American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

Glen C Steyer

Zhaohui Sun

David Paul Schankin

Gregory Alan Marsh

Chih-Hung Chung

Peng Marcus Chen

A weldment in which a first component defines a bore, a second component is received in the bore and a weld is employed to couple the second component to the first component. The first component has an isolation pocket formed about the bore such that an annular projection having an annular collar portion is formed. The isolation pocket is sized and positioned relative to the weld such that the annular collar portion is deflected about the base into a position that is radially inwardly from a position of the annular collar portion prior to the formation of the weld such that the isolation pocket controls axial shrinkage associated with the formation and cooling of the weld.

Weldment with isolation pocket for reduction of weld-induced distortion

A driveline with a shaft and a vibration damper coupled to the shaft. The damper includes a hub, a first mass, a first resilient coupling, a second mass, and a second resilient coupling. The first mass is disposed concentrically about the hub. The first resilient coupling resiliently couples the first mass to the hub. The first resilient coupling has a first spring constant. The second mass is disposed concentrically about the first mass. The second resilient coupling resiliently couples the second mass directly to the first mass. The second resilient coupling has a second spring constant that is less than the first spring constant. The first mass and the first resilient coupling are configured to attenuate vibration at a first frequency. The second mass and the second resilient coupling are configured to attenuate vibration at a second frequency. The second frequency is lower than the first frequency.

Dual-tuned vibration damper

A vibration damper includes a hub, a first mass, a first resilient coupling, a second mass, and a second resilient coupling. The first mass is disposed concentrically about the hub. The first resilient coupling resiliently couples the first mass to the hub. The first resilient coupling has a first spring constant. The second mass is disposed concentrically about the first mass. The second resilient coupling resiliently couples the second mass directly to the first mass. The second resilient coupling has a second spring constant that is less than the first spring constant. The first mass and the first resilient coupling are configured to attenuate vibration at a first frequency. The second mass and the second resilient coupling are configured to attenuate vibration at a second frequency. The second frequency is lower than the first frequency.

Dual-tuned vibration damper and method for damping vibrations in a power transmission system using a dual-tuned vibration damper

A driveshaft assembly that includes a first shaft member, a second shaft member, a bearing assembly and a sensor. The first shaft member has a magnetically encoded zone with a magnetic field that varies as a function of the torque that is transmitted through the first shaft member. The second shaft member is coupled for rotation with the first shaft member. The bearing assembly comprises a bearing support, which is configured to be coupled to a vehicle structure, and a bearing that is housed in the bearing support. The bearing journally supports the first shaft member for rotation about a first axis. The sensor is coupled to the bearing assembly. The sensor is arranged to sense the magnetic field of the magnetically encoded zone and responsively produce an electrical signal.

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Glen C Steyer