Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Chris Peter Nicholas

Duane Allan Lewis

Brian John Brown

Anthony Paskus

Bradley W Doner

Rakesh Sharma

Scott L Wilson

Marc Thomas Wilkins

Brian Christian Orr

William David Guarino

John Robert Saieg

Marshall Erin Bates

Edward Steven Lanivich

Martin Smets

Andrew Brian Lovatt

Scott D Denny

Tony Paskus

A powertrain includes a transmission case, a transfer case, a front axle housing, and a webbed brace. The transfer case and front axle housing are directly fastened to the transmission case. The webbed brace is directly fastened to the transmission case, the transfer case, and the front axle housing to form a powerplant system. The webbed brace is configured such that a bending frequency of the powerplant system falls within a predefined range.

Brace for powerplant

A constant-velocity joint includes an outer race, inner race, end cap, and seal. The outer race defines a cavity, an opening to the cavity, and a through hole configured to receive a fastener. The inner race is disposed within the cavity and is rotatably connected to the outer race via a plurality of ball bearings. The end cap is secured to the outer race and covers the opening. The seal is disposed between the outer race and the end cap. The seal defines a channel that is in fluid communication with the cavity and the through hole. The channel is configured to vent air between the cavity and through hole.

Sealing system for constant-velocity joint

A vehicle has a transfer case that is configured to receive power from a transmission, and transfer the power to one or both of a front axle and a rear axle. The transfer case has an output, such as an output rod, that delivers the power to a differential on one of the axles. A driveshaft has a single constant-velocity joint thereon. A first shaft of the driveshaft is directly connected to the output of the transfer case by a fixed connection, such as a spline connection, that inhibits axial slipping. The first shaft is connected on its other end to the constant-velocity joint. A second shaft of the driveshaft is connects to the constant-velocity joint to the differential. The driveshaft can also have a clamp at the splint to inhibit axial slipping at the spline connection.

Driveshaft with single constant-velocity joint and locking mechanism

A driveshaft includes a shaft defining a passageway and a constant velocity joint defining an interior and having a cover defining a hole. A grommet is disposed in the hole and defines a fluid passage into the interior. The CV joint is coupled to the shaft such that the shaft is disposed against the grommet with the passageway and the fluid passage in fluid communication to vent air from the interior into the passageway.

Driveshaft with vented CV joint

A driveshaft assembly of a vehicle includes a yoke assembly having a shaft extending between a yoke and a flange. The yoke assembly further includes a bearing having an inner race integrally formed on an outer surface of the shaft, an outer race circumscribing the inner race, and a plurality of rotating elements rollably engaging between the inner and outer races. A tube is attached to the flange.

Integrated center bearing assembly

A center-bearing assembly includes an annular housing having a circumferential wall with a lip extending radially inward and includes a flange outboard of the circumferential wall. A roller bearing is sized to encircle a vehicle driveshaft and is disposed within the housing between the lip and the flange. An annular retainer is connected to the flange and includes an annular notch configured to shear in response to impact to the driveshaft allowing the bearing to release from the housing.

Center bearing assembly with shear member

A plug-in constant velocity (CV) joint is assembled to a powertrain component using a power tool. The CV joint and powertrain component connect via a splined shaft coupling with a snap ring interlock. External bi-directional thrust features on the joint and component engage first and second arms of the power tool after the splined shaft coupling is partially inserted by hand. The arms are relatively movable along a longitudinal direction, and an actuator selectively applies a compression force to the bi-directional thrust features adapted to fully insert the splined shaft coupling and engage the snap ring interlock. The power tool monitors the compression force to detect the full insertion. The actuator automatically applies a predetermined expansion force to the bi-directional thrust features to verify engagement of the snap ring interlock, wherein the predetermined expansion force is less than a force sufficient to disengage the snap ring interlock.

Plug-in propshaft assembly tool

A cooling apparatus and method for providing a cooling air flow in a region of a constant velocity joint. The constant velocity joint has a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The first and second housing portions are coupled together by fasteners. The cooling device comprises a load-distributing portion and a fan-blade portion. The load-distributing portion is located between a head of each fastener and either the first or second housing portion, with each fastener inserted into a respective hole in the load-distributing portion. The load-distributing portion distributes a load applied by the fasteners to the first or second housing portion. The fan-blade portion is coupled to the load-distributing portion. The fan-blade portion is configured to create a current of air when the constant velocity joint housing rotates.

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Milford, MI, United States of America

Chris Peter Nicholas