Gkn Automotive Gmbh

Christopher M Zagacki

Lei Yang

A disconnectable coupling device rotatable about an axis is provided with a first shaft having an end and a hub formed on the end, the hub including a flange extending radially from the end and a round wall projecting axially from the flange and defining a hollow; a second shaft aligned with the first shaft and opposed to the end of the first shaft, the second shaft having a drum overhanging the hub; a multi-plate clutch held between the hub and the drum to disconnectably connect the hub with the drum; a cup so fixed with the hub as to define a gutter around the first shaft; and one or more perforations axially passing through the flange to establish fluid communication between the gutter and the hollow.

Disconnectable coupling with lubrication control

A retainer for coupling rotating shafts includes a body and a finger. The body may have a curved section extending in a circumferential direction about an axis and a pair of ends. The finger extends from the body and has a least a portion that extends inwardly toward the axis. The finger may be flexible and resilient and have an at rest state and a second state wherein the finger flexes outwardly away from the axis when acted upon by a sufficient force, and the finger returns toward its at rest state when the force is reduced or removed from the finger. When a second shaft is partially inserted into a first shaft, an object may engage and flex the finger until the object passes by the finger whereupon the finger may return toward the at rest state partially overlapping the object.

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Ferndale, MI, United States of America

Christopher M Zagacki