Viscodrive Gmbh

Gkn Driveline International Gmbh

Gkn Viscodrive Gmbh

Gkn Vicsodrive Gmbh

Christian Gasch

Theodor Gassmann

Adrian Chludek

Herbert Taureg

Artur Grunwald

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 coupling has two parts supported one inside the other, which are rotatable relative to one another around a common longitudinal axis. Together, the parts form a chamber filled with a highly viscous fluid and which is sealed by an axially movable piston. The coupling also includes a friction coupling with friction elements, having a spring assembly which is supported on a stop part and acting on a pressure plate. When the piston is in a position of rest, the friction elements of the friction coupling are held against a further stop part under pretension generated when the relative rotation begins. In the case of axial displacement, the piston displaces the pressure plate against the force of the spring assembly towards the first stop part, with there being provided an axial gap between the piston in a position of rest and a further stop part which is displaceable towards the first stop part. An axial gap is also provided between the pressure plate and the friction elements on the one hand and the first stop part on the other hand when the piston is in a position of rest.

Transmitting coupling with maneuvering characteristics

A drive assembly for a four wheel drive vehicle has, in the region of the front axle, a distributor assembly 5 which includes the distributor differential 13 for distributing the driving torque between the front axle and rear axle and two viscous couplings 39, 51 for at least partially locking the two differentials 13, 15. The two viscous couplings 39, 51 are arranged side by side, but coaxially relative to the rotational axis X--X. They are accommodated in a separate housing 14c which is removably connected to the housing 14c accommodating the front axle differential. A compact assembly is provided which, furthermore, by means of plug-in connections 40, 52, 59, enables an easy connection and association with the distributor differential 13 and the front axle differential 15, so that in a simple way, merely by exchanging a small number of parts, for instance the plug-in shaft 36, it is possible to provide a four wheel drive in a modular design, with and without locking means for the differentials.

Drive assembly for a four wheel drive vehicle having a first and second

The invention relates to a drive assembly for driving the wheels of a four wheel drive vehicle. The drive assembly comprises a propeller shaft 8 consisting of two portions 9, 10. Furthermore, the propeller shaft 8 comprises a viscous coupling 14 arranged at one end of the intermediate bearing 13 and a joint 15 arranged at the other end of the intermediate bearing 13 and non-rotatingly connected to the viscous coupling 14. Such a propeller shaft 8 ensures quiet running of the bearings of the assembly and prevents the joint and viscous coupling from influencing each other.

Drive assembly for a four wheel drive vehicle

A limited slip differential comprises a bevel gear differential having side gears and planet gears carried by a planet gear support which is capable of limited rotation relative to the carrier. When the side gears carry unequal torques the support tends to rotate and moves a pressure ring axially due to complementary cam surfaces on the support and the ring and this engages a friction clutch which connects a viscous shear coupling between the side gears.

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Lohmar, Germany

Christian Gasch