Abstract: A drive system for powering the wheels of an electric vehicle is disclosed. The drive system includes an electric motor having a stator and a rotor, and one or more planetary gear sets operably connected to the electric motor and the wheels. The drive system includes one or more configurations that reduce packaging space, reduce the weight of the drive system, and/or provide cooling functions.

Abstract: A variable camshaft timing assembly that comprises a hub including at least one vane extending radially-outwardly away from a center axis; an elongated camshaft sleeve, configured to be received at least partially by an inner cavity of a camshaft, having a substantially annular outer surface including a distal bearing section, an end bearing section, and a hub section: the distal bearing section configured to be positioned radially-inwardly from and concentric with a distal bearing of the camshaft and to provide support to the distal bearing; the end bearing section, axially spaced from the distal bearing section, configured to be positioned radially-inwardly from and concentric with an end bearing of the camshaft and to provide support to the end bearing; and the hub section, configured to engage the hub, located axially between the distal bearing section and the end bearing section.

Abstract: A device that employs shear forces to transmit energy includes an outer housing assembly, a disk, and a reservoir with a working fluid. The disk is received in and rotatable relative to the outer housing assembly. A working cavity is formed between a rotor portion of the disk and the outer housing assembly into which the working fluid is received to create shear forces. A plurality of flow altering structures are disposed on the outer housing assembly and are configured to reduce a thickness of a boundary layer of the working fluid in the working cavity in areas that are local to the flow altering structures.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a vehicle system which may include a primary clutch operably coupled with a primary inertia, and a torsional spring operably coupled with the primary inertia and also operably coupled to a transmission input shaft. The transmission input shaft may be operably coupled to a secondary clutch which may be constructed and arranged to engage a secondary inertia. The secondary inertia may be used to deliver a dual mass fly wheel effect and the secondary clutch may be constructed and arranged to be opened during shifting events.

Abstract: An exhaust gas control valve for regulating a flow of exhaust gas includes a housing having an interior wall defining a housing interior, a yoke disposed in the housing interior and having a length and an axis extending along the length, with the yoke being moveable between a first and second yoke position. The exhaust gas control valve further includes a valve member including a valve shaft and a valve body. The valve member is moveable between a first valve position and a second valve position. The exhaust gas control valve also includes a retainer coupled to the yoke, and a biasing member disposed in the housing interior and coupled to the yoke and the retainer to bias the yoke and the retainer in opposite directions, with the biasing member being configured to prevent free play of the yoke and the valve member with respect to said housing.

Abstract: Described is an ignition coil comprising a housing, in which a transformer is arranged, and a plug connector, wherein the plug connector has a high voltage contact, which is connected to the secondary side of the transformer by means of a wire, which resiliently presses against an electrical contact surface. The contact surface is concavely shaped.

Abstract: A variable turbine geometry assembly is provided for controlling flow of exhaust gas to a turbine wheel of a turbocharger. The variable turbine geometry assembly includes a base structure, vanes, vane levers, and an adjustment ring. The vanes are distributed circumferentially around the base structure and are pivotable relative to the base structure to vary an effective inlet area. The vane levers are for pivoting the vanes. The vane levers each include an inner portion coupled to one of the vanes and an outer portion extending from the inner portion. The adjustment ring is selectively rotatable about a central axis to pivot the vanes. The adjustment ring includes apertures that are each associated with and have received therein the outer portion of one of the vane levers. The outer portion of each of the vane levers includes an outer surface that is non-parallel with the central axis.

Abstract: A tensioner for tensioning a chain span which uses two pistons. The movement of the two pistons may be coupled together. The first piston provides damping to the chain span and a second piston provides variable, dominant and automatically adjusting spring force to the chain span. The tensioner automatically adjusts the mean tension force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency at new chain conditions and conditions with dynamic loads.

Abstract: A transfer case includes a housing, along with an input shaft, a primary output shaft, a secondary output shaft, and a secondary torque transfer mechanism, each disposed at least partially within the housing. The input shaft is configured to couple to the primary output shaft to transfer torque thereto. The secondary torque transfer mechanism includes a rotating member coupled to the secondary output shaft and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a locking ring, a fork member engaging the locking ring, and a slide shaft coupled to the fork member and configured to slide the locking ring to positively couple the primary output shaft to the rotating member to transfer torque to the secondary output shaft. The housing includes an aperture axially configured to receive an elongated tool configured to be rotated manually external to the housing for engaging and moving the slide shaft to the second position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for managing gases suitable for being installed at the outlet of a particle filter or a catalytic converter. This device is characterized by a very compact configuration combining at least the heat exchanger for an EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system, particularly suitable for a low-pressure system, and an exhaust gas outlet pipe with a special configuration that is part of the exhaust line. The exhaust outlet incorporates a valve that allows using the heat exchanger of the EGR system as a heat recovery unit.

Abstract: A connector plug is described for connecting an ignition coil to a spark plug, comprising an electrical conductor, which has a first end for contacting the ignition coil and a second end for contacting the spark plug, and a protective tube, which surrounds the electrical conductor. In accordance with this disclosure it is proposed that the protective tube has a predetermined bending point with a reduced bending stiffness.

Abstract: A turbocharger wheel (4) and shaft (1) assembly exhibits a frustoconical geometry of welding zone contact surfaces extending to the outer circumference of the shaft (1). This frustoconical geometry not only allows continuous centering of the parts (1, 4) during joining, it also eliminates the problem of stress propagation along a plane. The location of the electron beam is shifted so that only the radially outer segment of the frustoconical contact surface is joined by welding, leaving a radially inner unmelted and unfused zone for maintaining firm contact of the oblique surfaces.

Abstract: The invention refers to a fan system (10) comprising a fan shroud (14) and a ring fan (12) having a hub (30), a plurality of fan blades (32), and a ring structure (34). The ring structure (34) has a ring member (46) and a flange member (48), the ring member (46) having a hollow cylindrical shape, the flange member (48) extending radially outwardly from the ring member (46). The fan shroud (14) has an annular shroud flange (54), a shroud body (56) and a plurality of shroud guide vanes (58), the shroud flange (54) extending radially outwardly from the shroud body (56) and being disposed along the rotary axis (A) between the flange member (48) and the shroud body (56), the shroud body (56) being disposed about the ring member (46) and having a first body portion (70), a second body portion (72) and a divergent nozzle (74).

Abstract: In a lubrication and cooling system for an electric machine operably driven by a turbine, a rotatable shaft may extend through an electric machine housing and a first and second bearing may be operably spaced apart from each other and coupled to the rotatable shaft. Furthermore, an electromagnetic rotor may be coupled to the rotatable shaft and disposed between the first and second bearings. A stator may be fixedly attached within the electric machine housing such that the electromagnetic rotor freely rotates along with the rotatable shaft. Additionally, a fluid passage defined in the electric machine housing delivers a portion of fluid to lubricate the first and second bearings and the remaining portion of fluid to circumferentially flow around the stator such that the fluid is in thermal communication with an outside surface of the stator to help maintain a desired operating temperature of the electric machine.

Abstract: A turbocharger includes a turbine wheel, a compressor wheel, a shaft coupled to the turbine wheel and the compressor wheel, and a thrust bearing. The thrust bearing includes a loaded side and an unloaded side. The loaded side bears a majority of axial loading caused by force imbalances between the turbine wheel and the compressor wheel during engine startup. The thrust bearing restricts oil flow to the unloaded side as compared to the loaded side during engine startup.

Abstract: A variable turbine geometry (VTG) turbocharger is disclosed. The VTG turbocharger may comprise a turbine section having a turbine wheel and plurality of guide vanes configured to regulate a flow of exhaust gases to the turbine wheel. The VTG turbocharger may further comprise an actuation pivot shaft (APS) configured to mediate actuation of opening and closing of the guide vanes, a bushing rotatably supporting the APS with a clearance therebetween, and a radial seal circumscribing the APS and inserted in a cavity of the bushing. The radial seal may form an interference fit with both an outer diameter of the APS and an inner diameter of the bushing to seal a leakage of the exhaust gases between the clearance between the APS and the bushing.

Abstract: A turbocharger includes a turbine housing. The turbine housing includes an interior surface defining a turbine housing interior. The interior surface extends between a turbine housing inlet and a turbine housing outlet. The turbine housing also includes a wastegate duct disposed between the turbine housing inlet and the turbine housing outlet and defining a wastegate channel in fluid communication with the turbine housing inlet and the turbine housing outlet. The turbocharger also includes a valve seat and wastegate assembly including a valve movable between a first position and a second position. The turbocharger further includes a diffuser at least partially surrounding the valve seat for uniformly diffusing the flow of exhaust gas into the turbine housing outlet.

Abstract: A transfer case for a vehicle is provided having a normal two wheel drive mode and a selective four wheel drive mode. The transfer case has a common motor for range shifting and clutch actuation and further has an anti-neutral drive biasing device preventing the range shifting assembly from dropping out of high or low gear to a neutral mode inadvertently.

Abstract: A transfer case for a normally rear wheel drive vehicle with selective four wheel drive capabilities is provided. The transfer case has an intermediate gear driven lubrication pump, wherein the machining required for the lubrication pump is almost exclusively conducted from an interior side of the rear shell. The transfer case of the present invention also eliminates the requirement for a cover plate for the pump and an external lubrication tube. The transfer case of the current invention has an internal lubrication pump outlet which has a portion extending in a reinforcing mound of the rear shell thereby providing greater stiffness to a portion of the rear shell supporting the main input shaft rear bearings.

Abstract: A synchronizer is provided for torsionally connecting a gear to an axially aligned shaft. The synchronizer includes a hub connected with the shaft, a sleeve having an inner diameter with spline teeth for torsional connection with the hub being axially movable upon the hub, a blocking ring torsionally connected on the hub having an angular lost motion relationship with the sleeve, the blocking ring having at least a first annular conical friction surface orientated radially inward and axially toward the hub and a second annular conical friction surface oriented radially inward and axially outward from the hub, the blocking ring having blocking cogs preventing axial movement of the sleeve toward the gear when the gear is in a non-synchronous condition, and an engagement ring for fixed connection with the gear, the engagement ring having a complementary annular conical friction surfaces.