Schaeffler Technologies Ag & Co .kg

Michael Hodge

Jordan Geiser

Peter Burke

Brian Lee

James Copeland

Kenneth Hunt

David M Smith

Charles Schwab

Matthew Frary

Jeremiah Bauman

Carsten Behler

Matthew Fowler

Brian Thomas Lee

Jeffrey Hemphill

Markus Steinberger

Patrick Lindemann

Matthew Payne

Brian C Zaugg

James Brown

David C Avins

Victor Norwich

Nicholas Hrusch

Gregory Heeke

Drew Hilty

Daniel Linton

Long Souers

Rolf Mueller

David Burky

Alicia Vidal Ortiz

Tobias Heumann

Daniel Gerdeman

Greg Copeland

Venkata Sivaram Bitragunta

An electromagnetic switchable clutch includes a dog clutch, a one-way clutch and a coil assembly. The dog clutch includes a dog clutch hub with a first outer spline and first pockets, a dog clutch disc with a second outer spline and a dog clutch sleeve with an inner spline, complementary to the first outer spline and the second outer spline. The inner spline is drivingly engaged with the first outer spline and axially displaceable to engage the second outer spline. The one-way clutch includes a cam ring and pawls. The cam ring includes second pockets. The pawls are disposed the first pockets or the second pockets and arranged to engage the other of the first pockets or the second pockets to rotationally lock the cam ring to the dog clutch hub in a single rotational direction. The coil assembly is arranged to axially displace the dog clutch sleeve.

Electromagnetic switchable clutch

An electronic differential disconnect clutch includes a differential unit, a first flange, a hub, a second flange, a hub sleeve and a solenoid. The differential unit has a pair of splines arranged for receiving a pair of axle shafts. The first flange has a first face spline and is fixed to the differential unit. The hub is rotatable relative to the differential unit and arranged to receive an input torque. The second flange is rotationally fixed and axially displaceable on the hub and has a second face spline arranged for engaging the first face spline. The hub sleeve is arranged to axially displace the second flange to engage the second face spline with the first face spline. The solenoid is arranged to axially displace the hub sleeve.

Electronic differential disconnect clutch

An axle shaft disconnect clutch includes a housing, an axle shaft, a stub shaft, a dog clutch and an inner race. The axle shaft includes a first outer spline and the stub shaft includes a second outer spline. The dog clutch has an inner spline engaged with the second outer spline and the inner race is rotationally fixed and axially displaceable relative to the housing to axially displace the dog clutch and engage or disengage the inner spline with the first outer spline. In some example embodiments, the axle shaft disconnect clutch has a bushing pad fixed to the inner race. The inner race is arranged to push the dog clutch towards the first outer spline to engage the dog clutch, and the inner race is arranged to pull the bushing pad to pull the dog clutch away from the first outer spline to disengage the dog clutch.

Axle shaft disconnect clutch

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 housing half for a stamped steel differential housing including an outer annular ring and a radially outer cylindrical protrusion with a gear portion. The housing half is integrally formed from a single piece of material. In an example embodiment, the housing half is formed by stamping. In an example embodiment, the gear portion is formed by broaching or rolling. In some example embodiments, the housing half also includes a first pocket arranged for receiving a portion of a first end of a pinion pin and a second pocket, circumferentially opposite the first pocket, arranged for receiving a portion of a second end of the pinion pin. A stamped steel differential housing including the housing half and a stamped steel differential assembly including the stamped steel differential housing are also disclosed.

Stamped steel differential housing with integrated final drive gear

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

A differential for an e-axle that includes an oil collector for enhancing oil distribution to the differential. Unlike conventional differentials, a differential in accordance with the present disclosure is not submerged in fluid. Rather, the oil collector collects fluid sprayed by other transmission components (e.g., a ring gear) and directs the fluid to the differential.

Oil collector for mechanical limited slip differential

A differential disconnect system for a vehicle includes a housing arranged to receive a motor torque, a first clutch element, and a differential. The housing includes radially inwardly facing teeth and the first clutch element is drivingly engaged with and axially slidable on the radially inwardly facing teeth. The first clutch element includes a first face spline. The differential unit is arranged for driving engagement with a pair of axle shafts and includes a second clutch element with a second face spline arranged to engage the first face spline for selective torque transmission between the housing and the differential unit.

Differential disconnect system

A stabilizer bar includes a first housing configured to be fixed to a first side-bar, and a second housing configured to be fixed to a second side-bar. The first housing incudes a clutch piston that engages a clutch ring fixed to the second housing. The clutch piston is moved axially via a screw actuated by a nut. The nut is rotated via a planetary gearset driven by an actuator.

Stabilizer bar disconnect

A differential for a vehicle includes a final drive gear with a final drive gear spline, a differential carrier with a differential carrier spline, and an axially slidable clutch. The axially slidable clutch includes a first clutch spline drivingly engaged with a one of the final drive gear spline or the differential carrier spline and a second clutch spline for selectively drivingly engaging with the other one of the final drive gear spline or the differential carrier spline. In an example embodiment, the differential also includes a pair of side gears, each including an inner spline for drivingly engaging a respective axle shaft, a pair of radially offset spider gears, each drivingly engaged with both of the side gears, and a shaft extending through the pair of radially offset spider gears into the differential carrier.

Disconnect clutch for differential

A disconnect clutch actuator mechanism includes a shift fork, an actuator, and a position sensor. The shift fork includes a rack gear, a pair of pins, and a sensor target. The shift fork is arranged to be pivotable on the pair of pins. The actuator includes a pinion gear engaged with the rack gear. The actuator is arranged to pivot the shift fork. The position sensor is arranged proximate the sensor target for sensing a pivot position of the shift fork. In some example embodiments, the rack gear includes a pair of arched portions and a toothed portion disposed on at least one of the pair of arched portions. The pinion gear is engaged with the toothed portion. In an example embodiment, the rack gear has a gap disposed between the pair of arched portions and the pinion gear is disposed in the gap.

Disconnect clutch actuator mechanism

A cable actuated multi-pawl park lock includes an actuator, a first park lock device arranged for engaging a first gear wheel, a first cable connecting the actuator to the first park lock device, a second park lock device arranged for engaging a second gear wheel, and a second cable connecting the actuator to the second park lock device. In some example embodiments, the actuator includes an actuator housing, the first park lock device includes a first park lock housing, the first cable includes a first outer jacket having a first end fixed to the actuator housing and a second end fixed to the first park lock housing, the second park lock device includes a second park lock housing, and the second cable includes a second outer jacket having a first end fixed to the actuator housing and a second end fixed to the second park lock housing.

Cable actuated multi-pawl park lock

A one-way clutch, including: an outer race including a first outer race plate defining a first rocker pocket and a second outer race plate non-rotatably connected to the first outer race plate and defining a second rocker pocket; an inner race axially disposed between the first outer race plate and the second outer race plate; and a rocker assembly including a rocker arranged to contact the inner race and including a first portion disposed in the first rocker pocket and a second portion disposed in the second rocker pocket, a spring guide retained by the first outer race plate and the second outer race plate, and a spring engaged with the spring guide and in contact with the rocker.

Centrifugal lift-off ratcheting one-way clutch with rocker pockets

A one-way clutch, including: an outer race; an inner race; and a rocker assembly. The outer race includes: a first outer race plate defining a first rocker pocket; and a second outer race plate non-rotatably connected to the first outer race plate and defining a second rocker pocket. The inner race is axially disposed between the first and second outer race plates. The rocker assembly is at least partly disposed in the first and second rocker pockets and includes a rocker arranged to contact the inner race, a spring guide including a spring arm, and a spring wrapped around the spring arm and urging the rocker in a pivot direction. The one-way clutch includes: a first annular thrust washer axially disposed between the first outer race plate and the inner race; or a friction-reducing coating adhered to the first outer race plate and facing the inner race.

Centrifugal lift-off ratcheting one-way clutch with rocker pockets and friction reduction

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.

Growing community of inventors

Creston, OH, United States of America

Michael Hodge