Patents Assigned to American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11313419
    Abstract: A power transmitting component can include a friction clutch, a ram, a pump, a fluid storage device and a valve. The ram can have a piston chamber and a piston movable therein between a first and second position to engage the friction clutch. A first inlet/outlet of the pump can be fluidly coupled to a reservoir. The fluid storage device can hold pressurized hydraulic fluid. The valve can be fluidly coupled with the piston chamber, a second inlet/outlet of the pump, and the fluid storage device. When in a first mode, the valve can permit fluid communication between the pump and the fluid storage device, inhibit fluid communication between the piston chamber and the pump, and inhibit fluid communication between the piston chamber and the fluid storage device. When in a second mode, the valve can permit fluid communication between the pump, the fluid storage device, and the piston chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Kleinhardt, John C. Hibbler, Charles G. Stuart
  • Patent number: 11303183
    Abstract: An electric drive module having a motor and an inverter that are disposed in a housing The motor includes a stator, which has a plurality of sets of windings. The inverter has a plurality of power semiconductors, which are mounted into a retaining member, an end plate, which is sealingly coupled to the retaining member, and an inlet port that extends through the end plate. Sets of the semiconductor devices are electrically coupled to corresponding sets of the windings. Power terminals on the semiconductor devices are coupled to a heat sink. Fins on the heat sinks extend into an annular region that is adjacent to axial ends of the windings. At least one of the retaining member and the end plate is sealingly coupled to the housing assembly. The inlet port, the annular region and cooling passages in the stator are coupled in fluid communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, David Crecelius, Jeffrey J. Ronning, Paul J. Valente, John C. Morgante
  • Patent number: 11293534
    Abstract: An electric drive module that includes an electric motor, a differential assembly, and a transmission that transmits rotary power between the electric motor and the differential assembly. The transmission has first and second reductions. The first reduction has a drive gear, which is rotatable about a first axis, and a pair of first reduction gears that are each meshingly engaged to the drive gear rotatable about a respective second axis. The second axes are spaced apart from one another and are parallel to the first axis. The second reduction has a driven gear and a pair of second reduction gears. The driven gear is rotatable about a third axis that is parallel to the first axis. Each of the second reduction gears is being meshingly engaged to the driven gear and non-rotatably coupled to an associated one of the first reduction gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Patent number: 11273695
    Abstract: A hybrid axle assembly that includes a housing assembly, a differential assembly received in the housing assembly, and an inside-out motor. The differential assembly is rotatable about a differential axis and has a differential input and a pair of differential outputs. The inside-out motor has a stator, which is fixedly coupled to the housing, and a rotor. The stator is disposed circumferentially about the differential input. The rotor is disposed circumferentially about the stator such that the stator is disposed radially between the differential input and the rotor. The rotor is drivingly coupled to the differential input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 11274764
    Abstract: A valve body element having a central bore. The valve body element includes first and second structures that are each formed of a compacted powdered metal material. The first structure has a plurality of L-shaped first passage portions that extend radially outwardly from a first portion of the central bore and intersect an axial end of the first structure. The second structure defines a remaining portion of the central bore and includes a flange. The flange defines a joining section, into which the axial end of the first structure is received, and a plurality of second passage portion. Each of the second passage portions is coupled in fluid communication to a corresponding one of the first passage portions. The remaining portion of the central bore in the second structure is in fluid communication with the first bore portion of the central bore in the first structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Bankovic, Thomas George Kaveney, II, Joshua J. Shelander
  • Patent number: 11231096
    Abstract: An axle assembly with a carrier housing, an input pinion and a ring gear. The input pinion includes pinion gear teeth and is supported for rotation about a first axis relative to the carrier housing via first and second bearings. The ring gear includes ring gear teeth that are meshed to the pinion gear teeth and a third bearing supports the ring gear for rotation about the second axis relative to the carrier housing. The third bearing is disposed along the second axis on a side of the ring gear that is opposite the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Patent number: 11221065
    Abstract: A vehicle driveline component having a differential assembly that includes a limited slip clutch, a locking clutch and an actuator for operating the limited slip clutch and the locking clutch. The actuator includes a pair of ball-ramp mechanisms that share a rotatable ball-ramp ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick E. Zink
  • Patent number: 11218063
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a transmission system having a transmission subsystem, a transmission housing for housing the transmission subsystem, and a rotor operably associated with the transmission subsystem. The rotor has a weight and dimension to act as a flywheel. At least one stator pole segment is housed within the transmission housing and has at least one stator winding thereon positioned in proximity to a surface of the rotor. An inverter communicates with the stator winding and electrically energizes the winding to cause rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: David Crecelius, James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 11185914
    Abstract: A method for forming an assembly having a housing and first and second components. The first and second components are movable relative to one another in the housing. The method includes: providing first and second workpieces; moving the first and second workpieces relative to one another in a predetermined manner that produces relative sliding contact between the first and second workpieces while performing a superfinishing operation on the first and second workpieces to form the first and second components, respectively, wherein the superfinishing operation does not comprise a lapping operation; and mounting the first and second components in the housing such that the first and second components are engaged to one another and are movable relative to one another in the predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Moshe Rothstein, Cory J. Padfield, Toby V. Padfield
  • Patent number: 11186181
    Abstract: A drive system with one or more electrically driven axles, a transmission subsystem, which is drivingly coupled to the drive gearbox of each of the electrically driven axles, synchronous and asynchronous motors, which are each drivingly coupled to the transmission subsystem, and a controller. Each of the axles has a drive gearbox that transmits rotary power to an associated set of vehicle wheels. The controller controls the synchronous motor and/or the asynchronous motor responsive to at least a torque request and a shaft speed of the synchronous motor and/or the shaft speed of the asynchronous motor. Over a significant portion of the operating range of the drive system, the controller is configured to vary the respective magnitudes of the rotary power provided by the motors to satisfy the torque request in a manner that maximizes a combined efficiency of the motors in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Ronning, John Morgante
  • Patent number: 11125312
    Abstract: Various improvements to axle assemblies are disclosed herein that are especially adapted for highly robust and compact configurations for use in front (i.e., steering) axle configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Marsh, Matthew T. Blakeman
  • Patent number: 11118664
    Abstract: A differential assembly that includes a differential input member, a differential gear set, a first clutch, and a second clutch. The differential input member is rotatable about a differential axis and defines an internal cavity. The differential gear set is received in the differential cavity and includes first and second side gears. The first clutch has a plurality of first clutch plates and a plurality of second clutch plates. The first clutch plates are rotatably coupled to the differential input member. The second clutch plates are interleaved with the first clutch plates and are rotatably coupled to the first side gear. The second clutch is selectively operable to non-rotatably couple one of the first and second side gears to the differential input member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick E. Zink, Joshua A. Kirby, Joseph S. Balenda, II, Michael Schulte
  • Patent number: 11118631
    Abstract: A propshaft with first and second propshaft segments, a bearing assembly, a slinger and a boot seal. The first and second propshaft segments have connection members that are non-rotatably but axially slidably coupled together. The bearing assembly is mounted to the first propshaft segment and supports the first propshaft segment for rotation. The slinger has a first slinger member, which is mounted to the bearing assembly, and a second slinger member that is mounted to the first propshaft segment. The first and second slinger members cooperate to shroud an axial end of the bearing assembly and are spaced apart from one another to form a labyrinth. Opposite ends of the boot seal are fixedly coupled to the second slinger member and the second propshaft segment. A vent is disposed through the second slinger member to fluidly couple the boot seal and the labyrinth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Guilherme Targa Poleti
  • Patent number: 11118666
    Abstract: A differential assembly includes a differential, a collar, and a coupling. The differential has a differential input and differential gearing. The differential input is rotatable about a differential axis. The differential gearing has first and second differential output gears that are rotatable relative to the differential input about the differential axis. The differential gearing transmits rotary power between the differential input and the first and second differential output gears. The collar is rotatable about the differential axis. The coupling has first and second coupling members. The first coupling member is fixedly coupled to the first side gear. The second coupling member is fixedly coupled to the collar. The coupling is operable in a disengaged mode, in which the collar is rotationally decoupled from the first differential output gear, and an engaged mode in which the collar is rotatably coupled to the first differential output gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven T. Richards, Douglas J. Chemelli, Joseph S. Balenda, II
  • Patent number: 11047465
    Abstract: A vehicle driveline component with a differential case, a cross-pin, a differential gearset, and a retaining member. The differential case is rotatable about a first axis and has an annular wall member that defines a differential cavity. The cross-pin is received in a cross-pin aperture formed through a first side of the annular wall member. The cross-pin extends through the differential cavity along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The differential gearset is received in the differential cavity and includes a pair of side gears, which are rotatable about the first axis, and a pair of pinion gears that are journally supported by the cross-pin and meshingly engaged with the side gears. The retaining member is welded to the annular wall member and limits movement of the cross-pin relative to the differential case along the second axis in a direction toward the retaining member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Gorski, Douglas J. Chemelli, Cory J. Padfield, Toby V. Padfield
  • Patent number: 11047450
    Abstract: A shaft assembly that includes a shaft, which has a wall with an interior surface, a universal joint member, which is coupled to an end of the shaft and a balance weight that is received in the shaft and fixedly coupled to the interior surface. The balance weight includes an ultraviolet light-curable or light-cured resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles G. Stuart
  • Patent number: 11028875
    Abstract: An assembly with a housing, a bearing, which is received in a bearing bore formed in the housing, and an annular compensation member. The housing and the compensation member are formed of materials having a larger coefficient of linear thermal expansion than a material from which the outer bearing race is formed. The compensation member is fixedly coupled to the housing and mounted about an outer bearing race of the bearing. The compensation member is configured to grow in a radial direction into contact with an inside circumferential surface of the outer bearing race when a temperature of the assembly increases from a first predetermined temperature to a second predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Chinitz, Brian McCormick
  • Patent number: 10995854
    Abstract: An actuator assembly that includes a frame, an output member, a latch and a spring. The output member is movable along an axis relative to the frame between a first position and a second position. The latch has a first latch member, which is movable along the axis, and a second latch member that is coupled to the output member. The second latch member is configured to engage the first latch member to retain the actuator output member in the first position. The spring exerts a force on the actuator output member when the second latch member engages the first latch member to retain the actuator output member in the first position. The force is configured to urge the actuator output member toward the second position when the second latch member is disengaged from the first latch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Schulte, Sylvain Angoujard, Martin Buerkle
  • Patent number: 10975945
    Abstract: An axle assembly with a carrier housing, an input pinion and a ring gear. The input pinion includes pinion gear teeth and is supported for rotation about a first axis relative to the carrier housing via first and second bearings that are disposed along the first axis on opposite sides of the pinion gear teeth. The ring gear includes ring gear teeth that are meshed to the pinion gear teeth and a third bearing supports the ring gear for rotation about the second axis relative to the carrier housing. The third bearing is disposed along the second axis on a side of the ring gear that is opposite the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Patent number: 10971975
    Abstract: A method for improving thermal conduction in a stator having electrically conductive windings wound in a plurality of gaps formed between adjacent pairs of a plurality of teeth of the stator. A plurality of interstitial spaces are formed within each of the gaps during winding of the electrically conductive windings around the teeth. A plug is arranged within each one of the gaps to close off slot openings. A thermally conductive filler compound is injected into each gap under sufficient pressure to at least substantially fill the interstitial spaces within each gap and to at least substantially encapsulate the electrically conductive windings. The thermally conductive filler compound is then allowed to set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey J. Ronning