Patents Assigned to American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10744556
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an article that includes: providing a first workpiece component formed of a first steel material; joining a second workpiece component to the first workpiece component to form a workpiece, the second workpiece component being formed of a second steel material that is different from the first steel material; and forming a plurality of teeth on the workpiece, the teeth being wholly formed of the first steel material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Moshe Rothstein, Cory J. Padfield
  • Patent number: 10732155
    Abstract: A drive module with a hydraulic circuit that includes a reversible motor, a reversible pump driven by the reversible motor, a hydraulic reservoir, a first conduit coupling a first inlet/outlet of the reversible pump to the hydraulic reservoir, a second conduit coupling a second inlet/outlet of the reversible pump to the hydraulic reservoir, first and second hydraulic cylinders, and first and second one-way valves. The first hydraulic cylinder has a third inlet/outlet that is coupled to the first conduit between the reversible pump and the hydraulic reservoir. The second hydraulic cylinder has a fourth inlet/outlet that is coupled to the second conduit between the reversible pump and the hydraulic reservoir. The first one-way valve is disposed in the first hydraulic conduit between the first hydraulic cylinder and the reservoir. The second one-way valve is disposed in the second hydraulic conduit between the second hydraulic cylinder and the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Valente, James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 10710454
    Abstract: A disconnecting axle assembly with a planetary differential assembly and a coupling that selectively couples a planet carrier of the planetary differential assembly to an axle shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Valente, James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 10704663
    Abstract: A drive module having a housing, an input pinion, a ring gear driven by the input pinion, a ring gear bearing supporting the ring gear for rotation relative to the housing, a pair of output shafts and a clutch that selectively transmits rotary power between the ring gear and the output shafts. The clutch includes a clutch input, which is rotatably coupled to the ring gear, a clutch plate separator that is rotatably coupled to the clutch input, a pair of clutch outputs, which are each coupled to a respective one of the output shafts, a pair of clutch packs, which transmit rotary power between the clutch input and a respective one of the clutch outputs, and a pair of apply pistons. The apply pistons are housed in the clutch plate separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Patent number: 10704661
    Abstract: An actuator device having a motor driven cam, a follower coupled to an output member and driven by the cam, and a controller for controlling operation of the motor. The cam has a first cam surface, a second cam surface and a lift portion between the first and second cam surfaces. The controller is configured to identify a predetermined point on the lift portion as the follower is moved relative to the cam along the lift portion toward the second cam surface. The controller identifies the predetermined point based on a rate of change in the position of the output member along an output member axis as a function of the rotational position of the cam about a cam axis. The controller controls operation of the motor based on the predetermined point to position the follower on the second cam surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Curt D. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 10704643
    Abstract: A damped propshaft assembly with a hollow shaft and a tuned damper, which is received in the hollow shaft and includes a liner and a damping member. The liner's mass and stiffness are tuned to attenuate one or more of a bending mode vibration and a torsion mode vibration that occurs at a first predetermined frequency. The liner is not configured to substantially damp shell mode vibration that occurs at a frequency that is not equal to the first predetermined frequency. The damping member is coupled to the liner and is configured to primarily attenuate shell mode vibration in the hollow shaft at one or more desired frequencies. The tuned damper attenuates the at least one of the bending moment vibration and the torsion mode vibration at the first predetermined frequency and also attenuates shell mode vibration. A method for forming a damped propshaft assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ley, Zhaohui Sun, William Braun, Jeffrey P. Nyquist, Michael A. Voight
  • Patent number: 10683927
    Abstract: A planetary transmission having a planet carrier with a carrier body and a plurality of carrier pins. The carrier body includes a pair of carrier plates, each of which having pin bosses that extend outwardly from a remaining portion of the carrier plate. The pin bosses on at least one of the carrier plates define an exterior surface with at least one step so that portions of the exterior surface of the pin bosses are spaced apart in an axial direction. The carrier pins have an axial ends with recesses formed therein such that each axial end of each carrier pin terminates in a thin wall section. The carrier pins are received through the carrier plates and the thin wall sections are deformed against the exterior surfaces of the pin bosses to retain the carrier pins to the carrier body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Valente
  • Patent number: 10675984
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a drive system for a vehicle. The drive system may have an electronic drive unit (EDU) subsystem including at least one synchronous motor and at least one asynchronous motor, controllable independently from one another. An electronic controller may be used which is responsive to a torque request input signal and configured to control the EDU subsystem. A memory may be included which is operably associated with the electronic controller and configured to store at least one blending map containing information on percentage outputs from the synchronous and asynchronous motors for the electronic controller to select in response to different torque request input signals, the percentage outputs being selected to optimize a characteristic of the EDU subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Ronning, John Morgante
  • Patent number: 10670129
    Abstract: A clutched component having a locking mechanism that employs a plurality of radially movable locking elements to selectively rotationally couple first and second coupling parts to one another. A sleeve is employed to control radial movement of the locking elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 10668809
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle having an all-wheel drive driveline with a disconnecting drive unit. The method conditions changing the operational state of the all-wheel drive driveline from a connected state to a disconnected state based in part on an operational state of a vehicle torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Pillen, Tony Pistagnesi, Jeffrey L. Kincaid
  • Patent number: 10670128
    Abstract: An AWD system can include a differential, a PTU, and a friction clutch. A differential input can receive torque from the powertrain and rotate about a first axis. First and second differential outputs can rotate about the first axis. A third output can be drivingly coupled to the differential input and rotatable about a second axis transverse to the first axis. The clutch can include first friction members, second friction members, and an actuator. The first friction members can be coupled to the differential input for common rotation. The second friction members can be coupled to the second differential output for common rotation. The actuator can selectively engage the first friction members with the second friction members. The secondary driveline can include a second input member coupled to the third output to receive rotary power therefrom. The second driveline can distribute rotary power for driving the second set of wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Valente
  • Patent number: 10673290
    Abstract: A brushless DC electric motor having a rotor with a single bearing, a multi-pole oriented magnet, an output coupling and a rotor shell. The rotor shell is formed of an electrically insulating material and can be overmolded onto the magnet, the bearing and the output coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Curt D. Gilmore, Daryl Beesley
  • Patent number: 10663033
    Abstract: A balance weight having one or more journals with a reduced mass portion disposed between a pair of journal portions that define circumferentially extending bearing surfaces. The reduced mass portion has a body, which defines a circumferentially extending bearing surface that is concentric with the bearing surfaces on the journal portions, and at least one stiffening structure that is configured to resist flexing of the journal portions relative to one another due to the transmission of bending loads through the balance shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Clark, John C. Geis, Carl E. Holmblad, Craig Lawrence McEachran
  • Patent number: 10663052
    Abstract: A vehicle driveline component having a differential input, which is rotatable about a differential axis, a differential gearset that is driven by the differential input, first and second differential outputs, which are rotatable about the differential axis, a first disconnect clutch and a second disconnect clutch. The differential gearset has a first gearset output and a second gearset output that are rotatable about the differential axis. The first disconnect clutch selectively couples the first differential output to the first gearset output, while the second disconnect clutch selectively couples the second differential output to the second gearset output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph S. Balenda, II
  • Publication number: 20200141454
    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: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Robert S. KLEINHARDT, John C. HIBBLER, Charles G. STUART
  • Patent number: 10618102
    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: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Moshe Rothstein, Cory J. Padfield, Toby V. Padfield
  • Patent number: 10612637
    Abstract: A driveline component with a differential having a differential gearset mounted in a differential case. The differential gearset has first and second side gears and one or more pinion gears that are meshed with the first and second side gears. The differential gearset is configured to limit inboard thrusting of the first and second side gears so that backlash will be always be present between the pinion gears and each of first and second side gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Chemelli, Jeffrey L. Kincaid, Stephen C. Doud, Derek C. Remillong, Joseph S. Balenda, II, Ramanand R. Shetty
  • Patent number: 10608498
    Abstract: An actuator having a switched reluctance motor and a plunger assembly. The switched reluctance motor has a stator and a rotor. The stator has a plurality of stator poles and a plurality of stator windings. Each of the stator windings is wound about a corresponding one of the stator poles. The rotor is rotatable about an axis and has a plurality of rotor poles. The plunger assembly has a plunger and at least one spring. The plunger is co-axially received in the rotor and movable in an axial direction along the axis. The at least one spring is disposed in a force transmission path that includes the plunger and is configured to permit movement of the plunger along the axis in opposite axial directions. The plunger assembly is being driven by the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Curt D. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 10571008
    Abstract: A vehicle driveline component having a limited slip differential with a differential gearset and a pair of clutch packs received in a differential case. The differential gearset employs side gears that are meshed with first differential pinions, which are mounted about a first pin axis, and second differential pinions, which are mounted about a second pin axis that is not perpendicular to the first pin axis. The teeth of the first differential pinions are formed with drive side having a first pressure angle. The teeth of the second differential pinions are formed with a coast side having a second pressure angle that is different from the first pressure angle. The teeth of the side gears are asymmetric and have a first side, which is formed with the first pressure angle, and a second side that is formed with the second pressure angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Paul J. Valente, Douglas J. Chemelli, James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 10570969
    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: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Robert S. Kleinhardt, John C. Hibbler, Charles G. Stuart