Patents Assigned to American Axle & Manufaturing, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6334568
    Abstract: An aluminum driveshaft assembly is dynamically balanced by locating steel plates at desired locations on an exterior surface of an aluminum driveshaft, inserting tapered aluminum studs through tapered holes of the aluminum or steel plates, and inertia or friction welding the bases of the aluminum studs to the exterior surface of the driveshaft to retain the steel plates. Alternatively steel plates with round cylindrical holes are attached to the driveshaft by round cylindrical studs. The cylindrical studs are friction welded to the driveshaft after the aluminum or steel plates are located on the driveshaft and steel plates with cylindrical holes are then inserted onto the studs. Cylindrical studs may also be friction welded before the aluminum or steel plates are added. In this case aluminum or steel plates are then added and the stud is rolled over in a secondary operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufaturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold W. Seeds