Schaeffler Technologies Ag & Co .kg

Kenneth Hunt

Michael Hodge

Jordan Geiser

David M Smith

James Copeland

Matthew Fowler

David Battle

Markus Steinberger

Patrick Lindemann

Matthew Payne

Peter Burke

Alfredo Jimenez Perez Mitre

Greg Copeland

David Smith

A differential includes a housing rotatable about a center axis of the differential. The housing includes a first hub section including a base plate and a first hub protruding axially from the base plate; a second hub section including an end plate a second hub protruding axially from the end plate; a plurality of rings stacked together axially between the base plate and the end plate, the plurality of ring being attached to the base plate and the end plate; a first side gear and a second side gear inside of the housing, the first side gear configured for connecting to a first output shaft, the second side gear configured for connecting to a second output shaft; first transmission gears and second transmission gears connected to the housing for rotation with the housing about the center axis, the first transmission gears configured for driving the first side gear, the second transmission gears configured for driving the second side gear, the first transmission gears and second transmission gears being received inside the plurality of rings.

Differential with stamped housing

A friction washer for a limited slip differential is provided, with the friction washer including a disk body having first and second opposing surfaces. The first and second opposing surfaces define respective first and second contact planes and include recesses that extend into the disk body from the respective first and second contact planes such that only a portion of the disk body extends to the respective first and second contact plane. The recesses are defined by partial spherical or partial cylindrical surfaces. This provides improved properties for holding lubricating fluid circulated within the differential so that the hydrodynamic pressure created between the friction surfaces provides a more consistent film or boundary layer of the lubricating fluid for a more uniform coefficient of friction over various operating speeds and pressures.

Friction washer for limited slip differential clutch pack

A gear assembly having a rotatable housing with an axial end face and a lubrication in-flow opening and a gear set located therein. A lubricant collection ring having an axially extending outer wall is connected to the axial end face. A radially inwardly extending sidewall extends from the axially extending outer wall in a position spaced apart from the axial end face. A lubricant deflector ring is connected to the rotatable housing radially inwardly from the lubricant collection ring. The lubricant deflector ring has a plurality of radially outwardly directed vanes that overlap with the lubricant collection ring. The vanes are configured to fling lubricant against the radially outwardly located lubricant collection ring which directs the lubricant to the at least one lubrication in-flow opening to provide lubricant to the at least one lubricant in-flow opening in the rotatable housing in order to lubricate the gear set located therein.

Differential with improved lubrication

A radially compliant connection includes an axis, a first plate with a first connection portion, a second plate with a second connection portion, an intermediate plate with third and fourth connection portions, a first flexible element fixed to the first connection portion and to the third connection portion, and a second flexible element fixed to the second connection portion and to the fourth connection portion. In some example embodiments, the first connection portion has a radially inner surface with a first radius, and the second connection portion has a first radially outer surface with a second radius, less than the first radius. In an example embodiment, the third connection portion has a second radially outer surface with a third radius, equal to the second radius, or the fourth connection portion has a third radially outer surface with a fourth radius, equal to the second radius.

Radially compliant connection

An actuating assembly includes a body; a plunger axially movable with respect to the body; a linear actuator configured for being activated to axially move the plunger in a first direction into engagement with the body such that the plunger and body are rotationally fixed with respect to each other; a barrel movable with respect to the body for contacting the plunger and the body depending on an axial position of the plunger; and a spring for biasing the barrel toward the plunger. The barrel is configured such that the spring forces the barrel into circumferential engagement with the body in two different axial positions of the barrel with respect to the body when the linear actuator is inactive depending on a rotational orientation of the barrel.

Actuating assembly for an actuatable device in a motor vehicle drivetrain

A clutch assembly is provided including a ring rotatable about a center axis defining an axial direction. The ring includes a profile facing the axial direction. The clutch assembly also includes a rocker including an engagement section that is movable in the axial direction toward and away from the profile; a strut configured for being rotated to move the engagement section of the rocker in the axial direction toward the profile; and an actuator configured to move the strut in an engagement direction to move the engagement section of the rocker in the axial direction into engagement with the profile to prevent the ring from rotating about the center axis in a first rotational direction.

Axial switchable one way clutch

A clutch assembly comprises an actuation assembly, an outer ring, and an inner ring disposed radially inward of the outer ring and rotatable about an axis in first and second rotational directions. A first and second strut are rotatably disposed within first and second pockets of the outer ring and configured to be rotated by the actuation assembly. A first pawl and a second pawl are rotatably disposed within a third pocket and a fourth pocket, respectively. For a transition mode, the actuation assembly is configured to rotate the first strut within the first pocket such that rotation of the first strut in the first rotational direction urges the first pawl radially inward into partial engagement with teeth disposed on an outer surface of the inner ring, the second pawl remains free of contact with the inner ring and the inner ring rotates in the first rotational direction.

Switchable i-brake for hybrid transmission

A one-way clutch assembly comprises an outer race, first and second inner races rotatable about an axis, a first and a second plurality of rocker members, and first and second cages. The outer race has a plurality of pockets defined in an inner surface. First and second inner races are aligned axially side-by-side and each include rocker teeth defined on an outer surface. One rocker member from the first and second plurality of rocker members is disposed in each pocket of the outer race. The first plurality of rocker members are arranged to face in a first direction and the second plurality of rocker members are arranged to face in a second, opposite direction. First and second cages are positioned radially between the inner and outer races and configured to selectively displace the first and second plurality of rocker members, respectively, between disengaged and engaged positions.

Four mode switchable one way clutch

A clutch carrier includes a first component and a second component. The first component has an undulating ring, a cylindrical ring, and a connector portion. The undulating ring has an inner surface, and an outer surface for mating engagement with a clutch plate spline. The connector portion is between the undulating ring and the cylindrical ring. A plurality of apertures are defined at least partially in the connector portion. The second component has a first radial wall, a plurality of segments, and a plurality of formable tabs. The plurality of segments extend axially from the first radial wall and contact at least a portion of the inner surface to radially position the second component within the first component. The plurality of formable tabs extend from the first radial wall through the plurality of apertures.

Clutch carrier for a transmission

A torque converter assembly includes an input plate connectable to a powerplant, a torque converter, and a disconnect clutch external to the torque converter and configured to selectively couple the input plate to the torque converter. The torque converter includes a cover having an outer surface and at least one fluid hole extending through the cover. The disconnect clutch is actuated by pressurized fluid via the fluid hole.

Torque converter assembly with disconnect clutch

An assembly for a one-way clutch (OWC) includes a carrier, an outer race non-rotatably fixed to the carrier, an inner race, and a roller cage assembly. The roller cage assembly is disposed radially between the inner race and outer race to enable relative rotation therebetween. The roller cage assembly has a plurality of rolling elements and an annular cage and is configured to maintain the rolling elements in position. The cage including a flange extending radially inwardly. A support shim has an axial surface that contacts the flange, wherein the support shim is configured to absorb axial forces transmitted through the flange.

One-way clutch with support shim

A one-way clutch, including: pocket and inner rings; rollers between the rings; springs urging the rollers in a first circumferential direction; a switch ring including protrusions in contact with the rollers and having ramps. In a one-way configuration: the inner and pocket rings non-rotatably connect for relative rotation of the inner ring, with respect to the pocket ring, in the first circumferential direction; and for a free-wheel mode, the inner ring is rotatable in a second circumferential direction with respect to the pocket ring. In an open configuration: the inner and pocket rings are independently rotatable. To transition from the one-way clutch configuration to the open configuration: the actuator axially displaces the switch ring with respect to the pocket ring; the ramps slide along the pocket ring to rotate the switch ring in the second circumferential direction; and the protrusions displace the rollers in the second circumferential direction.

Controllable one-way clutch

A double clutch, including: a backing plate; a first clutch including at least one first clutch plate, a first pressure plate, a first plurality of levers engaged with the first pressure plate, a first shim engaged with the first plurality of levers, and a first actuator engaged with the first shim and arranged to axially displace the first shim to close the first clutch; and a second clutch including: at least one second clutch plate, a second pressure plate, a second plurality of levers engaged with the second pressure plate aligned with the first plurality of levers such that a first line in the circumferential direction passes through the first and second pluralities of levers, a second shim engaged with the second plurality of levers, and a second actuator engaged with the second shim and arranged to axially displace the second shim to close the second clutch.

Growing community of inventors

Wooster, OH, United States of America

Kenneth Hunt