without operating the pump.

Vehicle driveline having torque transfer device that is operated on fluid pressure

A G-rotor pump assembly is disclosed. The assembly makes use of a housing having a pump/motor housing portion and a laterally projecting housing portion. An electric motor is disposed within the pump/motor housing portion. A controller has a circuit board with a portion which is positioned within the pump/motor housing portion so as to be generally axially aligned with the electric motor and in proximity to the electric motor. A lower cover is configured to engage with the housing to encapsulate the controller and the electric motor within the housing.

G-rotor pump assembly

A method for balancing a shaft assembly having a shaft member. The method can include providing a balance weight having a body portion that is formed of a material that permits transmission of ultra-violet (UV) light therethrough, the body portion having a perimeter; applying an UV light-curable adhesive to at least one of the balance weight and the shaft member; positioning the balance weight to the shaft member such that the UV light-curable adhesive is abutted to the balance weight and the shaft member; and transmitting UV light through the balance weight to cure at least a portion of the UV light-curable adhesive that is disposed inwardly of the perimeter of the body portion.

Shaft assembly with balance weight bonded to shaft member

A vehicle driveline component having a dual friction clutch differential assembly and a hydraulic circuit for operating the friction clutches. The hydraulic circuit includes a pair of normally open, solenoid operated valves that are selectively closed to control the fluid pressure that acts on the friction clutches. The hydraulic circuit provides a simplified and cost-effective means for providing disconnecting and/or torque vectoring capabilities to the vehicle driveline component.

Dual clutch drive module with single servo hydraulic pump and normally-open valve actuation

A disconnectable all-wheel drive vehicle driveline having a primary driveline, a power take-off unit (PTU), a secondary driveline, a hydraulic pump and a driveline actuator. The PTU has a PTU input member, which is driven by the primary driveline, a PTU output member and a first coupling that selectively couples the PTU input and output members. The secondary driveline includes a second coupling that selectively inhibits power transmission through the secondary driveline. The hydraulic pump is configured to operate the first coupling but is powered by a synchronization event in which the second coupling is engaged so as to back drive the PTU output member.

Driveline actuator powered by synchronization event

Gerotor housing

The present teachings provide for a power transmitting component including a housing, a clutch, a vent, and a dam. The vent can fluidly couple a first and second cavity. The dam can include a door member. Rotation of the outer carrier through a fluid in the second cavity can sling a portion of the fluid toward the vent to cause the portion of the fluid to be transferred from the second cavity, through the vent, and to the first cavity. When the piston is in a first position, the door member can be in a closed position to limit fluid flow from the first cavity to the second cavity. When the piston is in a second position, the door member can be in an open position to allow fluid to flow from the first cavity to the second cavity.

Power transmitting component with torque transfer device configured with drag reduction system

A variable flow valve having an externally threaded valve body, a valve element and an actuator that includes coil and a plunger assembly. The coil can be operated to move the plunger assembly to drive the valve element into engagement with a seat surface on a valve seat in the valve body.

Variable flow valve

The present teachings provide for a power transmitting component including a friction clutch, a reservoir, a hydraulic ram to actuate the clutch, a motor, and first and second pumps simultaneously driven by the motor. The first pump is in fluid communication with the reservoir and the ram. The first pump is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the ram when the motor rotates in a first direction. The second pump is coupled to the reservoir and provides hydraulic fluid to the ram when the output shaft rotates in the first direction and a pressure differential between the ram and the second pump is less than or equal to a predetermined pressure differential. The second pump has a displacement greater than the first pump and is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the ram at a lower pressure and higher flow rate than the first pump.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Charles G Stuart