Schaeffler Technologies Ag & Co .kg

Shaun Tate

Stephen Carr

Alaa Makke

Jay Barnes

Mark Brown

Zheng Wang

Rohan Dubey

Yohannes Haile

Michael Eastman

Timothy Jacques

Robert Mallon

Chad Labelle

Constantine Mastory

A steering actuator comprising a shaft having an input coaxial with an output, wherein the output is in drivable communication with one or more wheels of a vehicle, and a locking mechanism configured to enable the shaft to rotate in both a first direction and a second direction in response to torque provided at the input, and prevent the shaft from rotating in both the first direction and the second direction in response to torque provided at the output.

Steering-by-wire actuator with locking mechanism

A ball-ramp clutch includes two stamped ramp plates and at least one molded support ring. The molded support ring transmits axial force from one of the ramp plates to a thrust bearing, which, in turn, transmits the axial force to the pressure plate of a clutch pack. The molded support ring may radially locate one of the races of the thrust bearing. The molded support ring may be plastic.

Ball-ramp clutch actuator assembly

A linear contactless displacement sensor assembly is provided. The sensor assembly can include a shaft configured to translate linearly, and a sleeve rotatably coupled about the shaft and linearly fixed such that the shaft can linearly translate through the sleeve as the sleeve rotates. The sleeve includes an outer surface having a threading that varies in pitch. A tooth is disposed in the threading and fixed on a linear track such that the tooth moves linearly as the sleeve rotates. A sensor is configured to sense a location of the tooth along the linear track. This allows the sensor assembly to measure an amount of linear movement and a corresponding amount of rotation of the sleeve.

Variable pitch linear displacement sensor

Tapered roller bearings are disclosed. The bearing may include an inner ring defining an inner raceway and an outer ring defining an outer raceway. A plurality of tapered rollers may be disposed between the inner and outer rings and a cage may be configured to retain the plurality of tapered rollers. The inner ring may include a rib at a first axial end configured to retain a larger diameter end of the tapered rollers but not have a rib at a second axial end that is proximate a smaller diameter end of the tapered rollers. A gap may be defined between the cage and the inner ring at the second axial end, the gap configured to control a lubricant flow to the plurality of tapered rollers.

Tapered roller bearing with cage for lubricant control

A clutch actuation device selectively engages a clutch. The clutch actuation device includes two plates, at least one of which being able to rotate relative to the other. Between the two plates is a rounded member, such as a ball, housed within opposing grooves in the respective plates. As the plates rotate relative to one another, the rounded member forces the plates to separate axially from one another. This can engage the clutch. A third plate is placed at a location axially spaced from the second plate. The third plate limits movement of the second plate when moving to the extended position, assuring the second plate does not over-translate axially. A resilient member may be provided between the third plate and a housing. The resilient member can be tuned to properly inhibit the axial movement of the second and third plates according to the packaging constraints.

Axial movement compensation of clutch actuation device

A differential assembly arrangement with optimized pinion shaft bearing lubrication is provided. The assembly includes a housing, a ring gear, a pinion gear, a pinion shaft supported by two rolling element bearings, a sleeve, and a lubrication deflector. The two rolling element bearings, a pinion head bearing bearing and a pinion tail bearing, are located at each end of the sleeve which fits over the pinion shaft. The sleeve helps facilitate the application of a pre-load to the bearings. The lubrication deflector is located along the length of the sleeve for providing the correct amount of lubricant to the two bearings. The deflector is in the form of a ring located on the sleeve or integrated within the sleeve.

Axle oil flow controller on pinion spacer

A ball ramp plate and a ball ramp assembly including the ball ramp plate are provided. The ball ramp plate comprises a stamped metal plate formed with ramped ball pockets on a first side at a ball ramp pitch radius and a thrust bearing support on a second side of the plate. The thrust bearing support has a first support surface at a first pitch radius greater than the ball ramp pitch radius and a second support surface at a second pitch radius less than the ball ramp pitch radius.

Axial bearing bridge for ball ramp

A bearing assembly including an anti-rotation feature is provided. The bearing assembly includes a radially outer bearing ring including a radially outer race on a radially inner surface and a radially inner bearing ring and including a radially inner race on a radially outer surface and a radially inner bearing ring retention element. A plurality of rolling elements are supported to roll between the radially outer race and the radially inner race. The anti-rotation feature is provided by a washer including a first washer retention element configured to engage the radially inner bearing ring retention element, and a second washer retention element configured to engage a torque transmitting portion of a shaft.

Bearing inner ring with anti-rotation feature

An actuating piston, and a piston assembly and a disconnect system including the actuating piston are provided. The actuating piston includes an annular backing plate having an axial projection on a first side between an inner radius and an outer radius and an annular piston having a recess between an inner radius and an outer radius. The annular piston is disposed on the annular backing plate so that the axial projection is received in the recess. The actuating piston is selected from a set of actuating pistons, each having a different height based on at least one of the wall thickness of the annular piston being varied or a height of the axial projection being varied, and one of the actuating pistons with a desired height is selected based on an actual height of the friction device.

Selectable height actuating piston

A bearing assembly is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of tapered rollers and a plurality of spherical rolling elements. A first inner ring defines a first inner raceway on which the plurality of tapered rollers run, and a second inner ring defines a second inner raceway on which the plurality of spherical rolling elements run. A unitary outer ring includes a first portion defining a first outer raceway on which the plurality of tapered rollers run, and a second portion defining a second outer raceway on which the plurality of spherical rolling elements run.

Bearing assembly including tapered rollers and spherical rolling elements

A rolling bearing is provided that includes an outer ring having a first portion which includes a first raceway and a second portion that includes a second raceway that has a larger diameter than the first raceway. An outer diameter of the first portion of the outer ring is less than an outer diameter of the second portion of the outer ring. The rolling bearing includes an inner ring having a first portion that includes a first raceway and a second portion that includes a second raceway that has a larger diameter than the first raceway. An inner diameter of the first portion of the inner ring is less than an inner diameter of the second portion of the inner ring.

Growing community of inventors

Grand Blanc, MI, United States of America

Shaun Tate