| AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120019053 | AXLE HOUSING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - An apparatus that includes a first member, an insert, and an object. The first member made of a first metal and has a first exterior surface and a first end. A pocket is formed in the exterior surface of the first end. The insert is made of a second, different metal. The insert is connected to the pocket and has a second exterior surface that is flush with the first exterior surface. The object is formed of the second metal and is resistance welded to the insert. The second metal is steel and the first metal is a metal that cannot be resistance welded directly to steel. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20110269595 | CONTROL STRATEGY FOR OPERATING A LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL - A drive train having a locking differential and a control unit for controlling operation of the locking differential. The control unit is responsive to selected vehicle characteristics to sua sponte activate or inactivate a locking mechanism of the locking differential to cause the locking differential to operate in a locked manner or an unlocked manner, respectively. A method for operating a locking differential is also provided. The method includes: utilizing only preselected vehicle criteria indicative of the operational state of the vehicle to identify a situation in which a locking mechanism associated with the locking differential is to be energized; and responsively energizing the locking mechanism. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110165989 | LOCKING POWER TRANSMITTING DEVICE - A power transmitting device that includes a dog ring and a thrust plate. The dog ring is formed of metal and has a plurality of locking features and a set of dog teeth. The locking features are spaced apart around the dog ring and extend in a radial direction. The dog teeth extend in an axial direction. The thrust plate is formed of a polymer and is cohesively bonded to the dog ring | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110165951 | DUAL-TUNED VIBRATION DAMPER - A driveline with a shaft and a vibration damper coupled to the shaft. The damper includes a hub, a first mass, a first resilient coupling, a second mass, and a second resilient coupling. The first mass is disposed concentrically about the hub. The first resilient coupling resiliently couples the first mass to the hub. The first resilient coupling has a first spring constant. The second mass is disposed concentrically about the first mass. The second resilient coupling resiliently couples the second mass directly to the first mass. The second resilient coupling has a second spring constant that is less than the first spring constant. The first mass and the first resilient coupling are configured to attenuate vibration at a first frequency. The second mass and the second resilient coupling are configured to attenuate vibration at a second frequency. The second frequency is lower than the first frequency. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110152028 | FOUR PINION DIFFERENTIAL WITH CROSS PIN RETENTION UNIT AND RELATED METHOD - A differential having four pinions supported for rotation on cross pins within a differential case. The differential employs a retainer system for securing the cross pins relative to the differential case. The retainer system can include a collar and a plurality of pin members. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110082001 | VEHICLE DRIVELINE COMPONENT HAVING HEAT SINK FOR INCREASED HEAT REJECTION CAPABILITIES - An axle assembly that includes an axle housing assembly, a differential disposed in the axle housing assembly, an input pinion, a pair of axle shafts and a heat sink. The input pinion is coupled to the axle housing assembly and is configured to transmit a rotary input to the differential. The axle shafts are coupled to the differential and housed in the axle housing assembly. The heat sink is coupled to the axle housing assembly and is formed of a material having a thermal conductivity that is greater than that of the axle housing assembly. The heat sink does not consist entirely of a chrome plating, a zinc plating or a cadmium plating. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110065544 | ELECTROHYDRAULIC TORQUE TRANSFER DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED CLUTCH AND ACTUATOR UNIT - A power transmission device includes a housing, a rotatable input member and a rotatable output member supported in the housing by a pair of bearings. A friction clutch is operable to selectively transmit a requested magnitude of torque between the input member and the output member. The clutch is axially positioned between the bearings. An actuator is operable to provide an actuation force to the friction clutch to generate the requested magnitude of torque. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110061956 | WHEEL CASING WITH EMBEDDED ROTOR FOR HUB MOTOR - A vehicle drivetrain with a wheel and an inside-out motor. The wheel includes a hub and a rim that is disposed about the hub. The rim includes a sealing bead that is configured to sealingly engage the opposite sidewalls of an inflatable tire. The inside-out motor includes a rotor that is at least partially disposed in the rim. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20100327674 | WHEEL MOTOR - A wheel motor can include a stator adapted to be coupled to a vehicle. The stator can include a body portion and a core extending radially outward from the body portion. A rotor can be disposed about the stator and can have a portion positioned radially outboard of and around the stator core. The rotor can include a plurality of magnets aligned with the stator core, and can be adapted to be coupled to a rotatable vehicle component. At least one winding element can be disposed circumferentially around the stator core, and a controller can be positioned in a pocket integrally formed in the stator body portion. The controller can be coupled to the at least one winding element and can be arranged to selectively provide a current supply to the at least one winding element to generate a magnetic flux to rotate the rotor relative to the stator. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100294038 | METHOD FOR PREDICTING IMBALANCE OF A PROPELLER SHAFT ASSEMBLY - A method for determining an imbalance of a propeller shaft assembly can include establishing balancing planes relative to certain areas of the propeller shaft assembly and identifying each component of the propeller shaft assembly that could have a potential imbalance condition due to a tolerance variation. The method can also include determining the potential imbalance condition for each identified component, and determining a contribution of each determined potential imbalance condition to a respective pair of the established balancing planes. The method can further include determining a total magnitude of imbalance at the respective pair of established balancing planes based on the determined contributions of each potential imbalance condition, and determining a statistically representative value of the determined magnitude of imbalance. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100151982 | Helical Differential Assembly With Preloaded Adjustment Mechanism - A vehicle differential assembly includes a differential housing rotatable about an axis. A first output assembly includes a first side gear positioned within the differential housing and a first output member coupled to the first side gear and having an aperture aligned with the axis. A second output assembly includes a second side gear positioned within the differential housing and a second output member coupled for rotation with the second side gear. A first helical pinion gear is meshingly engaged with the first side gear. A second helical pinion gear is meshingly engaged with the second side gear and the first helical pinion gear. A first coupling assembly includes a coupling mechanism disposed in the aperture and a biasing member engaged with the coupling mechanism to bias the first output assembly into frictional engagement with the differential housing. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100151949 | ELECTRICAL ISOLATION OF A DRIVELINE SYSTEM VIA A NON-CONDUCTIVE INTERFACE ON A DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY - A vehicle driveline with a transmission having at least one motor/generator and an output shaft is provided. A driveshaft assembly is rotatably connected to the output shaft. The driveshaft assembly includes an isolator located between the transmission and at least a portion of the driveshaft assembly to electrically isolate the driveshaft assembly from the transmission. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100130326 | Differential Assembly With Preload Adjustment Mechanism - A vehicle differential assembly may include a differential housing rotatable about an axis, a first output assembly, a pinion gear, and a first coupling assembly. The first output assembly may include a first side gear and a first output member. The first side gear may be disposed within the differential housing and may be rotatable about the axis. The first output member may be coupled to the first side gear for rotation therewith. The first coupling assembly may be engaged with the first output assembly and may include a coupling mechanism and a biasing member. The coupling mechanism may extend through an opening in the first output member and may be displaceable relative to the differential housing in a direction generally parallel to the axis. The biasing member may be engaged with the coupling mechanism and may urge the first output assembly into frictional engagement with the differential housing. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100120570 | Torque Transfer Device With Hydrostatic Torque Control System - A power transmission device includes a rotatable input shaft, a rotatable output shaft and a ring gear fixed for rotation with the input shaft. A carrier is fixed for rotation with the output shaft. A pump assembly includes an inner rotor supported for rotation on the carrier and an outer rotor encompassing the inner rotor. The outer rotor is in driving meshed engagement with the ring gear. The pump provides pressurized fluid to one of first and second fluid ports. A flow restrictor is moveable to selectively restrict fluid flow relative to one of the first and second ports. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100113207 | Differential With Cross Pin Retention System And Method For Assembly - A differential assembly includes a retainer for a cross pin having a bore aligned with a bore formed in a differential housing. The cross pin retainer is positionable at partially-inserted and fully-inserted positions within the cross pin and differential bores. At a first rotational orientation, the cross pin retainer is positionable in its partially-inserted position to temporarily retain the cross pin within the differential housing. At a second rotational orientation, the cross pin retainer is positionable in its fully-inserted position to retain the cross pin within the differential housing. Features of the cross pin retainer cooperate with surfaces formed in the differential housing to allow the cross pin retainer to be fixedly positioned and secured within the differential housing. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20090305835 | Four Pinion Differential With Cross Pin Retention Unit And Related Method - A differential having four pinions supported for rotation on cross pins within a differential case. The differential employs a retainer system for securing the cross pins relative to the differential case. The retainer system can include a retainer, such as a clip or a pair of roll pins, that can secure at least one of the cross pins in place. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090294238 | ELECTROMECHANICAL ACTUATOR FOR FRICTION CLUTCHES - A friction clutch assembly selectively engages an input member and an output member to allow selective transfer of torque therebetween. The friction clutch assembly includes a clutch pack including a first clutch member operatively coupled to the input member and a second clutch member operatively coupled to the output member. The clutch assembly further includes a plurality of lever arms and an actuating member with a movable member that is movably disposed between the plurality of lever arms. The movable member is movable generally along a linear axis between a disengaged position and an engaged position, and the movable member cams the plurality of lever arms relative to linear axis to cause the first and second clutch members to engage when the movable member moves to the engaged position. The first and second clutch members disengage when the movable member moves to the disengaged position. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090235780 | Power Transfer Unit with Dual Hypoid Geartrain - A transfer case for use in motor vehicles for transferring drive torque from a powertrain to first and second drivelines includes a first output shaft adapted to transmit drive torque from the powertrain to the first driveline. The second output shaft is adapted to transmit drive torque to a second driveline. The transfer case includes a first spiral bevel gear set driven by the first output shaft and a second spiral bevel gear set driven by the first spiral bevel gear set and driving the second output shaft. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090215543 | SLIP YOKE WITH INTERNAL SPLINES HAVING PERMANENT COATING AND RELATED METHOD - A propeller shaft assembly operable to transmit torque between drive wheels and an engine of a vehicle generally includes a first cylindrical tube having a first end and a second end. A first cap is fixedly coupled to the first end. A first yoke is fixedly coupled to the first cap. Internal splines are formed within the second end of the first cylindrical tube. The internal splines define a final internal spline profile established by a permanent polyamide coating fixedly coupled to a metal substrate in the form of an oversized internal spline. The final internal spline profile defines a first layer having a first thickness made of the permanent polyamide coating and a second layer having a second thickness made of the metal substrate. The internal splines are operable to transmit the torque when external splines engage the internal splines by only contacting the first layer made of the permanent polyamide coating. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090176587 | Propshaft With Constant Velocity Joint Attachment - A propeller shaft assembly includes a substantially cylindrical hollow propeller shaft, a stub shaft and a constant velocity joint having inner race and an outer race drivingly interconnected by a plurality of balls. The stub shaft has a first end fixed to the propeller shaft and a second end drivingly coupled to the inner race. The second end includes a portion positioned adjacent to the inner race that defines an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter defined by the interface between the inner race and the plurality of balls. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090173155 | Axle Assembly With Sensor Assembly - An axle assembly for a vehicle includes an axle housing having a tubular portion. A bimetallic sensor mount having a first region of corrosion resistant material and a second region of weldable material is welded to the tubular portion. A differential unit including a side gear is disposed in a central cavity of the axle housing. An axleshaft having a shaft portion and a target portion with a plurality of teeth is disposed in the tubular portion of the axle housing. The shaft portion is coupled to the side gear. A sensor is coupled to the sensor mount and extends through an aperture in the mount and the tubular portion to locate an end portion of the sensor a predetermined distance from the teeth of the target portion. A method of making an axle assembly having a sintered bimetallic sensor mount is also disclosed. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090114465 | MECHANICAL LAUNCH ASSIST PROPSHAFT ASSEMBLY - A propeller shaft and energy storage assembly includes a first power transfer mechanism for selectively drivingly interconnecting the propeller shaft and an energy storage device to store energy within the energy storage device. A second power transfer mechanism is operable to selectively retain and release energy stored within the energy storage device. A third power transfer mechanism selectively drivingly interconnects the energy storage device and the propeller shaft when vehicle acceleration is desired. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090062021 | Shaft Assembly With Universal Joint And Method Of Assembling Same - A universal joint includes a spider, first and second yokes drivingly interconnected by the spider, a plurality of bearing cups and a plurality of retaining members. The first yoke includes spaced apart arms with apertures extending through each arm. The apertures are coaxially aligned with one another and include a circumferential groove spaced apart from an edge of the arm. Each bearing cup is positioned within one of the apertures and in receipt of one of the trunnions. A portion of each bearing cup is positioned in communication with a corresponding groove. Each retaining member is operable to complement the size and shape of the corresponding groove, bearing cup and aperture such that each retaining member couples one of the bearing cups to its associated arm. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090058031 | STABILIZER BAR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM - A suspension system having a stabilizer bar assembly with a stabilizer bar structure, an intermediate bushing and a resilient bushing. The stabilizer bar structure includes a center section to which the intermediate bushing is coupled. The resilient bushing is mounted on the intermediate bushing. The intermediate bushing limits relative axial movement of the resilient bushing in along the center section in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. A method for forming a stabilizer bar assembly is also provided. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090054163 | 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. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090048055 | Differential With Cross Pin Retention System And Method For Assembly - A differential assembly includes a retainer for a cross pin having a bore aligned with a bore formed in a differential housing. The cross pin retainer is positionable at partially-inserted and fully-inserted positions within the cross pin and differential bores. At a first rotational orientation, the cross pin retainer is positionable in its partially-inserted position to temporarily retain the cross pin within the differential housing. At a second rotational orientation, the cross pin retainer is positionable in its fully-inserted position to retain the cross pin within the differential housing. Features of the cross pin retainer cooperate with surfaces formed in the differential housing to allow the cross pin retainer to be fixedly positioned and secured within the differential housing. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090032321 | ELECTRIC WHEEL MOTOR ASSEMBLY - A drive axle assembly for driving a wheel of a vehicle includes a moveable suspension arm and a wheel spindle fixed to the suspension arm. A planetary gearset includes a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier rotatably supporting a plurality of planet gears in meshed engagement with the sun gear and the ring gear. The carrier encompasses the wheel spindle and is drivingly connected to the wheel. An electric motor includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor drives the sun gear. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090011889 | Locking Differential Assembly - An axle assembly with an electric locking differential that can include a one-piece differential case and a locking device. The locking device includes a dog that is nonrotatably but axially slidably received into a pocket that is formed in an end of the differential case. An actuator is mounted on the differential case. Actuation of the actuator moves the dog into engagement with a second dog that is coupled to a side gear of the differential to thereby lock the side gear to the differential case. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090008176 | VEHICLE WITH LIVE TWIST BEAM AXLE ASSEMBLY - A drive axle and suspension assembly for a vehicle having a power source and wheels including a torsionally compliant twist beam suspension and a driveline assembly. The twist beam includes a twist element defining a first lateral axis and arm portions adapted to rotatably support the wheels of the vehicle along a second axis extending substantially parallel to the first axis. The driveline assembly is adapted to receive torque from the power source and drive the wheels. The driveline assembly includes a plurality of power transmission rotatably supported by arm portions. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20080214355 | Electrohydraulic Torque Transfer Device - A power transmission device includes an actuator having an electric motor driving a pump to supply pressurized fluid to a piston acting on a friction clutch to transfer torque between rotatable input and output members. In one instance, a valve between the pump outlet and the piston selectively traps pressurized fluid acting on the piston without continued energization of the electric motor. A gerotor may be formed from a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a housing formed from a material having a second lower coefficient of thermal expansion to vary pump component clearances as the viscosity of the pumped fluid changes with changes in temperature. A method of controlling the power transmission device includes defining a correlation between pump speed, fluid temperature and fluid pressure, determining fluid temperature, determining pump speed, and rotating the pump to transfer a predetermined quantity of torque. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080196962 | Electrohydraulic Torque Transfer Device and Temperature Control System - A power transmission device includes a friction clutch operable to selectively transfer torque between an input member and an output member. An actuator is operable to provide an actuating force to the friction clutch. The actuator includes an electric motor having an output shaft drivingly coupled to a pump. The pump is operable to provide pressurized fluid to a piston acting on the friction clutch. A controller that is switched on and off in response to an ignition signal estimates the temperature of the friction clutch at the time of being switched on based on a time the controller has been off. A method of estimating a temperature of the friction clutch is also disclosed. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080196233 | Axle housing assembly and method - A method of forming a joint includes providing a first member made of cast iron having an exterior surface and a first end. A pocket is formed in the exterior surface of the first end. An insert made of steel is connected to the pocket. A second member made of cast iron is provided with an aperture. The method includes positioning the first end of the first member within the aperture and positioning a plug made of steel in the second member proximate the aperture. The plug is fixedly connected to the insert. | 08-21-2008 |
