New Venture Gear, Inc.

Magna Powertrain Usa, Inc.

Scott R Moll

Joseph G Mueller

Brent A Cring

John A DeSilvia

A power transfer unit is provided with a torque limiting assembly that limits the torque transferred to driveline components when torque peaks occur. The power transfer unit can include, a first shaft, a second output shaft receiving drive torque, a second output shaft, and a torque transfer mechanism. The torque transfer mechanism includes a coupling member and a biasing member. The coupling member is located between a driving member and a driven member and provides selective engagement therebetween when in an engaged position. The driving member and/or the driven member includes a recess therein receiving a portion of the coupling member when in the engaged position. The biasing member urges the coupling member and the driving member and/or driven member into the engaged position.

Torque limiting clutches for power transfer units

An endplay adjustment mechanism for a co-linear shaft assembly. More specifically, the co-linear shaft assembly includes an input shaft and a mainshaft aligned along a common longitudinal axis. A threaded adjuster plug and a thrust bearing are interdisposed between the input shaft and the mainshaft to permit relative longitudinal positioning therebetween. Accordingly, after the shaft assembly has been assembled into a power transmission device, the threaded adjuster plug is tightened to effectively increase the length of the co-linear shaft assembly, thereby eliminating any excess endplay of the shafts relative to the housing of the power transmission apparatus.

Endplay adjustment mechanism for colinear shafts

A transfer case having a primary output shaft, a secondary output shaft, and a transfer clutch disposed therebetween. The transfer clutch includes an inner drum journalled on the primary output shaft and which has clutch teeth that are selectively engageable with clutch teeth on the primary output shaft, an outer drum rotatably supported on the primary output shaft and which is fixed for rotation with the secondary output shaft, and a clutch pack operably interconnected between the inner and outer drums. The transfer clutch also includes an apply plate that is coupled for rotation with the primary output shaft and which is moveable for exerting a compressive clutch engagement force on the clutch pack, a primary spring which acts between the inner and outer drums for biasing the inner drum toward a 'disconnect' position whereat its clutch teeth are disengaged from the clutch teeth on the primary output shaft, and a secondary spring which acts between the inner drum and the apply plate for biasing the apply plate toward a 'released' position whereat it is disengaged from the clutch pack. The transfer case further includes a power-operated actuator assembly for causing movement of the apply plate, sensors for detecting vehicle conditions and generating sensor signals, a mode selector for permitting a vehicle operator to select a desired drive mode and generate a corresponding mode signal, and a controller for controlling actuation of the actuator assembly in response to the sensor and mode signals.

Growing community of inventors

Waterloo, NY, United States of America

Scott R Moll