American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

Thomas J Oldenburg

Salvatore N Grupido

Marc M Menosky

Austin Richard Gerding

Mark S Barrett

Robert J Wehner

Donald Joseph Kurecka

A drivetrain that includes a drivetrain component, a flange structure, a yoke flange, a female guide portion and a male guide portion. The drivetrain component has a shaft that is rotatable about an axis. The flange structure is fixedly but removably coupled to the shaft. The female guide portion is directly coupled to one of the shaft and the yoke flange. The male guide portion is directly coupled to the other one of the shaft and the yoke flange. The male guide portion engages the female guide portion to thereby align the yoke flange to the axis. The yoke flange and the flange structure are fixedly but removably coupled to one another.

Driveshaft assembly with piloted flange connection

A drivetrain that includes a drivetrain component, a flange structure, a yoke flange, a female guide portion and a male guide portion. The drivetrain component has a shaft that is rotatable about an axis. The flange structure is fixedly but removably coupled to the shaft. The female guide portion is directly coupled to one of the shaft and the yoke flange. The male guide portion is directly coupled to the other one of the shaft and the yoke flange. The male guide portion engages the female guide portion to thereby align the yoke flange to the axis. The yoke flange and the flange structure are fixedly but removably coupled to one another. A method of fabricating a drivetrain is also provided.

A tool for installing a boot seal assembly having a boot seal and a clamp structure. The boot seal is formed from a resilient elastomeric material and includes a sealing lip and an annular groove. The clamp structure is disposed in the annular groove and is positionable between an uncompressed state and a compressed state. Placement of the clamp structure in the compressed state causes a radially directed clamp force to be exerted onto the boot seal to bring the sealing lip into contact with a sealing surface of a structure to be sealed. The tool includes a clip structure coupled to at least one of the boot seal and the clamp structure. The clip structure includes an axially projecting portion that extends radially inward of and axially across the sealing lip. Contact between the axially projecting portion of the clip structure and the sealing surface of the structure to be sealed creates a vent which inhibits the build-up of fluid pressure within the boot seal when the seal assembly is installed to the structure to be sealed.

Assembly vent for boot/seal installation

A universal joint includes a yoke with a leg having an aperture extending therethrough. The aperture includes an annular groove. The universal joint also includes a cruciform having a trunion, a bearing cup positioned in the aperture and mounted on the trunion and a retention member including an outer ring having a first surface and a second surface. The retention member further includes a spring tab axially extending beyond the first surface and disposed within the aperture such that the spring tab biasedly engages the bearing cup. The second surface of the retention member is at least partially disposed within the groove.

Universal joint

An automotive prop shaft assembly particularly suited for coupling a transfer case to the front axle drive components comprises a tubular drive shaft having an initial uniform inner diameter relatively smaller than the outer diameter of a pair of forged insert yokes to be attached to the ends of the shaft. A section of each end of the tube is enlarged so that its inner diameter is sized to receive the yokes into the ends of the tube with an interference fit. The shaft and yokes are then welded together and weights fixed to the end sections to correct for imbalance.

Growing community of inventors

Swartz Creek, MI, United States of America

Thomas J Oldenburg