American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

Jeffrey Eugene Rea

Kevin Ray Beutler

Blair J Swanson

Gregory Joseph Hilker

Stephen C Doud

James P Borowiak

Rajendra D Patil

Andrew Frank Pinkos

David Charles Johnson

Jason E Moore

Michael J Leko

Jonathan R Gohl

Robert Allen Dunn

Jose Luis Medina

A method for forming a propshaft assembly that includes: providing a propshaft tube having a wall member that defines an inner tubular surface; providing a yoke with a yoke body and a pair of yoke arms that extend from the yoke body, the yoke body defining first and second locating portions and an adhesive groove that is disposed between the first and second locating portions; assembling the yoke to the propshaft tube such that the first locating portion engages the inner tubular surface in a slip-fit manner and the second locating portion engages the inner tubular surface in an interference-fit manner; heating the propshaft tube and the yoke; and injecting an adhesive through the propshaft tube into the adhesive groove when the propshaft tube and the yoke are at a temperature that is greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum adhesive injection temperature. A propshaft assembly is also provided.

Propshaft assembly with yoke adhesively coupled to propshaft tube

An axle assembly having a heat sink coupled to an axle housing assembly for ejecting heat from the axle assembly. The heat sink includes an air channel having a body coupled to the carrier housing assembly such that heat is conducted from the carrier housing assembly to the body of the air channel and an air passage formed in the body and having an open leading end and an open trailing end, the leading end being positioned relative to the carrier housing assembly to permit air flowing over the axle assembly when the axle assembly is in use to be received into the air passage such that heat is conducted from the body to the air flowing through the air passage, and the trailing end being positioned relative to the carrier housing assembly to permit air received in the air passage to be expelled through the trailing end.

Axle assembly with axle housing assembly having air scoops for cooling

An axle assembly that includes an axle housing assembly, a differential disposed in the axle housing assembly, an input pinion, a pair of axle shafts and a heat sink. The input pinion is coupled to the axle housing assembly and is configured to transmit a rotary input to the differential. The axle shafts are coupled to the differential and housed in the axle housing assembly. The heat sink is coupled to the axle housing assembly and is formed of a material having a thermal conductivity that is greater than that of the axle housing assembly. The heat sink does not consist entirely of a chrome plating, a zinc plating or a cadmium plating.

Vehicle driveline component having heat sink for increased heat rejection capabilities

An apparatus that includes a first member, an insert, and an object. The first member made of a first metal and has a first exterior surface and a first end. A pocket is formed in the exterior surface of the first end. The insert is made of a second, different metal. The insert is connected to the pocket and has a second exterior surface that is flush with the first exterior surface. The object is formed of the second metal and is resistance welded to the insert. The second metal is steel and the first metal is a metal that cannot be resistance welded directly to steel.

Axle housing assembly and method

A method of forming a joint includes providing a first member made of cast iron having an exterior surface and a first end. A pocket is formed in the exterior surface of the first end. An insert made of steel is connected to the pocket. A second member made of cast iron is provided with an aperture. The method includes positioning the first end of the first member within the aperture and positioning a plug made of steel in the second member proximate the aperture. The plug is fixedly connected to the insert.

An axle assembly that includes an axle housing assembly, a differential disposed in the axle housing assembly, an input pinion, a pair of axle shafts and a heat sink. The input pinion is coupled to the axle housing assembly and is configured to transmit a rotary input to the differential. The axle shafts are coupled to the differential and housed in the axle housing assembly. The heat sink is coupled to the axle housing assembly and is formed of a material having a thermal conductivity that is greater than that of the axle housing assembly. The heat sink does not consist entirely of a chrome plating, a zinc plating or a cadmium plating. A cover for an axle assembly is also provided.

An axle housing assembly includes a cast iron tube having a pocket that is formed proximate a first end of the cast iron tube. The pocket is disposed generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cast iron tube. The axle housing assembly also includes an insert made of steel connected to the pocket. The steel insert permits the cast iron tube to be coupled to a cast iron carrier housing by welding steel plugs positioned in the carrier housing to the steel inserts.

A power transmitting device including a housing having an input shaft, at least one output shaft and a gear set positioned in the housing. The gear set transmits rotary power between the input shaft and the output shaft. An electrical actuator includes a linearly moveable member and is operable to drivingly engage the moveable member with the gear set. A sensor is positioned within the housing and operable to output a signal indicative of the linear position of the moveable member.

Lockable differential with locking state detection system

An axle shaft assembly for a motor vehicle has a bearing unit, an axle shaft, and a bearing retainer. The axle shaft is supported within the wheel bearing unit. The axle shaft has an outer diameter. The bearing retainer is mounted on the axle shaft and abuts the wheel bearing unit. The bearing retainer has a piloting feature for aligning the bearing retainer with respect to the axle shaft. The piloting feature includes a pilot surface with an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the axle shaft.

Growing community of inventors

Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey Eugene Rea