Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Kyklos Bearing International, Inc.

David B Mischler

John A Diemer

Henryk Sowul

Boris Iosifovich Burgman

Steven Eugene Meeker

A device and method for preloading a transmission shaft assembly is disclosed. The transmission having the device of the present invention generally has a plurality of gears for providing a plurality of speed ratios. The shaft assembly has a first shaft, a first sleeve shaft, a second sleeve shaft and a first fastener. The first shaft has a flange end and an adjustment end. The first sleeve shaft is concentric with the first shaft and has a first end. The first end of the first sleeve shaft is in communication with the flange end of the first shaft. The second sleeve shaft is concentric with the first shaft and is axially aligned with the first sleeve shaft. The second sleeve shaft has a first end. The plurality of synchronizers for selectively connecting at least one of the plurality of gears to at least one of the first and second sleeve shafts. The first fastener is engagable with the adjustment end of the first shaft and is configured to move axially on the adjustment end. The first fastener has a fastener flange that contacts the first end of the second sleeve shaft. The engagement of the first fastener with the adjustment end generates a compressive force through the flange end of the first shaft to the first end of the first sleeve shaft and through the fastener flange to the first end of the second sleeve thereby forcing the first sleeve shaft to move closer to the second sleeve shaft.

Apparatus and method for securing transmission gear synchronizers to shafts

A support member () for rotatably coupling a first element to a second element. The support member includes a sleeve () for rotatably supporting the first element, and a flange () having a concave central portion. The flange () is coupled to the sleeve (). The flange () has bearing surfaces () formed thereon along which the flange () is mounted to the second element. In one embodiment, the first element is a spindle () of a vehicle wheel assembly () and is rotatably supported in the sleeve () by rollable bearing elements positioned therein. Multiple tapered lobes () extend outwardly from the sleeve (), and the support member () is mounted to a vehicle via bearing surfaces () along the lobes (). Due to the concave portion of the flange (), the bearing surfaces () are the only portions of the flange () in contact with the vehicle when the support member () is secured to the vehicle, reducing the contact area between the flange () and the vehicle, and reducing impact forces transferred to the bearings. A portion of the flange () may act as a spring member, enabling the flange () to flex in response to an impact load experienced by the wheel bearing assembly (). This enables the flange () to absorb a portion of the side impact load, thereby attenuating the portion of the load transmitted to the bearings. A wheel bearing assembly () incorporating the support member () is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Marblehead, OH, United States of America

David B Mischler