Patents Assigned to GKN Automotive Limited
  • Patent number: 11965565
    Abstract: A system for controlling a clutch is provided with: a thrust member movable between a first position for disconnecting the clutch and a second position for connecting the clutch; a solenoid generating a magnetic flux in response to input of electric power; a movable element drivingly coupled with the thrust member and set into motion by the magnetic flux to drive the thrust member between the first position and the second position; an electric circuit configured to add alternating-current power to the electric power and apply the electric power with the alternating-current power to the solenoid; and a controller configured to detect a phase difference of an electric current relative to an electric voltage in the alternating-current power added to the electric power and compare the detected phase difference with a reference value to determine whether the thrust member is at the first position or at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventor: Yuu Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 11938811
    Abstract: A vehicle power transfer unit assembly includes an input shaft, a shift collar, an outer cam ring, and an inner cam ring. The shift collar is engaged with the input shaft and operable between a first position and a second position. The outer cam ring is disposed around a portion of the shift collar. The outer cam ring includes an inner surface defining a plurality of levels. The inner cam ring is engaged with the shift collar and disposed radially inward from the outer cam ring. The inner cam ring includes a jaw engageable with the plurality of levels. The shift collar is moved from the first position to the second position when the jaw is moved from engagement with one of the plurality of levels to engagement with another of the plurality of levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Lei Yang, Brent Peura
  • Patent number: 11940015
    Abstract: A system for using a motor to control a power transmission device for driving a vehicle is provided with a clutch member movable bidirectionally in an axial direction; a base member prevented from rotating about an axis; a counter member axially away from and opposed to the base member, the counter member being restrained from moving in both a circumferential direction and the axial direction; an action member interposed between the base member and the counter member, movable in the axial direction, drivingly coupled with the clutch member, and coupled with the motor to create a rotational motion about the axis; and a cam slope tilting in the circumferential direction and ascending from the base member toward the counter member to convert the rotational motion into a motion of the action member in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Masato Horiguchi, Manabu Endou
  • Patent number: 11920666
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes a clutch, an actuator and a stop member. The clutch is received within a first housing and has a first clutch member coupled to the second housing and a second clutch member coupled to the first housing, the second clutch member is movable and selectively engageable with the first clutch member. The actuator has a coil and a plunger driven for movement by a magnetic field generated by the coil so that the plunger moves axially to move the second clutch member relative to the first clutch member. The stop member has a retracted position spaced from the plunger and an advanced position within a path of movement of the plunger to limit movement of the plunger when the stop member is in the advanced position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin DeLand, Varadarajan Balaraman, Brent M. Peura
  • Patent number: 11885399
    Abstract: A power transmission device is provided with: a rotary body arranged to receive the torque to rotate about an axis; a clutch including a clutch member engaging with the rotary body and axially movable and clutch teeth connectable with the clutch member to transmit the torque; a solenoid configured to generate a magnetic flux in response to input of electric power; a stator coupled with the solenoid as to conduct the magnetic flux and prevented from rotation about the axis; a rotor arranged to receive the magnetic flux from the stator and, when driven by the received magnetic flux, to create a rotational motion about the axis; and a conversion mechanism drivingly connected with the rotor to convert the rotational motion into a linear motion in a direction along the axis, the conversion mechanism including a thrust member transmitting the linear motion to the clutch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Yuu Yaguchi, Toshiaki Komatsu, Masato Horiguchi, Toshiyuki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11879533
    Abstract: A differential device is provided with: a casing rotatable about an axis; a differential gear set including a pair of side gears housed in the casing and rotatable about the axis, a pinion shaft penetrating perpendicular to the axis and being secured to the casing; and pinion gears rotatably supported by the pinion shaft and so meshed with the side gears as to enable differential motion between the side gears; friction clutches interposed between the side gears and an inner periphery of the casing to limit the differential motion; a pair of repulsive bodies respectively applying force in directions along the axis to the friction clutches; and a block in contact with and supporting in the directions along the axis both the repulsive bodies, the block so fitting on the pinion shaft as to impose reaction forces from the friction clutches on the pinion shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Manabu Endou, Masato Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 11835122
    Abstract: A final drive differentially for distributing torque input into a shaft via a differential device to a pair of axles is provided with a ring gear coupled via gearing to the shaft to transmit the torque to the differential device. A housing unitarily includes a main portion supporting the shaft and enclosing the differential device, and a wall portion including a first opening through which one of the axles passes and supporting a first end of the differential device. A cover included a second opening through which the other of the axles passes, and is combined with the housing to support a second end of the differential device, wherein the wall portion, the ring gear, and the shaft are arranged, from the wall portion toward the cover, in an order of the wall portion, the ring gear, and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Shungo Numabe, Hiromichi Fukuda, Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 11815171
    Abstract: A differential device is provided with: an input case having an axially directed end face; a differential gear set with side gears allowing a differential motion therebetween; dog teeth toothed toward the end face on an output case; a clutch structure engageable with the dog teeth and so structured as to couple the output case or the second side gear with the input case when engaged; an axially movable clutch member including an internal end and an external end exposed to the exterior; an axially movable armature including a magnetic material and in contact with the external end; a solenoid supported away from the end face, the solenoid generating a magnetic flux to attract the armature and, via the clutch member, set the clutch structure in mesh with the dog teeth; and a spring biasing the clutch member in a contrary direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Masashi Aikawa, Ken Tsuchino, Masahiko Asahi
  • Patent number: 11796044
    Abstract: A gear device drivingly coupling a drive shaft with first and second axles is provided with a case coupled via gearing with the drive shaft, and rotatable about an axis; a hub that is couplable with the first axle; a clutch member retained by the case and disengageably engaged with the hub; a biasing element retaining the clutch member at a position where the clutch member engages with the hub; and a differential gear set coupling the case via gearing with the first and second axles and locked by the clutch member to prevent differential motion between the first axle and the second axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Noboru Higano, Manabu Endou, Kazuhiro Ohashi, Shungo Numabe
  • Patent number: 11796043
    Abstract: A differential device includes a differential case, a first output gear and a second output gear, and an interrupting mechanism. The differential case is rotatable. A drive force can be input to the differential case. The first output gear and the second output gear are accommodated in the differential case. The first output gear and a second output are rotatable with respect to the differential case and output the drive force received from the differential case. The interrupting mechanism is disposed on a side of the first output gear and connects and disconnects power transmission between the differential case and the first output gear. The first output gear is coupled to an output shaft through an intermediate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Kazutaka Kawata
  • Patent number: 11796014
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a clutch member includes a main body having a central axis, a radially inner surface, a radially outer surface, a rear face and a front face, multiple teeth formed in the front face with adjacent teeth circumferentially spaced apart, and a rim extending axially from the main body and located radially outwardly of the teeth. The rim extends axially farther from the rear face than do the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventor: Toshiaki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11773919
    Abstract: A disconnectable coupling device rotatable about an axis is provided with a first shaft having an end and a hub formed on the end, the hub including a flange extending radially from the end and a round wall projecting axially from the flange and defining a hollow; a second shaft aligned with the first shaft and opposed to the end of the first shaft, the second shaft having a drum overhanging the hub; a multi-plate clutch held between the hub and the drum to disconnectably connect the hub with the drum; a cup so fixed with the hub as to define a gutter around the first shaft; and one or more perforations axially passing through the flange to establish fluid communication between the gutter and the hollow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Lei Yang, Christopher M. Zagacki
  • Patent number: 11746898
    Abstract: An actuator arrangement for operating a clutch and a parking lock in a driveline of a motor vehicle comprises: a clutch having a clutch actuating member configured to drivingly connect or disconnect a clutch input part and a clutch output part; a parking lock having a locking element movable to a locking position to lock a ratchet wheel, and to a release position to release the ratchet wheel; and a parking lock actuating member for actuating the locking element; a controllable actuator with a movable actuator setting member which is movable into at least three setting positions and is operatively connected to the clutch actuating member and to the parking lock actuating member such that in a first setting position the parking lock is closed, in a second setting position the clutch is closed, and in a third setting position the clutch and the parking lock are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Mark Schmidt, Simon Broicher
  • Patent number: 11731506
    Abstract: A driving system includes an electric motor, a transmission apparatus, a differential apparatus and a brake. The differential apparatus includes an input portion coupled to an output portion of the transmission apparatus, a pair of output portions, and a differential device that allows differential rotation of the pair of output portions. A brake is provided in a drive path from an output portion of the electric motor to the input portion of the differential apparatus. The differential apparatus includes a clutch member movable between a first position in which a differential rotation of the differential device is allowed and a second position in which the differential rotation of the differential device is stopped, a clutch actuator that moves the clutch member to the first position, and a holding portion that holds the clutch member to the second position when the clutch actuator is in a non-operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Kazutaka Kawata
  • Patent number: 11701966
    Abstract: A driveline component includes a first plate and a second plate. A motor is engaged with the first plate. The first plate and the second plate include ramped grooves that ramp toward the other of the first plate and the second plate. Balls are disposed between the first plate and the second plate and are engaged with the ramped grooves. A shifter is engaged with the second plate. Relative rotation of the first plate and the second plate causes the balls in the ramped grooves to move the first plate and the second plate axially relative to each other. This relative rotation may be used to make one type of mode selection, and operation of the shifter by the second plate may be used to make another type of mode selection. This allows the single motor to make both selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Brent M. Peura, Matthew R. Schmalenberg
  • Patent number: 11701960
    Abstract: An actuator assembly for actuating two switching units in the driveline of a motor vehicle comprises a housing; an actuator drive; a switching rod arranged in the housing and axially movable by the actuator drive in three positions; a first switching element and a second switching element axially movably arranged on the switching rod; a spring element which biases the first switching element against a first shaft stop and the second switching element against a second shaft stop; a first housing stop against which the first switching element can be axially supported; and a second housing stop against which the second switching element can be axially supported. A transmission assembly can include such an actuator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Theodor Gassmann, Maximilian Werkhausen, Jan Haupt
  • Patent number: 11703123
    Abstract: A driveline component includes a housing, a first rotating component and a second rotating component, an actuator and a biasing component. The actuator has a body coupled to the first rotating component, the actuator drives the body relative to the second rotating component, and the body is movable between a first position in which the body is not coupled with the second rotating component and a second position in which the body is coupled with the second rotating component. The biasing component has a retainer and a spring, the retainer is in contact with a stop surface that limits movement of the retainer, the spring is fixed to the retainer on one side of the spring and the spring is contacted by the body during at least a portion of the movement of the body to provide a biasing force on the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventor: Toshiaki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11691506
    Abstract: A vehicle power transfer unit assembly comprises an input shaft, an intermediate shaft at least partially surrounding the input shaft, a central shaft adjacent the input shaft, a peripheral shaft at least partially surrounding the central shaft, a first shift collar, and a second shift collar. The first shift collar is operable between a first position where torque is transferred from the input shaft to the intermediate shaft and a second position where torque is not transferred from the input shaft to the intermediate shaft. The second shift collar is operable between a third position where torque is transferred from the input shaft to the peripheral shaft and a fourth position where torque is transferred from the input shaft to the central shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Lei Yang, Brent Peura, Kazunobu Takeshita
  • Patent number: 11674577
    Abstract: Differential arrangement, e.g., for a drive axle of a motor vehicle. The differential arrangement comprises a drive wheel; a differential gear having an input part; a shift clutch operatively arranged between the drive wheel and the differential gear, wherein in the closed state of the shift clutch torque is transmitted from the drive wheel to the differential gear and in the open state of the shift clutch a torque transmission is interrupted. A first clutch part of the shift clutch is fixedly connected to the input part or to a differential housing of the differential gear, and a second clutch part of the shift clutch is fixedly connected to the respective other one of the input part and the differential housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Matthias Zingerle, Nikolaus Mayr, Sigmund Senoner, Hanspeter Putzer
  • Patent number: 11654769
    Abstract: A driveline unit housing includes a body defining an interior, a central portion, and a plurality of openings each adapted to receive a shaft. A mounting body has a mounting surface defining one of the openings, the mounting surface includes a plurality of mounting holes and has a peripheral length greater than that of the central portion. Support walls extend between the central portion and mounting body, and extend axially relative to an axis of rotation of a shaft received through the opening defined by the mounting surface, and at least a majority of the support walls extend radially and a plane through and parallel to each such support wall intersects an axis of the mounting holes and the axis of rotation. Spaces defined between the support walls span a majority of a circumference of an imaginary circle that intersects each support wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventor: John Eckart