Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Gkn Driveline North America, Inc.

Ford Motor Company Limited

Other

Joseph Palazzolo

Perry Edward Phelan

Todd A Kendall

William Paul Perkins

Samuel Oram

Xiaohong Nina Duan

Austin Richard Gerding

Sohel Anwar

Mark Andrew Benson

Tony N Arden

Gary Monkaba

Dean T Wisniewski

Rick Ohsiek

Mansour Peyghaleh

Jason F Bock

Daniel Engerer

Austin R Gerding

Matthew Schmalenberg

Brenten Corliss

Aaron W Atkinson

Loren C Macklem

Matt Rahaim

W Paul Perkins

Samuel J Oram

In at least some implementations, a disconnect assembly for a power transfer unit includes a cam and a cam follower. The cam is driven for rotation and has a cam surface that is inclined relative to an axis of rotation and a void spaced from the cam surface. The cam follower has a cam engagement surface and is arranged to be engaged by the cam surface so that the cam follower is displaced axially during at least a portion of the rotation of the cam. One or both of the cam and the cam follower includes an interface surface provided at an angle to the axis of rotation to control axial movement of the cam follower during at least a portion of the rotation of the cam when the cam surface is not engaged with the cam engagement surface.

Shift collar assembly for a power transfer unit

An axle module may comprise an outer housing and a ring gear assembly rotatably supported within the outer housing on a hub. The axle module may further include first and second shafts arranged within the ring gear assembly, and first and second inner hubs rotatably fixed to the first and second shafts, respectively. Additionally, the axle module may include first and second clutch packs, each having a first plurality of friction plates fixed for rotation to the first and second inner hubs, and a second plurality of friction plates fixed for rotation to the hub. Exemplary axle modules may have a reduced packaging width.

Twin electronic torque management device

A power transfer unit assembly for a vehicle is provided comprising a first input shaft providing rotational drive. A second input shaft is in communication with a gear train assembly which is in communication with a propshaft. A selective engagement element is movable between an engagement position wherein the second input shaft is placed in rotational communication with the first input shaft and a disengagement position wherein the second input shaft is disengaged from the first input shaft. An actuator assembly moves the selective engagement element into the engagement position for all wheel drive mode and into the disengagement position for two wheel drive mode.

Power transfer unit with disconnecting input shaft

A differential having a differential case, a pair of side gears disposed in the differential case and a biasing element disposed between the side gears to force the side gears against the differential case, creating a torque bias between the side gears and the differential case. The torque bias may also include the torque bias between the biasing element and the side gears. In some embodiments, the differential may include washers disposed between the side gears and the differential case, so that the torque bias may be the sum of the bias created between the side gears and the biasing element, the side gears and the washer, and the washer and the differential case. In an alternative embodiment, the differential includes a pair of pinions rotatably engaging the side gears, wherein the biasing element applies a force to the pinion gears to create a torque bias on the pinion gears, thereby inhibiting the side gears from movement relative to each other until the pinion torque bias is overcome.

Differential assembly

One or more wheels of an electrically powered vehicle contains a motor rotor and a motor stator that is mounted on an integrated structure having a motor stator mounting element portion and wheel axle portion on each side thereof. The structure is fabricated from a unitary non-ferromagnetic substance. A rotor housing is journalled to the axle portion on both sides of the motor stator mounting element via bearings. A wheel assembly is mounted on the rotor housing thereby to be driven by the rotor. Forced-air cooling is provided through a hollow central passage. A plug separates the passage into two distinct sections, the inlet and the outlet. A plurality of cavities, provided with heat exchanger surfaces, are contained within the stator mounting element portion. Channels at each end of each cavity extend in the radial direction into the central passage. Cooling air enters from one end of the central passage, is directed through the inlet channels, the cavities and outlet channels before exiting through the opposite end of the central passage. Additional channels provide wire access to the motor stator.

Integrated stator-axle for in-wheel motor of an electric vehicle

A hydraulic coupling system includes a pump, a controller, a clutch assembly, and a valve. The clutch assembly includes an actuator and a multi-disk clutch pack coupled to the actuator. Under the direction of the controller, the pump pressurizes a fluid in the actuator to engage the clutch pack and pumps the fluid through the clutch pack to cool the clutch pack. The valve maintains the fluid pumped to the actuator at a higher pressure than the pressure of the fluid pumped through the clutch pack to cool the clutch.

Hydraulic coupling system

A torque transfer assembly including an input gear, a first output shaft, a second output shaft, a planetary differential and a torque control system. In one embodiment, the planetary differential includes first and second planetary gear set pairs each with inner and outer planetary gear sets. The torque control system includes first and second torque control mechanisms each having a control element rotating with one of the planetary gear set components as well as a controller communicating with the first and second control mechanisms and selectively controlling a resistance torque exerted by the first and second torque control mechanisms on the first and second control elements. In another embodiment, the torque control system includes a hydraulic control arrangement hydraulically intercoupling the first and second torque control mechanisms and a controller operable to selectively control the direction and amount of fluid flow in the hydraulic control arrangement and the resistance torque exerted by the first and second torque control mechanisms.

Torque transfer assembly with planetary differential

A vehicle, such as an automobile or a truck, is equipped with a mechanism to control output torque to two or more shafts. The mechanism is most usefully adapted to an axle in order to allocate torque among two or more shafts or wheels. The mechanism controls the sum and difference of torque by processing the sum and the difference independently. The mechanism converts a force, such as a torque, into quantities that can be used by the two or more shafts or wheels.

Torque controller for controlling torque to two or more shafts

A power train assembly for an all wheel drive automotive vehicle. The power train assembly includes a transmission assembly having a transmission output. A final drive unit is coupled to the transmission output and includes a torque multiplier. After torque multiplication, power from the final drive is provided to the front wheels of the vehicle. A power transfer unit diverts power from the transmission to the rear wheels of the vehicle. The power transfer unit is coupled to the transmission output such that power is received therefrom prior to torque multiplication by the final drive unit.

Power train assembly

The present invention provides a integral subassembly for the power train of an all wheel drive automotive vehicle. The subassembly includes a final drive unit coupled to a transmission output. The final drive unit itself includes a torque multiplier and an output adapted to provide power to the front wheels of the vehicle. Also included in the subassembly is a front differential coupled to the final drive's output. The front differential includes a left front wheel output and a right front wheel output. A power transfer unit in the subassembly is also coupled to the transmission output and provided with a non-parallel gear set and a rear driveline output, the latter being adapted to provide power to the rear wheels of the vehicle. The power transfer unit is coupled to the transmission output independently of the final drive unit. Finally, a housing commonly encloses the final drive unit, front differential and power transfer unit allowing them to be integrally provided as a subassembly.

This invention provides the use of a pump to regulate torque in a planetary gear system. The pump is provided with a bore and a valve, which operates to control the flow of fluid within the bore. When the valve is positioned within the bore to block the flow of fluid between the inlet and outlet of the pump, pressure is generated within the pump. The pump pressure is sufficient to generate torque in the planetary gear system.

Oil pump with integral fast acting valve for controlling planetary system torque

This invention provides the use of a pump to regulate torque in a planetary gear system. The pump is provided with a moveable piston as an end plate. An actuator, attached to the piston, controls the movement of the piston. In one position, the piston is in contact with the internal components of the pump. When the actuator moves the piston, the piston loses contact with the pump, thus allowing a free flow of fluid between the inlet and outlet of the pump. In this configuration, the pump is no longer able to generate the pressure that creates torque in the planetary gear system.

Oil pump for controlling planetary system torque

A torque control crescent oil pump, having low parasitic loss and rapid pressure transient response, and a method for controlling oil flow within the pump, are provided. In one embodiment, the crescent oil pump comprises a housing, toothed annular gears cooperatively rotating about preferably offset first and second axes, and a crescent body. The crescent body is adapted to move from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the crescent body is adapted to form a seal between the annular gears. In the second position, the crescent body is positioned so that it does not form a seal between the annular gears. In another embodiment, an actuating device moves the crescent body from the first position to the second position.

Torque control oil pump with low parasitic loss and rapid pressure transient response

A transfer case system distributes torque between primary and secondary drive trains. The system comprises a planetary gear set having a sun gear, a ring gear, a planetary gear intermeshed with the sun gear and ring gear, and a planetary carrier rotatably connected with the planetary gear. The system also comprises a torque sink connected with the sun gear and a torque input shaft connected with the ring gear and the primary drive train. The torque sink applies a braking force to the rotation of the sun gear in response to instructions from a controller, causing the ring gear to output torque to a secondary drive train.

Planetary gear system for controlling torque transfer in a vehicle driveline

A motor vehicle power transfer unit for distributing torque between a front wheel drive line and a rear wheel drive line. The power transfer unit includes an input portion, an output portion, a non-parallel gear set and a parallel gear set. The input portion is adapted to connect to an output portion of the transmission assembly and the output portion is adapted to connect to an input portion of the rear wheel drive line. The non-parallel gear set is coupled to the input portion and transfers power to the parallel gear set, which is coupled to the output portion. A front wheel differential located in the power transfer unit, may also be coupled to the input portion.

Growing community of inventors

Livonia, MI, United States of America

Joseph Palazzolo