Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC

Thomas L Nahrwold

Nicholas C Billmaier

Kenneth E Cooper

Randy L Sommer

James A Krisher

Ralph Woodward Baxter, Jr

Amar Nivarthi

Scott A Smith

Brian S Longardner

Sajeev C Krishnan

Tim Wright

Jeroen Volckaert

Marcus Schmidt

Brian E Sitterly

Dnyanesh Katre

Robin Dominiak

Brian Sitterly

Ken E Cooper

Astha Barve

Gordon W Hunt

Methods and systems for operating a driveline that includes a cardan joint are described. In one example, electric machine torque is adjusted in response to driver demand torque and a torque to compensate for cardan joint rotation. The electric machine torque adjustments operate to cancel driveline torque variation that may be induced via the cardan joint.

Wheel driving method and system

Systems and methods for gear cooling. In one example, the gear cooling system includes a spray tube positioned within a central opening that is included in a first gear. The spray tube includes an oil outlet, the oil outlet is positioned within a smaller diameter section of the central opening, the smaller diameter section is axially offset from an outer toothed portion of the first gear, and the central opening includes a larger diameter section that is positioned interior to the outer toothed portion of the first gear.

Gear cooling system

Methods and systems for operating axles of a vehicle are provided. In one example, a propulsion source of a first axle is operated in a torque control mode at a first torque and a propulsion source of a second axle is operated in a torque control mode at a second torque. Torque of the propulsion sources may be adjusted as a function of steering angle.

Sand mode system and method for a vehicle

Methods and systems for operating axles of a vehicle are provided. In one example, relationships between accelerator pedal position and driver demand torque may be adjusted as a function of a vehicle's geographical location. Further, a relationship between brake pedal position and requested braking amount may be adjusted as a function of a vehicle's geographical location.

System and method for adjusting vehicle performance

A fluid distribution apparatus for an axle assembly, the fluid distribution apparatus including a cylindrical portion rotatably disposed about a bearing race. A conical portion is coupled with the cylindrical portion, and a retaining portion is coupled with the conical portion. A plurality of circumferentially spaced tubes are coupled with the retaining portion, wherein the tubes are at least partially disposed through a rotating component of a clutch.

Fluid distribution apparatus and the axle assembly made therewith

A drive unit assembly. The drive unit includes a motor drivingly connected to a motor output shaft which in turn is drivingly connected to a sun gear of a gear assembly. The gear assembly further includes a gear assembly housing, one or more planetary gears and a pinion gear. At least a portion of the one or more planetary gears are drivingly connected to the sun gear, the gear assembly housing and a plurality of gear teeth circumferentially extending from an inner surface of a drive unit housing. The pinion gear has a first side and a second side, where the second side of the pinion gear is integrally connected to a first end portion of the gear assembly housing. Drivingly connected to the pinion gear is a differential ring gear of a differential assembly having a first side gear, a second side gear and one or more bevel gears.

Drive unit assembly

An axle assembly including a disconnect assembly and an integrated fluid flow system. The disconnect assembly including an axially movable clutch member in selective engagement with at least one shaft to permit a rotation thereof. The fluid flow system includes a fluid flow member and a plurality of fluid passageways to permit a flow of a fluid (e.g. a lubricant) from a fluid source (e.g. a fluid sump of the axle assembly) to various components disposed within a carrier housing of the axle assembly and a return of the fluid back to the fluid source.

Axle assembly

A method of detecting a ball loss condition in a ball and ramp assembly. The method includes providing a drive unit having one or more clutch pack assemblies, one or more motors with a motor output shaft and one or more ball and ramp assemblies. One or more actuation profiles are ran by the motors and an amount of motor current used and a position of the output shaft of the motor is measured during the running of actuation profiles. One or more motor current vs. motor output shaft position plots are generated having one or more characteristic curves based on the amount of current measured and the position of the output shaft measured. The amount of motor current is compared to the motor current of characteristic curve at a given output shaft position and based on that comparison a ball loss condition is identified.

Method of determining and predicting a ball loss in a ball and ramp assembly

An axle assembly for a vehicle includes an axle housing having at least one axle shaft and a flow control member disposed therein. The flow control member is interposed between the at least one axle shaft and the axle housing. The flow control member includes a hollow cylindrical main body having at least one surface irregularity formed on an outer surface thereof that cooperates with the inner surface of the housing to form at least one fluid flow path configured to receive a fluid therein.

Integrated flow control member

A ball and ramp assembly including a first plate, a second plate and one or more rolling elements between the first and second plates. The first plate includes a shoulder portion that extends from a first side of the first plate. Additionally, the first plate includes an increased diameter portion that extends from an outer surface of the first plate. Extending inward from a second side of the first plate is a receiving portion with a substantially vertical wall portion having one or more non-circular first plate grooves. The second plate has one or more non-circular second plate grooves that extend along a first side of the second plate. The second plate grooves are a reverse mirror image of the first plate grooves. Radially outboard from the shoulder portion is a thrust bearing and integrally connected to the outer surface of the first plate is a first plate gear portion.

Ball retaining ball and ramp assembly

A limited slip differential system having a differential housing, a differential case disposed within the differential housing and a differential gear set supported within the differential case. A friction clutch assembly including a clutch pack is positioned within the differential case and axially adjacent the differential gear set. A ball and ramp assembly is positioned outside the differential case and includes a reaction member positioned within and fixed to the differential housing. A differential bearing is positioned axially between the reaction member and the differential housing and radially outward from the differential case. A singular thrust bearing is located within the differential housing and outside the differential case and applies an axial load from the actuator assembly to the clutch pack.

Integrated active limited slip differential

An axle assembly for a vehicle including a differential carrier having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion including a first engagement surface coupled with a second engagement surface of the second portion. The differential carrier defines a differential area and a clutch area substantially separated by a partition. The differential carrier first engagement surface defines a lubricant channel fluidly connecting the differential area with the clutch area, and at least partially located above the clutch area and at least partially located in an outer wall of the differential carrier. The axle assembly further includes a bearing retainer disposed through the outer wall of the differential carrier. The bearing retainer includes an aperture therethrough, fluidly connecting the lubricant channel with a clutch assembly.

Differential clutch carrier lubrication and cooling system

A drive system designed to use a vehicle's existing hydraulic system to operate a controllable limited slip differential assembly. The limited slip differential assembly may be associated with the front axle, the rear axle, or the driveline between the front and rear axles. The differential assembly may also be used in combination that includes front, rear, or intermediate differential assemblies. The drive system further includes a friction clutch assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging an input member with an output member of the differential assembly, a fluid clutch actuator for selectively frictionally and variably loading the clutch assembly, and a fluid pump that is a common source of pressurized fluid for the fluid clutch actuator and the existing hydraulic system of the motor vehicle other than the fluid clutch actuator of the drive system. The fluid clutch actuator is actuated by fluid pressure generated by the fluid pump.

Growing community of inventors

Napoleon, OH, United States of America

Thomas L Nahrwold