Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Stanley John Kielar

Kenneth Lee Westercamp

Chad David Bauer

Flave F Stimpson

Charles L Rasmer

A steerable drive axle for a motor vehicle including a rigid tubular housing, a pair of steering knuckles at opposite ends of the rigid tubular housing, an expanded chamber in the middle of the rigid tubular housing open on one side for access to a differential gear set in the expanded chamber, a differential cover for closing the open side of the expanded chamber, and an electrically-powered steering apparatus on the cover linked to the steering knuckles. The electrically-powered steering apparatus includes a rack bar passage in the differential cover, a rack bar supported in the rack bar passage for linear translation and linked to the steering knuckles, a pinion head rotatably supported on the differential cover having a pinion gear meshing with a rack gear on the rack bar, an electric motor mounted on the differential cover, and a speed reducer on the differential cover between the pinion head and an output shaft of the electric motor. In a preferred embodiment, the speed reducer consists of a pair of planetary gear sets affording double reduction torque multiplication between the electric motor and the pinion head.

Steerable drive axle with electrically-powered steering apparatus

A venting mechanism for a drive axle assembly is mounted on a side wall of a housing for a differential. The venting mechanism includes a deflector vane which is pivotally mounted on a vent tube inside the housing. The deflector vane allows air to be vented from the housing through the vent tube without lubricant being able to escape.

Growing community of inventors

Saginaw, MI, United States of America

Stanley John Kielar