Dana Corporation

Eaton Corporation

Eaton Intelligent Power Limited

Spicer Technology Inc.

Torque-traction Technologies, Inc.

Mark Charles Barnholt

Brian William Franke

Michael Lee Bassett

Troy Scott Reinoehl

Steven E McCutcheon

Timothy Allmandinger

David Joseph Young

Patrick J Ballinger

Dean Alan Geiger

James A Krisher

Kevin F Schlosser

Christopher David Cole

Michael J Hornbrook

Barry T Adams

Alexander William Jessee

Edward Eugene Stuart

Thomas Nahrwold

Richard L Pifer

Charles F Heine

Robb Edward Grostefon

Donald E Hobson

John E Pressler

Michael Robert Fetcho

Steven J Rynearson

Ronald I Rhoads

Ben J Passino

Michael J Warwick

Paul Joseph Tebbe

Stephen Thomas Hamm

John Oswald

Jack E Skelton

A friction clutch for a motor vehicle includes an adjustment mechanism compensating for wear of a friction disk. The adjustment mechanism () includes a first cam ring () rotatably fixed and a second cam ring () rotatable relative to the first cam ring (). Both cam rings () have a plurality of cam surfaces configured such that rotation of the second cam ring () relative to the first cam ring () varies a height of the adjustment mechanism (). A torsion spring () applies a biasing force to the second cam ring (). A back drive prevention assembly () includes a back drive spring () attached to the pressure plate and first cam ring () to prevent back drive of the second cam ring () through a baffle () including a plurality of cam teeth () formed on a bottom surface of the baffle (). The cam teeth () are formed at an angle A relative to a bottom surface of the baffle () decreasing displacement and loads of the back drive spring ().

Clutch adjustment system with wear resistant features for back driving prevention

A twin plate separation system, comprising a pressure plate, an intermediate plate facing the pressure plate, and a spring separator assembly. The spring separator assembly comprises a mounting extending out from the intermediate plate towards the pressure plate. A spring surrounds the mounting, and the spring is biased to push the pressure plate and the intermediate plate apart. The mounting or another fixture can secure at least one drive strap to the intermediate plate. Alternatively, the mounting extends out of the pressure plate towards the intermediate plate, and the spring surrounds the mounting and is biased to push the pressure plate and the intermediate plate apart. In this alternative, the intermediate plate does not comprise a hole for receiving the mounting.

Twin plate separation systems

An electromagnetic clutch assembly includes a rotor assembly operable to rotate about an axis. The electromagnetic clutch assembly also includes an armature assembly operable to rotate about the axis. The electromagnetic clutch assembly also includes an electromagnetic coupling system operable to generate a magnetic field. The magnetic field induces the rotor assembly and the armature assembly against one another along the axis for frictional engagement such that the rotor assembly and the armature assembly rotate together. The electromagnetic clutch assembly also includes an air gap defined between the rotor assembly and the armature assembly when the rotor assembly and the armature assembly are in frictional engagement. In another implementation, at least one plate is positioned between the rotor assembly and the armature assembly such that magnetic flux passes through the at least one plate. The plate is formed from a mixture of powdered metal and solid lubricant.

Electromagnetic clutch assembly

A driven disc assembly is provided. The backing plates have right angle depression sections that surround mounting holes of a clutch disc. The thickness of the backing plates are enlarged from their normal thickness causing a top surface of the backing plates to axially clear heads of conventional rivets. The thickness of the friction buttons on the backing plates can then be reduced to their minimal effective use thickness.

Clutch backer plate with recessed rivets

A driven disc assembly is provided wherein a clutch disc has enlarged holes for connection of opposing backing plates. The backing plates have semi-pierced sections that are insertable within mounting holes of the clutch disc. The thickness of the backing plates are enlarged from their normal thickness causing a top surface of the backing plates to axially clear heads of conventional rivets. The thickness of the friction buttons on the backing plates can then be reduced to their minimal effective use thickness.

A torque transmitting apparatus includes a cover portion generally defined by a first axis. The cover portion includes a plurality of adjustment apertures. The apparatus also includes a flywheel coupled to the cover portion for rotation therewith, wherein the flywheel is restrained from axial movement relative to the cover portion. The apparatus also includes a pressure plate coupled to the cover portion for rotation therewith. The pressure plate is axially moveable relative to the cover portion. The apparatus also includes a clutch disk at least partially interposed between the flywheel and the pressure plate. The apparatus also includes a plurality of first members extending between the pressure plate and the cover. Each first member exerts a biasing outward radial force on the adjustment aperture to resist axial movement therebetween. The apparatus also includes a plurality of biasing members. At least one biasing member is interposed between one of the first members and the flywheel. Each biasing member exerts a biasing axial force on the pressure plate thereby biasing the pressure plate toward the flywheel while absorbing undesirable impact forces to isolate the departure control sleeves.

Isolation of clutch departure control sleeve

An inertia brake assembly is disclosed. In an embodiment, the inertia brake includes a rotor hub subassembly and an inertia brake subassembly. The inertia brake subassembly includes a first reaction plate arranged opposite a first side of the rotor hub assembly, a second reaction plate arranged opposite a second side of the rotor hub assembly, and one or more connector subassemblies connecting the first reaction plate to the second reaction plate. The one or more connector subassemblies include at least one or more resilient straps, and a spacer disposed between the one or more resilient straps and one of the first and second reaction plates. The spacer is arranged about a diameter of the rotor hub subassembly. In an embodiment, the inertia brake assembly includes a sleeve. An inertia brake subassembly is also disclosed.

Inertia brake

A method for manufacturing a banjo-type drive axle housing for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The first step is the operation of forming the substantially identical upper and lower half members having a U-shaped cross-section along entire length thereof with radially extending wall sections. Each of the members is metal formed, such as by stamping or forging, from a blank sheet of steel. Next step is to select a desired box-section of an axle beam portions, and a desired size of an opening in a central portion of the axle housing. Then, if necessary, the wall sections of the housing half members are trimmed so that when assembled said housing half members provide the desired box section and size of the opening in the central portion of the axle housing. Finally, the trimmed housing half members are welded to each other to produce the axle housing.

Method for manufacturing banjo-type axle housings

A novel arrangement of a pinion shaft for a differential assembly having a substantially H-shaped cross-section with added oiling radii. The H-shaped pinion shaft provides substantially reduced weight of the differential pinion shaft, increases a strength-to-weight ratio, and improves lubrication.

Pinion shaft for differential assembly

An adjustable pinion offset in a differential axle assembly. The offset between a pinion gear and shaft relative to a ring gear in the differential axle assembly is adjustable due to an eccentric mounting of the pinion assembly relative to the differential housing containing the ring gear. The pinion shaft is eccentrically mounted within a bore of the differential housing such that a simple rotation of the pinion assembly about the eccentric pilot mounting adjusts the position of the pinion shaft with respect to the ring gear to adjust pinion offset. Once properly positioned, the pinion assembly is secured to the differential housing to maintain the desired position. This invention substantially reduces the noise associated with gear offset error.

Differential axle assembly with adjustable gear offset

A part time four wheel drive vehicle has an axle disconnect in its auxiliary drive axle. The axle disconnect comprises a vacuum motor and a tubular shift fork that drives a clutch sleeve so that the clutch sleeve translates between a first position where clutch teeth of the clutch sleeve engage clutch teeth of an outer axle shaft and a second position where the clutch teeth disengage. The vacuum motor and shift fork are housed in a modular assembly disposed between the axle and disconnect casing to improve packaging and reduce the size of the connect mechanism while providing better protection of the disconnect assembly from the outside environment.

In-line axle disconnect assembly

A differential having a housing for receiving differential components. An input shaft, for example a drive pinion gear, is rotatably mounted within the differential housing. A drive line connection point is affixed to the drive pinion gear and is the mounting point for the drive shaft. A fan is disposed on the drive line connection point and is used to force air over the differential housing. The fan may be formed integrally with a drive train part, or be separable therefrom. Rotation of the fan forces air over the surface of the differential housing causing forced convection cooling of the differential components.

Forced convection axle cooling

An apparatus comprising a support structure having at least one trunnion which is adapted to receive a generally cylindrical hollow tube. The trunnion includes an annular groove formed in an outer surface. The apparatus further comprises an annular reinforcing ring disposed in the annular groove. The support structure is preferably made of a non-ferrous metallic alloy and the reinforcing ring may be made of either a ferrous metal, such as iron or a steel alloy, or may be made of a composite material. The support structure may comprise an axle carrier or a disconnect housing of an axle drive assembly, or any other support structure having a trunnion which accepts a generally cylindrical hollow tube. The support structure may comprise a casting, and the reinforcing ring may comprise a prefabricated, one-piece construction which is cast in place in the trunnion groove of the support structure. Alternatively, the reinforcing ring may comprise a prefabricated one-piece construction which is pressed in place in the trunnion groove, or may comprise a two-piece construction with each piece disposed in the trunnion groove and fastened to one another.

Trunnion reinforcing ring

A structure for supporting a generally cylindrical hollow tube comprising at least one trunnion which is adapted for receiving a generally cylindrical hollow tube. The trunnion includes a radially stepped bore formed therein and extending between first and second ends of the trunnion. The stepped bore includes a first generally cylindrical portion extending axially from the first end toward the second end. The first portion of the bore has a diameter which is less than an outside diameter of the tube, so that the tube engages the trunnion in an interference fit throughout the first portion of the bore. The stepped bore further includes a second axially extending, generally cylindrical portion having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the first portion of the bore and greater than the outside diameter of the tube, so that the tube does not engage the trunnion in an interference fit in the area corresponding to the second portion of the bore. The trunnion further includes at least one radially extending hole formed therethrough and intersecting the second portion of the stepped bore.

Axle carrier trunnion with stepped bore

A selectively lockable differential assembly comprising a rotatable case, first and second output shafts journalled in the case for rotation relative thereto, and a differential mechanism disposed within the case and linking the two output shafts so as to permit differential rotation between the two shafts. The assembly further includes first and second clutches each connected to the case and coupled with one of the output shafts. The differential mechanism includes a pinion shaft, upon which spaced apart pinion gears are rotatably mounted, and a pair of side gears rigidly affixed to corresponding ones of the output shafts, which meshingly engage the pinion gears. The pinion shaft includes a cam portion disposed between the inboard ends of the two output shafts. Rotation of the pinion shaft about its longitudinal centerline axis engages the two clutches and therefore limits differential rotation between the two output shafts. The pinion shaft is rotated by an actuator assembly which includes a shift arm extending through a window formed in the case and having one end attached to the pinion shaft and the opposite end engaging a shift collar piloted on an exterior surface of the case. A shift fork partially encircles the shift collar and is attached to a linear actuator which preferably comprises a vacuum motor. The differential assembly may be rotatably supported within an axle carrier housing or a transfer case.

Growing community of inventors

Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America

Mark Charles Barnholt