American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

Other

Dana Corporation

Torque-traction Technologies, Inc.

David Marshall Morse

John Clinton Hibbler

Rajendra G Kumashi

Jun Yoshioka

Joseph M Endreszl

Harold W Seeds

Jill R Gnass

Robert J DeGowske

Michael J Bommarito

Frank I Fletcher

A modular axle assembly includes a first tube assembly and a second tube assembly interconnected by a center section. A number of different modular axle assemblies are constructed by using different center sections. For example, a non-driving axle includes a sleeve interconnecting first and second tube assemblies. A driving front axle includes a differential housing interconnecting the first and second tube assemblies.

Modular axle assembly

Modular axle assembly and method

A differential assembly includes a case, a pair of pinion gears, a pair of side gears and an electrically operable coupling including an electromagnet. The coupling selectively drivingly interconnects one of the side gears and the case. The electromagnet of the coupling is axially moveable within the case to selectively place the differential assembly in an open or a locked condition.

Locking differential with electromagnetic actuator

A differential assembly having first structure, which is configured to rotate along a differential axis in response to receipt of a rotational input, a second structure, which is supported for rotation on the differential axis, a third structure which is support for rotation on the differential axis and disposed between the first and second structures and operable in an engaged condition that transmits torque between the first and second structures and a disengaged condition that inhibits torque transmission between the first and second structures, a differential gear set, which is coupled to and rotatably supported within the second structure, and a biasing mechanism, which biases the third structure in the disengaged condition. The third structure is placed in the engaged condition if a torsional magnitude of the rotational input exceeds a rotational force exerted through the differential gear set. A vehicle drive train is also provided.

Power on demand differential

A gerotor assembly includes a pressure chamber with an integral eccentric ring for a motor vehicle hydraulic differential for use in hydraulic limited slip differentials for axles, transfer case center differentials and similar devices. The gerotor pump assembly in accordance with the present invention includes a housing having an integral ring which provides a pressure chamber for a piston, an eccentrically positioned recess for a inner rotor and an outer rotor and a location for a pressure limiting system. The gerotor pump assembly is of a non-reversing gerotor pump configuration using known methods to produce a unidirectional fluid flow.

Gerotor pump having an eccentric ring housing with an integral pressure chamber

A differential assembly having a first structure, which is configured to rotate along a differential axis in response to receipt of a rotational input, a second structure, which is supported for rotation on the differential axis, a third structure, which is supported for rotation on the differential axis and disposed between the first and second structures and operable in an engaged condition that transmits torque between the first and second structures and a disengaged condition that inhibits torque transmission between the first and second structures, a differential gear set, which is coupled to and rotatably supported within the second structure, and a biasing mechanism, which biases the third structure in the disengaged condition. The third structure is placed in the engaged condition if a torsional magnitude of the rotational input exceeds a rotational force that is exerted through the differential gear set. A vehicle drive train is also provided.

A drive axle assembly for a motor vehicle includes an axle housing a differential bearing, a differential assembly, an adjustment nut and an adjuster lock. The differential assembly is rotatably supported within the axle housing by the differential bearing. The differential bearing is coupled to the axle housing via a bearing cap having an aperture formed therein The adjustment nut has at least one retention aperture and the adjustment nut is engaged with the differential bearing such that rotation of the adjustment nut axially displaces the differential bearing. The adjuster lock includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a barb disposed in the bearing cap aperture. The second portion has a first lock pin disposed in the retention aperture thereby restricting the adjustment nut from rotating relative to the bearing cap.

One piece differential bearing adjuster lock and fastener

A drive line power transfer mechanism having a housing, a power transfer mechanism, a first fluid, at least one cooling conduit and a fluid source. The housing has a wall member that defines a cavity. The power transfer mechanism is positioned within the cavity. The first fluid is at least partially contained within a cavity. The first fluid lubricates and extracts heat from the power transfer mechanism during the operation of the drive line power transfer mechanism. The cooling conduit is formed within the wall member. The fluid source is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit and passes a second fluid through the cooling conduit to draw heat out of the housing that is generated by the operation of the drive line power transfer mechanism. A method for cooling an axle assembly is also provided.

Integrated heat exchange circuit for an axle

A drive axle assembly for a motor vehicle includes an axle housing, a differential bearing, a differential assembly, an adjustment nut and an adjuster lock. The differential assembly is rotatably supported within the axle housing by the differential bearing. The differential bearing is coupled to the axle housing via a bearing cap having an aperture formed therein. The adjustment nut has at least one retention aperture and the adjustment nut is engaged with the differential bearing such that rotation of the adjustment nut axially displaces the differential bearing. The adjuster lock includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a barb disposed in the bearing cap aperture. The second portion has a first lock pin disposed in the retention aperture thereby restricting the adjustment nut from rotating relative to the bearing cap.

A seal assembly having a case, an annular seal member and an annular guide member. The case is adapted to be mounted to a housing within a bore. The annular seal member is coupled to the case and extends radially inward therefrom. A seal lip is formed into the annular seal member and is adapted to provide a seal between the housing and a shaft. The annular guide member is coupled to one of the case and the seal member and extends radially inward therefrom. The annular guide includes an inner tip which extends radially inward beyond the seal lip when the seal assembly is in a free state disengaged from the shaft. The inner tip of the annular guide is adapted to protect the sealing integrity of the seal lip when the seal assembly and the shaft are assembled to one another. A method for installing a seal assembly with a guide member is also provided. The method includes the steps of inserting the shaft in the housing to an overstroked position and returning the shaft to a normal or operating position to thereby disengage the guide member from the case.

Integral seal protector/labyrinth

A removable support of motor vehicle differential side gear that facilitates machining which is added after the internal features of a two-piece motor vehicle differential case have been machined to position and support a motor vehicle differential side gear in the two-piece motor vehicle differential case and preclude gear movement therein. The removable motor vehicle differential side gear support is preferably fabricated from a structurally sound material, such as steel, and has a configuration similar to a washer. The removable motor vehicle side gear support is preferably removably secured to the two-piece motor vehicle differential case by, for example, mechanical fasteners, such a plurality of threaded bolts which pass through a corresponding plurality of clearance openings in the removable motor vehicle side gear support and are received in and secured in a corresponding plurality of internally threaded openings in the two-piece motor vehicle differential case.

Removable support of motor vehicle differential side gear that facilitates machining

A limited slip differential for a motor vehicle having a hydraulic medium plenum and pickup tube assembly which draws hydraulic medium from an axle sump by a vacuum generated by a hydraulic pump and transports the hydraulic medium to a hydraulic pump intake sump reservoir, the hydraulic medium plenum pickup tube assembly having a cross-sectional configuration which maintains the desired hydraulic medium flow rate, while being &ldquo;thin&rdquo; in at least one direction to filter out particulate contamination.

Hydraulic medium filtering for a motor vehicle limited slip differential

A control valve of a hydraulic coupling controls pumping through a casing inlet port by a hydraulic pump and/or through a casing outlet port to control coupling between two rotary members such as by operation of a clutch. The casing is connected to one of the rotary members while a pumping component embodied by an impeller is connected to the other rotary member and meshed with an internal ring gear having one more tooth than the number of impeller teeth to provide sufficient pumping capacity so that the pump can act as a brake while still having relatively constant pumping pressure. The control valve includes a valve system through which pressurized hydraulic fluid selectively flows to control the coupling of the pair of rotary members. The instant invention provides a thin-plate check valve and pressure port stack which creates a hydraulic flow path for a gerotor pump and maintains pressure equalization about the gerotor pump. The thin-plate check valve and pressure port stack comprises a series of relatively thin circular plates assembled in a stacked arrangement, including a spring plate and a seal plate which interface to create a check valve assembly, a port plate which provides a pocket to equalize pressure in different areas of the gerotor pump and a limiter plate which prevents the spring arm from being damages by a vacuum and which prevents the spring arm from over-travel and deformation. The number and/or thickness of the port plates determine how far the spring arm can travel under pressure. The plates forming the stack of this invention are relatively large when compared to prior known check valve arrangements and, therefore, are easy to handle and assemble. The plates also provide pressure equalization about the gerotor pump while eliminating relatively expensive machining in the differential case required for conventional valve arrangements.

Hydraulic coupling for vehicle drivetrain

An improved housing, particularly one for an automotive differential assembly, is provided. The housing has a cast portion formed from a first material and a preformed insert member formed from a second material which is cast into the cast portion. The insert member is strategically placed in an area of the housing to selectively enhance or alter the properties of the housing at that location. The insert member may be encased in a wall of the cast portion or may extend partially through a wall of cast portion depending upon the characteristics which are being enhanced or altered. The properties which may be enhanced or altered include, for example the strength, electric or thermal conductivity, magnetic potential, chemical compatibility or the coefficient of friction.

Captive molding with dissimilar material insert

A set of battery jumper cables for placing a discharged battery parallel with a charged battery in order to increase the amount of electrical energy available to the discharged battery. The battery jumper cables include a pair of conductor cables having at each end disengagable clamp handles for coupling terminals of the charged and discharged batteries. One of the conductor cables includes a half wave rectifier biased to permit an electrical charging current from the positive terminal of the charged battery, but prevent reverse flow and potential damage to automobile computer circuitry. In a preferred embodiment the half wave rectifier is replaceably included in one of the disengagable clamp handles of one of the conductor cables. Alternative embodiments include color coding the conductor cables. Other embodiments also include indicia on a clamp handle indicating the bias of the half wave rectifier.

Growing community of inventors

Waterford, MI, United States of America

David Marshall Morse