Gkn Automotive Gmbh

Gkn Driveline North America, Inc.

Kevin P Horak

Kazunobu Takeshita

David E Gall

Edward K Kwon

Ronald E Dice

Terence Paul Davies

An axle assembly includes a gear train having multiple outputs that rotate at different speeds. A differential is engaged with a first output at a first speed, and a clutch is engaged with a second output at a second speed, and the second speed is lower than the first speed. The first output may be radially spaced from the second output, relative to axes of rotation of the differential and the clutch.

Axle assembly with differential and clutch

In at least some implementations, a torque transmitting apparatus includes a first member arranged for rotation about an axis and having a first surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis, and a second member having a second surface with at least a portion that is parallel to and engaged with at least a portion of the first surface. The second member is coupled to the first member by a weld provided in an interface region defined by an area of radial overlap between the first surface and the second surface. The groove is provided in one or both of the first surface and the second surface, the groove has a portion located radially inboard of the weld and at least one outlet that, at least without the weld, is communicated with a radially outer edge of the interface region.

Driveline components with weld vent

In at least some implementations, a differential for a vehicle includes a pinion gear, a pair of side gears and a housing. The side gears are meshed with the pinion gear and the housing defines a cavity in which the pinion gear and side gears are received. The housing also has an opening with an inner end leading to the cavity and an outer end spaced from the inner end. The opening is adapted to receive a shaft therethrough for coupling of the shaft to one of the side gears and the opening is defined at least in part by a journal surface. The journal surface is concave with respect to the shaft and provides a converging portion from the inner end to a central portion between the inner end and outer end and a diverging portion from the central portion to the outer end.

Crowned profile driveshaft journal

A boot for a joint includes a shaft-gripping portion, a joint-connecting portion, and a sleeve portion connecting the joint-connecting portion with the shaft-gripping portion. The boot is adapted to dynamically roll about the sleeve portion to a roll position (A, B, C) to form a roll surface having a roll width, w, wherein the roll width, w, remains generally constant independent of the roll position (A, B, C). The boot can be used to connect a shaft to a joint portion of the joint and is adapted to allow shaft translation.

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Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Kevin P Horak