Gkn Automotive Gmbh

Other

Gkn Driveline North America, Inc.

Lei Yang

Brent M Peura

Richard E Bastien

Mark A Heinze

Christopher M Zagacki

Samuel Oram

Robert Genway-Haden

Kazunobu Takeshita

Samuel J Oram

David D Spurlock

Stefan Nicklich

A vehicle power transfer unit assembly includes an input shaft, a shift collar, an outer cam ring, and an inner cam ring. The shift collar is engaged with the input shaft and operable between a first position and a second position. The outer cam ring is disposed around a portion of the shift collar. The outer cam ring includes an inner surface defining a plurality of levels. The inner cam ring is engaged with the shift collar and disposed radially inward from the outer cam ring. The inner cam ring includes a jaw engageable with the plurality of levels. The shift collar is moved from the first position to the second position when the jaw is moved from engagement with one of the plurality of levels to engagement with another of the plurality of levels.

Multi-stage shifting actuator for a vehicle power transfer unit

A disconnectable coupling device rotatable about an axis is provided with a first shaft having an end and a hub formed on the end, the hub including a flange extending radially from the end and a round wall projecting axially from the flange and defining a hollow; a second shaft aligned with the first shaft and opposed to the end of the first shaft, the second shaft having a drum overhanging the hub; a multi-plate clutch held between the hub and the drum to disconnectably connect the hub with the drum; a cup so fixed with the hub as to define a gutter around the first shaft; and one or more perforations axially passing through the flange to establish fluid communication between the gutter and the hollow.

Disconnectable coupling with lubrication control

A vehicle power transfer unit assembly comprises an input shaft, an intermediate shaft at least partially surrounding the input shaft, a central shaft adjacent the input shaft, a peripheral shaft at least partially surrounding the central shaft, a first shift collar, and a second shift collar. The first shift collar is operable between a first position where torque is transferred from the input shaft to the intermediate shaft and a second position where torque is not transferred from the input shaft to the intermediate shaft. The second shift collar is operable between a third position where torque is transferred from the input shaft to the peripheral shaft and a fourth position where torque is transferred from the input shaft to the central shaft.

Shifting mechanism for a vehicle power transfer unit

A rear drive unit (RDU) for a vehicle includes a shift collar, a sleeve disposed around the shift collar, a planetary gear set, a differential including a side gear, and a locking plate configured to engage the side gear. The sleeve is configured to move the shift collar between a first position and a second position. The planetary gear set includes a sun gear and at least one planetary gear engaged with the sun gear. The sun gear is configured to engage the shift collar in the second position. The at least one planetary gear includes a pin extending through an entire length of the at least one planetary gear. The shift collar is configured to exert a force upon the locking plate via the pin to move the locking plate into engagement with the side gear in a third position.

Vehicle drive unit assembly

A retainer for coupling rotating shafts includes a body and a finger. The body may have a curved section extending in a circumferential direction about an axis and a pair of ends. The finger extends from the body and has a least a portion that extends inwardly toward the axis. The finger may be flexible and resilient and have an at rest state and a second state wherein the finger flexes outwardly away from the axis when acted upon by a sufficient force, and the finger returns toward its at rest state when the force is reduced or removed from the finger. When a second shaft is partially inserted into a first shaft, an object may engage and flex the finger until the object passes by the finger whereupon the finger may return toward the at rest state partially overlapping the object.

Retainer for rotating members

A vehicle final drive unit (FDU) of a vehicle driveline. The vehicle FDU includes one or more wet clutches that provide disconnect capabilities in the vehicle FDU, and includes a final drive gearset. Different techniques are provided for discontinuing lubricant supply to the wet clutch(es) when the wet clutch(es) are disconnected in order to preclude unwanted rotations that can be the consequence of adhesion among clutch plates in the wet clutch(es). One technique actively brakes the final drive gearset in the vehicle FDU so that the final drive gearset no longer rotates and no longer throws lubricant to the wet clutch(es). Another technique involves closing an entrance that leads lubricant to the wet clutch(es).

Vehicle final drive unit (FDU) with wet clutch(es)

In at least some implementations, a disconnect assembly for a driveline component, such as a power transfer unit, may include an input shaft, a disconnect shaft selectively rotated by the input shaft and an output shaft coupled to the disconnect shaft. A first gear is coupled to the disconnect shaft and a second gear is coupled to the output shaft and to the first gear so that the output shaft rotates when the disconnect shaft rotates. A connection feature is movable between an engaged position in which the input shaft and disconnect shaft are coupled and a disengaged position in which the input shaft rotates relative to the disconnect shaft. The connection feature includes a first part carried by the gear for rotation therewith and a second part movable relative to the first part and carried by the input shaft for rotation with the input shaft.

Driveline disconnect device

A differential with torque vectoring comprises a differential, two gear mechanisms, and two clutches. The engagement of one of the clutches and the corresponding gear mechanism provides a yaw movement in one direction or in the opposition direction. The engagement of both clutches and the corresponding gear mechanisms provides differential lock. The differential with torque vectoring can also functions as conventional open differential.

Differential and active torque vectoring

A differential with torque distribution comprises two differentials. The two differentials can be connected in serial with one of the side gear of the first differential driving the housing of the second differential, and one of the side gear of the second differential being connected to the other side gear of the first differential, and vise versa. Hence the torque on the two output shafts of the differential with torque distribution are different. The rotational speeds on the respective two output shafts are independent of the change of torque on the two output shafts.

Differential with torque distribution

A differential with torque vectoring comprises a differential, a motor, and a clutch. The pinion gears are constantly coupled to the motor shaft. Energizing the motor provides torque vectoring. Energizing the clutch provides differential lock. The differential with torque vectoring can also functions as conventional open differential.

Differential with active torque vectoring

A directly coupled-inertia activated mechanism that may be incorporated into a door handle assembly and counteracts inadvertent door opening during a side crash. An inertia lever with certain inertia moment in relation ship to that of the handle is coupled to the handle, such that it rotates in the opposite direction of that of the handle when the handle is being pulled. The inertia lever is capable of canceling totally the inertia force causing the handle to move inadvertently to unlatched position during side impact crash, and stops the handle's unlatching move.

Growing community of inventors

Novi, MI, United States of America

Lei Yang