Patents Assigned to GKN Automotive GmbH
  • Patent number: 7384673
    Abstract: A convoluted boot for constant velocity joints and a constant velocity joint lubricant for use in such a convoluted boot. An additive which is added to the constant velocity joint lubricant and/or to the convoluted boot material is provided. The additive comprises amide waxes and also may include hydrocarbon oils. Use is made, in particular, of monoamides and/or diamides of carboxylic acids with 8 to 50 carbon atoms to form, by diffusion, a lubricating film on the surface of a convoluted boot. Furthermore, oleic acid amide and/or ethylenediamine distearate result in a particularly early formation of a lubricating film on the outer boot surface and thus to a long-term prevention of noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Konegen, Hans Schreiber, Lothar Gasper
  • Patent number: 7302873
    Abstract: An angle drive having a housing (11) with a first axis (A1) for bearing means and a second axis (A2) for bearing means, which latter axis (A2) intersects the first axis (A1) at right angles, having an input shaft 16 which is supported in the housing, which carries an input ring gear (19) and is positioned on the first axis (A1), having an output shaft (28) which is supported in the housing, which carries an output gearwheel (27) and is positioned on the second axis (A2), having a counter ring gear 20 which is supported in the housing, which is positioned on the first axis (A1) and which, with reference to the second axis (A2) is arranged and designed symmetrically relative to the input ring gear (19), having at least one intermediate gearwheel which is supported in the housing, which is arranged on an axis (A3, A4) positioned radially relative to the first axis (A1) and in one plane together with the second axis (A2) and which is provided with the same type of toothing as the output gearwheel (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Nett
  • Patent number: 7232373
    Abstract: A driveshaft assembly having two CV joints and an intermediate shaft. One of the CV joints (11) includes an outer joint part (12) with first ball tracks (14), an inner joint part (17) with second ball tracks (18), and balls (19) held in a common plane by a cage (20). First and second angles of intersection of the ball tracks (14, 18) of a pair of tracks are identical in size and are positioned symmetrically relative to the joint axis. The ball cage (20) is axially fixed in the constant velocity joint. The intermediate shaft includes a longitudinal plunging unit (41) having a sleeve (42) with first ball grooves (43) which extend axially, a journal (44) with second ball grooves (45) which extend axially, balls (46) which are held in a cage (47) in groups in pairs of the first and second ball grooves (43, 45).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hildebrandt, Thomas Weckerling, Stephan Maucher, Michael Ricks, Peter Bilz, Kiyoshi Taniyama
  • Patent number: 7172510
    Abstract: A hub member and shaft joint assembly includes an inner joint part of a constant velocity joint and a shaft journal. The hub member has a central through-aperture with inner toothing for receiving the shaft journal, and outer ball tracks. The inner toothing is formed in a predetermined limited length as far as a toothing run-out and is followed by a bore with a reduced diameter. The shaft journal has shaft toothing and, at a distance from the shaft end, a first conical step serving as a top face relative to the toothing run-out and directly contacting same. A larger second conical step is positioned axially spaced from the first step and forms a toothing end of the shaft toothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Fuhrmann, Herbert Frielingsdorf, Volker Hainz, Jean Spolmayeur
  • Patent number: 7112140
    Abstract: A constant velocity counter track joint having an outer joint part (12) and an inner joint part forming first and second pairs of tracks (22, 23; 24, 25) each accommodating a torque transmitting ball (14), and a ball cage (15) with windows (18) each receiving at least one of the balls (14). When the joint is aligned, the opening angle (?) of the first pairs of tracks (22, 23) opens from the aperture end to the attaching end, and the opening angle (?) of the second pairs of tracks (24, 25) opens from the attaching end to the aperture end. The first pairs of tracks (22, 23) are designed in such a way that, when the joint is articulated, the opening angle (?) of the first pairs of tracks (22, 23), at a ball (14) entering the outer joint part (12) via the central plane (EM), initially becomes zero and then opens towards the aperture end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Weckerling
  • Patent number: 7107871
    Abstract: A crown gear assembly including a crown gear which is rotatably supported around a first axis (A1) and which forms teeth (13) which are provided with flanks (14, 15) whose mantle lines extend substantially radially relative to the axis (A1), as well as a pinion (21) which is rotatably supported around a second axis (A2) extending perpendicularly relative to the first axis (A1), and which forms teeth (23) which are provided with flanks whose mantle lines extend substantially parallel relative to the axis (A2), wherein, on the radial outside of the teeth (13) of the crown gear, the pinion (21) is provided with a collar (25) which is adapted to contact a circumferential face of the crown gear (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Colin Zaers, Bernd Constantin
  • Patent number: 7070508
    Abstract: A constant velocity fixed ball joint (11) having a longitudinal axis (A), an outer joint part (12) with an annular member (13) and a joint base (14), an inner joint part (23) which is axially supported on the joint base (14), and a cage (17) for receiving the balls (16) and holding the balls (16) in a common plane. The cage (17) is held in both directions on an inner face in the outer joint part (12). The inner joint part (23), in a first direction, is unsupported relative to the cage (17). In a second axial direction towards the joint aperture (26), the inner joint part (23) is indirectly supported via the cage (17) on the outer joint part (12). The cross-section of the inner joint part (23) is smaller than the base aperture in the annular member (13) for the joint base (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Orkan Eryilmaz, Wolfgang Hildebrandt, Thomas Weckerling
  • Patent number: 7022022
    Abstract: A counter track joint including first pairs of tracks whose control angles open in a first axial direction, and second pairs of tracks whose control angles open in a second axial direction. The outer joint part forms an introducing aperture for the ball cage. The ball cage, while engaging the outer tracks, can be threaded into the outer joint part in the second axial direction. The outer joint part forms a first stop and guiding face for a spherical outer face of the ball cage. Between the introducing aperture and the first stop and guiding face, the outer joint part comprises a displacement region for the ball cage. A securing element forms a second stop and guiding face for the spherical outer face of the ball cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ida Hassenrik, Stephan Maucher, Thomas Weckerling, Peter Harz, Wolfgang Hildebrandt
  • Patent number: 7011594
    Abstract: A differential drive having a drivable differential carrier (11) which is rotatably supported in a drive housing, which comprises a longitudinal carrier axis, in which two axle shaft gears (28, 29) whose axes extend co-axially relative to the longitudinal carrier axis are arranged and rotatably supported and in which a plurality of differential gears (31) whose axes extend radially relative to the longitudinal carrier axis are arranged and held so as to rotate with said differential carrier (11,) wherein the axle shaft gears (28, 29) engage the differential gears (31, 71;) and having constant velocity joints (22, 23) which are positioned inside the differential carrier (11) and whose outer joint parts (26, 27) are connected to the axle shaft gears (28, 29) in a rotationally fast way, wherein the outer joint parts (26, 27) and the axle shaft gears (28, 29) connected to the outer joint parts (26, 27) are positioned in the differential carrier (11) with radial play and are operationally engaged with at least thr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Krude, Colin Zaers, Heinzwilli Fuchs
  • Patent number: 7010995
    Abstract: The invention relates to an angle drive having a drive housing (51) with a first axis (A1) for bearing means and with a second axis (A2) for bearing means, which latter axis (A2) is aligned radially relative to the first axis (A1). The drive housing (51) comprises an outer ring (101) which forms two opposed annular flanges positioned perpendicularly relative to the axis (A1), and a hub member (83) which is positioned co-axially relative to the outer ring (101) and which, by means of at least one radial spoke (84), is connected to the outer ring (101). The hub member (83) forms a bearing region for an input shaft (56). The housing (51) forms a sleeve member (55) which is attached to the outside of the outer ring (101). The sleeve member (55) forms a bearing region for an output shaft (68).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Nett
  • Patent number: 7001302
    Abstract: A differential drive having a drive housing in which a differential carrier (14) is rotatably supported around its longitudinal axis (A). The drive has sideshaft gears (18, 19) which are supported so as to be rotatable relative to the differential carrier (14) around the axis (A), and differential gears (22) which are supported in the differential carrier rotatably around axes (R) extending radially relative to the longitudinal axis (A), which engage the sideshaft gears (18, 19) and which rotate together with the differential carrier (14). The differential carrier (14) forms journals (16, 17) which extend co-axially relative to the longitudinal axis (A) and by means of which the differential carrier (14) is rotatably supported in the sideshaft gears (18, 19) and wherein the sideshaft gears (18, 19), in turn, are rotatably supported in the drive housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Wachter, Bruno Zweier, Elmar Schmid, Jochen Balken, Werner Krude
  • Patent number: 7000492
    Abstract: An axial adjusting device includes two discs which are rotatable relative to one another and coaxially supported relative to one another, between which two discs balls are guided in pairs of ball grooves. The depth of the pairs of ball grooves is variable across the circumference of the discs. One of the discs is axially supported and one is axially displaceable against resilient returning forces of a first spring mechanism. At least one of the discs can be driven by a motor via a gear drive. A second spring mechanism is provided which—during the return motion of the discs, after the balls have reached their end positions in the ball grooves, which end positions are determined by the greatest groove depth—permit the drivable disc to overshoot against the resilient returning forces of the second spring mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Hülsebusch, Holger Seidl, Frank Böttger, Alexey Katsnelson, Raymond LeGallais, Nikolaus Mayr
  • Patent number: 7001281
    Abstract: A constant velocity ball joint in the form of a counter track joint, has an outer joint part, an inner joint part, and torque transmitting balls received in pairs of tracks formed of outer tracks and inner tracks, and a ball cage. First pairs of tracks whose first control angles open in a first axial direction hold first balls. Second pairs of track whose control angles open in a second axial direction hold second balls. The control angles are defined as angles between the tangents at the ball contact points in the pairs of tracks. The outer joint part and the inner joint part are axially displaceable relative to one another. The first control angle and the second control angle change in opposite senses when a relative axial displacement occurs. The axial displacement path is limited to observing a minimum value of least 8° for the respective smaller control angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Krude
  • Patent number: 6960148
    Abstract: A differential drive having a drive housing (1) with a longitudinal drive axis (AG); having a drivable differential carrier (11) which is rotatably supported in the drive housing (1) by means of two rolling contact bearings (22, 23), which comprises a longitudinal carrier axis (AK), wherein, at the differential carrier (11), there are formed projections (20, 21) which extend co-axially relative to the longitudinal carrier axis and into which there are inserted outer bearing races (26, 27) of the rolling contact bearings (22, 23); and wherein, in the drive housing (1), there is provided a side opening (3) through which the differential carrier (11) with inserted outer bearing races (26, 27) of the rolling contact bearings (22, 23) can be inserted; and wherein, in the drive housing (1), there are provided bores (4, 5) into which there are inserted bearing holding rings (6, 7) which carry inner bearing races (28, 29) of the rolling contact bearings (22, 23) and which, together with said inner bearing races, can
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Heinzwilli Fuchs, Colin Zaers, Werner Krude
  • Patent number: 6921091
    Abstract: A sealing boot intended to ensure the sealing of a transmission joint connecting two shafts. The sealing boot includes a boot body having a bead at each end to contact and seal the periphery of the shaft or an element of the joint integral with the shaft. Each bead includes a radial outer shoulder forming a transition between the bead and the boot body, and a bearing surface extending from the shoulder and adapted to receive an element for fixing the bead against the shaft or associated joint element. The bearing surface is extended without an increase in its external diameter as far as the end of the bead. The shoulder forms a stop for longitudinal positioning during the mounting of the fixing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Claude Neviani
  • Patent number: 6902486
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tripod joint assembly, suited for the driveline of motor vehicles. It includes an outer joint part, rollers and an inner joint part which is connected to a shaft in a rotationally fast way, with an annular gap being formed between the shaft and the outer joint part, as well as a convoluted boot for sealing the annular gap. The outer joint part comprises a wall whose outer contour, in cross-section, deviates from the circular shape and which comprises a radially outwardly directed, circumferentially extending bead. The convoluted boot comprises an adapter ring and a convoluted portion connected to the adapter ring, with the adapter ring, on its radial inside, comprising an annular circumferential recess and, in its cross-section, being suitable for being fitted on to the outer joint part. When the adapter ring is fitted on to the outer joint part, the bead of the outer joint part engages the circumferential recess of the adapter ring in order to provide axial security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Wette
  • Patent number: 6896637
    Abstract: A differential drive having a drivable differential carrier 11 which is rotatably supported in a drive housing, which comprises a longitudinal carrier axis, in which two axle shaft gears 28, 29 whose axes extend co-axially relative to the longitudinal carrier axis are arranged and rotatably supported and in which a plurality of differential gears 31 whose axes extend radially relative to the longitudinal carrier axis are arranged and held so as to rotate with said differential carrier 11, wherein the axle shaft gears 28, 29 engage the differential gears 31; and having constant velocity joints 22, 23 which are positioned inside the differential carrier 11 and whose outer joint parts 26, 27 are connected to the axle shaft gears 28, 29 in a rotationally fast way, wherein, between the axle shaft gears 28, 29 in the differential carrier 11, there is arranged a spider member 30 which comprises a hub 32 whose axis extends co-axially relative to the carrier axis and which is provided with at least three bearing journ
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Krude, Heinzwilli Fuchs
  • Patent number: 6889572
    Abstract: An angle drive having a housing (11) with a first axis (A1) for bearing means and a second axis (A2) for bearing means, which latter axis (A2) intersects the first axis (A1) at right angles, having an input shaft 16 which is supported in the housing, which carries an input ring gear (19) and is positioned on the first axis (A1), having an output shaft (28) which is supported in the housing, which carries an output gearwheel (27) and is positioned on the second axis (A2), having a counter ring gear 20 which is supported in the housing, which is positioned on the first axis (A1) and which, with reference to the second axis (A2) is arranged and designed symmetrically relative to the input ring gear (19), having at least one intermediate gearwheel which is supported in the housing, which is arranged on an axis (A3, A4)positioned radially relative to the first axis (A1) and in one plane together with the second axis (A2) and which is provided with the same type of toothing as the output gearwheel (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Nett
  • Patent number: 6877350
    Abstract: A production method involving forming an inner joint part of a constant velocity universal ball joint in the form of a hub member (11) which comprises a central through-aperture (14) with inner toothing (16) for receiving a shaft journal (12), and ball tracks (15) for receiving torque transmitting balls on the outer circumference, wherein a blank with largely finish-formed ball tracks is produced by non-chip-forming deformation; wherein, at the blank, outer surfaces and a smooth through-aperture (14) are finish-turned; and wherein, during simultaneous working stages, the ball tracks (15) are calibrated by non-chip-forming deformation and the inner toothing (16) in the through-aperture (14) is produced by pressing in a non-chip-forming way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Fuhrmann, Herbert Frielingsdorf, Volker Hainz, Jean Spolmayeur
  • Patent number: 6872143
    Abstract: A driveshaft having at least one counter-track joint, the joint having an outer joint part (11), an inner joint part (21), torque-transmitting balls (36) accommodated in pairs of tracks, and a ball cage with cage windows in which the balls are held in a common plane. First outer tracks and first inner tracks form first pairs of tracks which diverge from one another when viewed in a first axial direction towards the connection end of the inner joint part (21) and hold first balls. Second outer tracks and second inner tracks form second pairs of tracks which diverge from one another when viewed in a second axial direction towards the connection end of the outer joint part 11 and hold second balls. The first pairs of tracks are positioned radially opposite each other and the second pairs of tracks are positioned radially opposite each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Weckerling, Stephan Maucher, Anna Gremmelmaier, Herbert Taureg