| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 7416505 |
Two-speed all-wheel drive system |
August 26, 2008 |
| A drive train for a vehicle having an axle and a multi-speed drive unit. The axle includes a housing and a differential with an input pinion. The drive unit includes a planetary transmission, a drive unit housing and a dog clutch that is employed to selectively operate the planetary |
| 7390279 |
Differential assembly with spring-biased side gears |
June 24, 2008 |
| A differential assembly includes a differential housing including a substantially spherically shaped chamber. A pair of side gears are rotatably positioned in the chamber in driving communication with a pair of pinion gears. A pair of springs are positioned in engagement with the end |
| 7384359 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting axle sensor data |
June 10, 2008 |
| An axle assembly includes a housing having first and second shafts rotatably positioned in the housing. A power transfer mechanism is also positioned in the housing and selectively operable to transmit rotary power between the first and second shafts. An actuator is operable to move |
| 7377598 |
Axle housing assembly and method |
May 27, 2008 |
| An axle housing assembly includes a cast iron tube having a pocket that is formed proximate a first end of the cast iron tube. The pocket is disposed generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cast iron tube. The axle housing assembly also includes an insert made of steel con |
| 7377343 |
Centrifugal clutch |
May 27, 2008 |
| A wheel drive assembly that can include a motor having an output shaft, a wheel mount that is adapted to have a wheel mounted thereto, a wheel shaft with a first end drivingly coupled to the wheel mount, and a clutch. The clutch can have a first body, a second body, and a plurality o |
| 7374508 |
Electronic connector assembly for power transmitting devices |
May 20, 2008 |
| A power transmitting device, such as a differential, having a housing, input and output shafts, which are rotatably disposed in the housing, a gear set, one or more actuators and/or one or more sensors disposed within the housing, and a connector having a fitting, a seal member and a |
| 7364062 |
Magnetic pulse welding of steel propshafts |
April 29, 2008 |
| A method of magnetically welding an end fitting to a metal tube includes assembling a driver ring over an end of the tube and inserting a length of the end fitting into a bore of the tube. An overlap region of the tube, the driver ring and the cylinder are encompassed by an inductor |
| 7363995 |
Overrunning clutch and method of controlling engagement of same |
April 29, 2008 |
| A suspension module with a suspension component, wheel hubs coupled to the suspension component, and a drive system. The drive system has a pair of units that selectively provide drive torque to an associated one of the wheel hubs. Each unit includes a motor, a first reduction gearset an |
| 7347785 |
Propshaft with constant velocity joint attachment |
March 25, 2008 |
| 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 secon |
| 7345469 |
Axle assembly with sensor mount |
March 18, 2008 |
| A vehicle axle assembly having an axle housing, an axle shaft and a sensor. The axle housing has a tubular portion. A flat is formed on an annular wall of the tubular portion proximate a distal end of the tubular portion. A hole, which intersects the flat, is formed through the tubular |
| 7338384 |
Propshaft boot with integrated bearing seal deflector |
March 4, 2008 |
| A power transmission device includes a housing, first and second shafts and a generally tubular boot. The housing has an aperture that at least the first shaft passes through. The first and second shafts are coupled together through a splined connection causing the shafts to rotate with |
| 7320659 |
Differential assembly with semi-elliptical assembly window |
January 22, 2008 |
| A differential case is provided including at least one assembly window formed therein for providing access to a chamber interior of the differential case. The assembly window in the differential case is defined by a semi-elliptical segment having ends interconnected by a pair of elon |
| 7320644 |
Universal joint with bearing retention device and method |
January 22, 2008 |
| 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 |
| 7320381 |
Propshafts with honeycomb core dampers |
January 22, 2008 |
| A propshaft assembly includes a shaft structure having a hollow cavity and an insert member being positioned within the hollow cavity and engaging the shaft structure. The shaft structure vibrates in response to receipt of an input of a predetermined frequency such that a shell mode anti |
| 7299533 |
Process for lapping ring and pinion gears |
November 27, 2007 |
| A method for processing a gear set through a lapping operation that includes: providing a lapping machine tool having a first spindle and a second spindle, the second spindle being rotatable about an axis that is generally perpendicular to a rotational axis of the first spindle, the |
| 7282006 |
Power transmission device with thermally compensating bearing preload mechanism |
October 16, 2007 |
| A power transmission device includes a housing, a differential assembly having a case and a bearing assembly rotatably supporting the case within the housing. A preload is applied to the bearing assembly along a load path. A shim is positioned in the load path with the bearing assembly. |
| 7278948 |
"Zero" lash spherical differential assembly using spring washers |
October 9, 2007 |
| A differential assembly includes a differential housing including a substantially spherically shaped chamber. A pair of spherically shaped side gears are rotatably positioned in the chamber in driving communication with a pair of spherically shaped pinion gears. A pair of springs are |
| 7278212 |
Universal joint with adhesive bearing cup retention method |
October 9, 2007 |
| A universal joint including a spider having a plurality of trunnions. The universal joint also includes a pair of yokes, where each yoke has a pair of arms with an aperture formed therethrough, and each yoke is arranged such that an opposite pair of the trunnions are received into the |
| 7258645 |
Axle assembly with side gears having dual shaft retention features |
August 21, 2007 |
| The drivetrain with multiple differentials includes a common side gear. The side gear has a cylindrical body with a central bore. Receiving members are on the bore to receive a shaft. An annular member is on the body with the bore extending through the annular member. A plurality of |
| 7241246 |
Differential assembly with cover gasket having integral magnet |
July 10, 2007 |
| An axle assembly for a vehicle includes a housing, a differential assembly rotatably supported within the housing, a differential cover and a gasket assembly positioned between the housing and the differential cover. The gasket assembly includes a body and a magnet coupled to the body. T |
| 7241243 |
Electronic locking differential with bulkhead connector |
July 10, 2007 |
| A power transmitting device, such as a differential, having a housing, input and output shafts, which are rotatably disposed in the housing, a gear set, one or more actuators and/or one or more sensors disposed within the housing, and a connector having a fitting, a seal member and a |
| 7234715 |
Horizontal ball joint assembly |
June 26, 2007 |
| A wheel suspension assembly for a vehicle is operable to travel across a ground surface. The wheel suspension assembly includes a first suspension member, a second suspension member, a wheel rotatably coupled to the first suspension member and a ball stud interconnecting the first and |
| 7233138 |
Press-in exciter ring assembly |
June 19, 2007 |
| An exciter ring assembly to detect rotational parameters of an axle within a tube has an exciter ring attached to the axle by an elastomer insert. The insert provides a frictional interference fit with the axle. The insert affixes the exciter ring to rotate with the axle. The elastomer |
| 7232399 |
Differential assembly |
June 19, 2007 |
| An axle assembly that includes a differential casing, which is rotatable about an axis, a pair of side gears that are disposed within the differential casing, a spacer and a cross pin. The spacer is disposed between the side gears. The cross pin is fixed to the differential casing an |
| 7232397 |
Axleshaft retention assembly for differentials and method of assembly |
June 19, 2007 |
| A differential assembly includes a differential housing defining a chamber and a pair of aligned openings communicating with the chamber. A pair of output shafts extend through the openings in the differential housing and include end segments located within the chamber. A pair of side ge |
| 7231847 |
Axle assembly with threaded cover pan attachment and method of assembly |
June 19, 2007 |
| A power transfer device includes an input, a gear set for transferring power from the input to at least one output, a housing and a cover. The housing includes an access aperture sized for receiving the gear set. The access aperture includes a threaded wall. The cover closes the aperture |
| 7211020 |
Lockable differential with locking state detection system |
May 1, 2007 |
| A power transmitting device including a housing having an input shaft, at least one output shaft and a gear set positioned in the housing. The gear set transmits rotary power between the input shaft and the output shaft. An electrical actuator includes a linearly moveable member and is |
| 7207409 |
Two speed all wheel drive system |
April 24, 2007 |
| A two speed drive system for an all wheel drive vehicle includes a double planetary gear front differential and a power take-off unit transferring drive torque to a front wheel set and a rear wheel set of the vehicle. A rear differential connects the power take-off unit and the rear whee |
| 7205760 |
Beam axle with integral sensor mount and target |
April 17, 2007 |
| A vehicle axle assembly having an axle housing, an axle shaft and a sensor. The axle housing has a tubular portion. A flat is formed on an annular wall of the tubular portion proximate a distal end of the tubular portion. A hole, which intersects the flat, is formed through the tubular |
| 7201696 |
Differential with electromagnetic clutch assembly |
April 10, 2007 |
| A differential assembly includes a case, a pair of pinion gears, a pair of side gears and an electrically operable coupling including an electromagnet. The coupling selectively drivingly interconnects one of the side gears and the case. The electromagnet of the coupling is axially mo |
| 7201663 |
Universal joint with integral seal deflector and retainer assembly |
April 10, 2007 |
| A universal joint includes a yoke connected to a cruciform by bearing cup assembly. The bearing cup assembly includes a bearing cup, a bearing and an integral seal deflector retainer. The bearing cup assembly is rotatably coupled to a trunnion of the cruciform. The integral seal defl |
| 7191521 |
Advanced geometry of skew and straight bevel gears produced by forging |
March 20, 2007 |
| The present invention provides for bevel gears having a localized and stable bearing contact. The localization of bearing contact is achieved by substitution of flat tooth surfaces with parabolic tooth surfaces. This is accomplished by either modifying line-contact directly or by usi |
| 7189178 |
Drive axle with variable oil flow mechanism |
March 13, 2007 |
| An axle assembly including a differential gear set having a ring gear. The axle assembly includes a carrier assembly housing that contains the differential gear set and an arcuate fence disposed adjacent to the ring gear that connects to the carrier assembly housing. A moveable plate |
| 7189162 |
Universal joint with thrust washer |
March 13, 2007 |
| A universal joint for interconnecting a pair of rotating shafts includes a pair of bifurcated yokes interconnected by a cruciform. The cruciform includes four orthogonal trunnions each including a lubricant passage. A thrust washer engages an inner surface of the lubricant passage to ret |
| 7188699 |
Axle assembly with cooling pump |
March 13, 2007 |
| An axle assembly with a cooling pump. The cooling pump includes a disk-shaped wheel with a plurality of radially-spaced ducts formed therein. The wheel is positioned in proximity to the axle assembly and rotated, allowing the ducts to draw air therethrough and direct the air to the a |
| 7178424 |
Pinion unit in axle assembly |
February 20, 2007 |
| An axle assembly includes an axle housing having a main body and defining an internal cavity. The axle housing includes a first and second opening defined in the main body and adapted to support a first and second differential bearing respectively. A differential assembly is supported |
| 7175560 |
Thermally compensating bearing preload arrangement in axle assembly |
February 13, 2007 |
| A power transmission device includes a housing, a differential assembly having a case and a bearing assembly rotatably supporting the case within the housing. A preload is applied to the bearing assembly along a load path. A shim is positioned in the load path with the bearing assembly. |
| 7174763 |
Hotformed hubs and method |
February 13, 2007 |
| A method of manufacturing an irregularly shaped forging includes heating a billet to a predetermined temperature, placing the heated billet within the cavity of a die, advancing a punch into the cavity to begin to disperse the material into a plurality of radially extending extremities |
| 7155824 |
Method of manufacturing an automotive differential having an input pinion |
January 2, 2007 |
| A method for fabricating an input pinion for an automotive differential that includes: providing a shaft; forging a pinion with a plurality of teeth such that each tooth is formed to at least a near-net size, forming a hole in the pinion, pressing an end of the shaft into the hole in the |
| 7147585 |
Helical gear differential |
December 12, 2006 |
| An axle assembly that includes a differential casing, which is rotatable about an axis, a pair of side gears that are disposed within the differential casing, a spacer and a cross pin. The spacer is disposed between the side gears. The cross pin is fixed to the differential casing an |
| 7147564 |
Universal joint assembly |
December 12, 2006 |
| A universal joint assembly includes a universal joint and a housing encasing the universal joint. An isolator encases the housing. The isolator includes at least one chamber formed therein. The housing is moveable relative to the isolator by compression of the isolator. |
| 7140969 |
Overmolded yoke assembly |
November 28, 2006 |
| A universal joint having a first yoke including a body portion and an overmold portion. The body portion includes a base and a pair of arms that extend from the base. A trunnion assembly is coupled to the first yoke and extends between the arms. A second yoke is coupled to the trunni |
| 7137921 |
Electromagnetic locking differential assembly |
November 21, 2006 |
| A method of transitioning between modes of differentiation in a differential includes measuring a vehicle parameter, determining a mode of differentiation, selectively providing an electrical signal to an electromagnet based on the determination, generating a magnetic field, moving t |
| 7117598 |
Net-shaped gear and manufacturing method for forming net-shaped gear employing insert and prefor |
October 10, 2006 |
| A differential assembly for a motor vehicle includes a plurality of pinion gears in meshing engagement with a plurality of side gears. At least one of the pinion gears and side gears is formed from a tubular insert and a tubular preform forged together in a forging die. A method for |
| 7115059 |
Pinion housing with contaminant deflector |
October 3, 2006 |
| An axle assembly includes a carrier housing having a deflector, a differential assembly, and an input shaft. The carrier housing has a main body and a pinion nose extending from the main body. The pinion shaft and the differential assembly are each rotatably supported by the carrier |
| 7115058 |
Power-assisted differential assembly |
October 3, 2006 |
| An axle assembly for a motor vehicle. The assembly comprises a carrier housing and a differentially assembly rotatably mounted to the carrier housing. A ring gear is fixed to the differential assembly. A first pinion is in meshing engagement with the ring gear. The first pinion is dr |
| 7108428 |
Axle assembly with bearing adjustment mechanism |
September 19, 2006 |
| The present invention provides an axle assembly for a motor vehicle including an axle housing, a differential assembly supported in the axle housing with a differential bearing, a bearing insert, an adjuster sleeve and a lock ring. The bearing insert is coupled to the axle housing. The |
| 7086952 |
Propshaft boot with integrated bearing seal deflector and clampless retention |
August 8, 2006 |
| A boot seal for a mechanical joint with a rotary joint member. The boot seal includes a flexible body portion and a flange end that is coupled to an end of the body portion. The flange end includes a flange seal portion, which is configured to seal against the joint member in an axial |
| 7044859 |
Universal joint with friction fit and bearing cup retainer |
May 16, 2006 |
| A universal joint for interconnecting a pair of rotating shafts includes a pair of bifurcated yokes interconnected by a cruciform. The cruciform includes four orthogonal trunnions each including a lubricant passage. A thrust washer engages an inner surface of the lubricant passage to ret |
| 7036349 |
Scallop output shaft tools |
May 2, 2006 |
| A die for forming a work-piece having a complex geometry includes a die insert having an interior surface that defines a first portion of the complex geometry and a retainer ring that selectively engages the die insert. The retainer ring includes a circumferential interior surface th |
