| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 7188420 |
Method for manufacturing bevel gears |
March 13, 2007 |
| A method for manufacturing a bevel gear member, comprises the steps of providing a bevel gear blank having a gearhead, forming gear teeth on the gearhead of the bevel gear blank by simultaneously cutting gear tooth top land, gear tooth side profile and a bottom land to form an unfinished |
| 7181846 |
Method of manufacturing a combined driveshaft tube and yoke assembly |
February 27, 2007 |
| A method for manufacturing a combined driveshaft tube and yoke assembly includes the initial step of orienting a first component having a first wall thickness and a second component having a second wall thickness to define an overlap region. The first and second components may have the |
| 7137183 |
Drive axle for motor vehicles and method for assembling the same |
November 21, 2006 |
| A drive axle assembly for motor vehicles, includes a support beam member having a substantially flat, enlarged central plate section and two opposite arm sections, a differential assembly module secured to the central plate section and enclosed into a housing formed by a rear cover a |
| 7121972 |
Adjustable flange device for cover member in drive axle assembly |
October 17, 2006 |
| A drive axle assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a support beam member, a differential assembly module secured to the support beam member and a cover member fastened to the support beam member to cover at least a portion the differential assembly module. The cover member includes two |
| 7077779 |
Solenoid actuated variable pressure relief valve assembly for torque transfer assembly |
July 18, 2006 |
| A torque transfer assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a ring gear subassembly and a differential subassembly rotatably supported in said ring gear subassembly, a friction clutch pack for coupling the ring gear subassembly to the differential subassembly, and a hydraulic clutch act |
| 7052398 |
Pressure regulator assembly for use with a slip joint in a driveshaft assembly |
May 30, 2006 |
| A slip joint includes a structure that prevents a negative pressure situation from occurring within a sealed lubricant chamber during operation thereof. The slip joint includes a male splined member having a plurality of external splines formed thereon that cooperate with a plurality |
| 7029398 |
Flange yoke and companion flange supported on a splined shaft |
April 18, 2006 |
| A flange yoke is precisely positioned on a companion flange that, in turn, is supported on a male splined shaft having a pilot that protrudes co-axially therefrom. The companion flange includes a female splined sleeve portion that cooperates with the male splined shaft and a flange p |
| 7026585 |
Method for monitoring the performance of a magnetic pulse forming or welding process |
April 11, 2006 |
| The performance of a magnetic pulse forming or welding process is monitored by positioning a deformation member relative to an inductor coil of the apparatus, then energizing the inductor coil to exert a force thereon. The deformation member can be a plastically deformable tube, and |
| 7025686 |
Axially collapsible driveshaft assembly |
April 11, 2006 |
| A driveshaft assembly that is axially collapsible in a reliably controlled manner includes a male splined slip yoke that cooperates with a female splined transition member for concurrent rotational movement and for relative axial movement. The transition member is, in turn, secured to a |
| 7018299 |
Rolling ball spline slip joint with helically shaped cage |
March 28, 2006 |
| A slip joint includes a slip shaft having a plurality of axially extending grooves, and a slip yoke having a plurality of axially extending grooves. The slip yoke is in telescoping engagement with the slip shaft, and the grooves formed in the slip shaft are circumferentially aligned with |
| 7015435 |
Method of magnetic pulse welding an end fitting to a driveshaft tube of a vehicular driveshaft |
March 21, 2006 |
| A method for securing components of a vehicular driveshaft includes disposing a neck of an end fitting into the open end of a driveshaft tube. The end fitting is held with respect to the driveshaft tube so that an annular gap is formed between the neck and the driveshaft tube. An ind |
| 7007362 |
Method of forming a slip joint |
March 7, 2006 |
| A method of forming a slip joint includes providing a forming mandrel having a plurality of axially extending external splines, placing an inner tube circumferentially about the mandrel, and applying radially inward pressure on the inner tube to deform the inner tube and cause it to |
| 7004842 |
Compound driveshaft assembly with constant velocity joint |
February 28, 2006 |
| A compound driveshaft assembly includes a first driveshaft section that is connected through a front stub shaft to an inner race of a constant velocity universal joint. The constant velocity universal joint includes a unitary outer race and splined member having an outer race portion tha |
| 7004840 |
Internal balance correction device for vehicular driveshaft assembly |
February 28, 2006 |
| A balance correction device is supported within a hollow article, such as a driveshaft assembly for a vehicular drive train system, to balance the article for rotation. The balance correction device includes a first disc having a first slot provided therein and a second disc having a sec |
| 6981302 |
Use of driveshaft wall thickness variation to balance a driveshaft assembly |
January 3, 2006 |
| A method of manufacturing a tube for a vehicle driveshaft assembly forms a flat sheet of material having a greater thickness than other portions over a portion of its width and along its length, rolling the sheet about a longitudinal axis such that its lateral edges are mutually adjacent |
| 6964629 |
Differential gears with optimized number of teeth |
November 15, 2005 |
| The differential assembly includes a rotatable differential case, a pair of side gears rotatably mounted within the differential case, and a set of spaced apart differential pinion mate gears rotatably supported by a pinion shaft and drivingly engaging said side gears to allow differenti |
| 6964320 |
Lubrication arrangement for final drive unit |
November 15, 2005 |
| A final drive unit for a motor vehicle includes a carrier housing integrally formed with a final drive housing and provided to store a lubricating oil therein, a pinion drive shaft rotatably supported within the final drive housing by a pair of bearings, an oil supply passage formed |
| 6962546 |
Limited slip differential using fluid coupling |
November 8, 2005 |
| A fluid coupling employing a viscous fluid to produce a limited slip differential assembly. The fluid coupling is disposed within a differential casing along with a pair of side gears. The fluid coupling includes a first impeller provided with a first set of vanes and drivingly coupl |
| 6960024 |
Center bearing assembly including a support member containing a rheological fluid |
November 1, 2005 |
| A center bearing assembly rotatably supports an intermediate portion of a vehicle driveshaft assembly during use. The center bearing assembly includes a rigid bracket that is secured to a support surface of the vehicle, a support member that is supported within the rigid bracket, and |
| 6951522 |
Active differential assembly |
October 4, 2005 |
| An active differential assembly provides speed control of an associated output shaft. A differential case is rotatably mounted within a housing to drive a pair of output shafts extending from the differential case in opposite directions for distributing driving force from the engine to |
| 6951146 |
Method and apparatus for preloading pinion bearings |
October 4, 2005 |
| A method for determining a thickness of a shim for setting up a predetermined preload of a bearing assembly that rotatably supports a shaft within a housing. The bearing assembly includes front and rear tapered roller bearings. The shim is disposed between a bearing supporting should |
| 6923058 |
System and method for balancing a driveline system |
August 2, 2005 |
| A process for balancing a vehicular driveline including a propeller shaft and an input shaft of a vehicle axle interconnected by a universal joint. First, the vehicle propeller shaft is balanced to a predetermined residual imbalance having an imbalance vector angle of 0.degree. or 180.de |
| 6910617 |
Method for securing a yoke to a tube using magnetic pulse welding techniques |
June 28, 2005 |
| A magnetic pulse welding operation is performed to secure first and second metallic components together, such as a yoke and a driveshaft tube in a vehicular driveshaft assembly. The yoke includes a first portion, such as a body portion, and a second portion, such as a pair of opposed yok |
| 6908023 |
Apparatus for securing a yoke to a tube using magnetic pulse welding techniques |
June 21, 2005 |
| An apparatus for supporting a workpiece, such as a yoke having a body portion and a pair of opposed yoke arms, during a magnetic pulse welding operation includes a lower jaw, an upper jaw, and a support pin extending therebetween. During the magnetic pulse welding operation, the lower an |
| 6907667 |
Method for facilitating the assembly of a universal joint |
June 21, 2005 |
| A method of assembling components of a universal joint, such as a cross and a yoke, positions and maintains the rotational center axes thereof in co-axial alignment during the assembly process. The universal joint includes a yoke including a body portion and first and second arms, wh |
| 6893353 |
Rolling ball spline slip joint formed from two tubular members |
May 17, 2005 |
| A rolling ball spline type of slip joint includes a first tubular member having a plurality of inwardly extending regions formed therein. The first tubular member has a wall thickness that is essentially uniform throughout the circumference thereof. The slip joint also includes a second |
| 6892929 |
Yoke structure that is adapted to be secured to a tube using magnetic pulse welding techniques |
May 17, 2005 |
| A magnetic pulse welding operation is performed to secure first and second metallic components together, such as a yoke and a driveshaft tube in a vehicular driveshaft assembly. The yoke includes a first portion, such as a body portion, and a second portion, such as a pair of opposed yok |
| 6891137 |
Method of magnetic pulse welding an end fitting to a driveshaft tube of a vehicular driveshaft |
May 10, 2005 |
| A method for securing components of a vehicular driveshaft includes disposing a neck of an end fitting into the open end of a driveshaft tube. The end fitting is held with respect to the driveshaft tube so that an annular gap is formed between the neck and the driveshaft tube. An ind |
| 6889742 |
Full mold casting process and device for a differential case with cast-in bolt holes |
May 10, 2005 |
| A peripheral flange formed on a differential case for mounting a ring gear and the peripheral flange is provided with a plurality of cast-in bolt holes for bolting up the ring gear to the differential case using the lost foam casting process for making the differential case. A method of |
| 6883967 |
Center bearing assembly including a support member containing a rheological fluid |
April 26, 2005 |
| A center bearing assembly rotatably supports an intermediate portion of a vehicle driveshaft assembly during use. The center bearing assembly includes a rigid bracket that is secured to a support surface of the vehicle, a support member that is supported within the rigid bracket, and |
| 6880842 |
Single-piece steering gear bracket and steering gear joint member |
April 19, 2005 |
| A mounting system for coupling attaching mounting a steering gear housing member to a vehicle frame, comprises at least one single-piece steering gear bracket secured to a cross member of the vehicle frame, and at least one corresponding single-piece steering gear joint member integral w |
| 6871719 |
Drive train member having convex splines |
March 29, 2005 |
| A vehicle drive train assembly includes a source of rotational power and at least one rotatably driven vehicle wheel. A male splined member and a female splined member are connected between the source of rotational power and the vehicle wheel to transmit rotational power therebetween. At |
| 6868609 |
Method and apparatus for preloading pinion bearings |
March 22, 2005 |
| A method for determining a thickness of a shim for setting up a predetermined preload of a bearing assembly that rotatably supports a shaft within a housing. The bearing assembly includes front and rear tapered roller bearings. The shim is disposed between a bearing supporting should |
| 6865970 |
Engine oil pan and transfer case housing assembly |
March 15, 2005 |
| An improved engine oil pan and transfer case assembly is provided wherein an oil reservoir and a first transfer case housing portion are unitarily combined. The first transfer case housing portion is adapted to combine together with a second transfer case housing portion to form a comple |
| 6863613 |
Sealed axially displaceable slip joint |
March 8, 2005 |
| A slip joint includes first and second shafts that are connected for concurrent rotational movement and for relative axial movement, such as by respective pluralities of axially extending spline. A seal can is secured to the first shaft and extends about a portion of the second shaft. A |
| 6855060 |
Span control sleeve for positioning a bearing cup relative to a yoke in a universal joint assemb |
February 15, 2005 |
| A universal joint assembly includes a cross and an end fitting having respective rotational centers that are precisely co-axially aligned with one another to minimize rotational imbalance. The cross has a pair of outwardly extending trunnions, upon which respective bearing cups are r |
| 6837820 |
Differential drive gear assembly |
January 4, 2005 |
| A differential drive gear assembly including a differential case driven by a transmission allowing differential rotation between a pair of output axle shafts and facilitating a driving connection to a power take-off unit. The differential case has gear teeth directly formed thereon along |
| 6830096 |
Heat pipe for differential assembly |
December 14, 2004 |
| An apparatus to regulate and control the temperature of an axle assembly for a vehicle. A heat pipe is inserted though the axle housing cover, the heat pipe travels the length of the cover. Near the lower region of the carrier and beneath the lubricating fluid level, the heat pipe bends |
| 6826817 |
Method for balancing a vehicle driveshaft |
December 7, 2004 |
| A method is provided for quickly and inexpensively balancing an article, such a driveshaft tube for use in a vehicular driveshaft assembly, for rotation about an axis. Initially, a balancing structure is provided that includes a chamber that contains a quantity of a first component of a |
| 6817434 |
Active hydraulically actuated on-demand wheel end assembly |
November 16, 2004 |
| The vehicular axle assembly includes an input shaft, a drive gear assembly connecting the input shaft to a pair of output shafts, pair of opposite wheel ends mounted to the outboard ends of the output shafts, a pair of wheel end disconnect assembly disposed between and selectively connec |
| 6813973 |
Drive shaft balancing |
November 9, 2004 |
| A vehicular drive shaft assembly is balanced about an axis of rotation. The vehicular drive shaft assembly includes a drive shaft tube having a first end and a second end, with a first tube yoke including a first radially outer wall fixedly mounted to the first end of the drive shaft tub |
| 6811633 |
Method for balancing a vehicle driveshaft |
November 2, 2004 |
| A method for rotatably balancing a driveshaft includes the initial step of using a conventional balancing apparatus is used to determined the size and location of the balance weights needed to properly balance the driveshaft. Next, an adhesive material is applied to either or both of the |
| 6805635 |
Retainer for universal joint bearing cups |
October 19, 2004 |
| A retainer for retaining a pair of bearing cups on an opposed pair of trunnions of a universal joint cross includes a strap having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second end portions. The first and second end portions are adap |
| 6802791 |
Pressure control valve for hydraulic actuation assembly |
October 12, 2004 |
| A pressure control valve assembly is disposed in the hydraulic flow path of a differential assembly and is connected to a passageway leading to a limited slip device within the differential case to establish fluid communication there between. The invention includes a machined or formed |
| 6793398 |
Low spring rate multi-convoluted collapsible spacer |
September 21, 2004 |
| A low spring rate multi-convoluted collapsible spacer adapted for use as a bearing preloading element. The collapsible spacer comprises a substantially tubular body compressible in an axial direction thereof from a predetermined free length to a substantially shorter length. The tubular |
| 6792660 |
Method for manufacturing a driveshaft assembly that is balanced for rotation |
September 21, 2004 |
| A method for manufacturing a driveshaft assembly takes advantage of the asymmetrical nature of the driveshaft tube and end fittings to reduce the initial imbalance of the driveshaft assembly. The method includes the initial steps of providing a driveshaft tube having a heavy side and |
| 6773354 |
Driveshaft assembly that is balanced for rotation and method of manufacturing same |
August 10, 2004 |
| A driveshaft assembly is balanced for rotation during use by initially disposing an annular band about a portion thereof. The band is then secured to the driveshaft assembly, such as by welding, adhesives, frictional engagement, and the like. After the band is secured to the drivesha |
| 6770235 |
Method for adjusting the shape of a low friction coating on a splined slip joint member |
August 3, 2004 |
| A method for re-shaping portions of a coating applied to the surface of a component using a tool including a collet having a plurality of flexible arms with a wheel rotatably supported on each of the flexable arms, a nut and a sleeve. The tool is initially installed by disposing the coll |
| 6761640 |
Retainer for universal joint bearing cups |
July 13, 2004 |
| A retainer for retaining a pair of bearing cups on an opposed pair of trunnions of a universal joint cross includes a pair of cup-shaped end portions that are connected together by an intermediate strap portion. The retainer is expandable from a contracted size, wherein the cup-shaped en |
| 6761503 |
Splined member for use in a slip joint and method of manufacturing the same |
July 13, 2004 |
| An improved female splined member includes a female tubular member having an inner surface provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves that are sized and spaced in accordance with a desired number and position of splines to be formed. A plurality of elongate rods is dis |
