Patents Assigned to GKN Driveline International GmbH
  • Patent number: 7810405
    Abstract: An angle drive with two shafts (12, 15) which are drivingly connected to one another and whose axes (A1, A2) intersect one another at an angle, wherein on each of the shafts (12, 15) there is firmly arranged at least one gearwheel (19, 20, 21) and wherein there is provided a hollow gear (17) with an axis of rotation (A3) and wherein the gearwheels (19, 20, 21) engage the hollow gear (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Weckerling, Hans-Peter Nett, Colin Zaers, Karl-Heinz Hülsebusch
  • Patent number: 7806797
    Abstract: An axial setting device includes two discs which are centered on a common axis. One is axially supported and the other one is axially displaceable, and at least one is rotatingly drivable. The two discs on their end faces, each have a plurality of circumferential ball grooves. The ball grooves each comprise a depth which decreases in the same direction, and each pair of opposed ball grooves accommodates a ball. At least the ball grooves of one of the two discs, starting from the region of the greatest groove depth, comprise a first groove portion with a greater pitch and an adjoining second groove portion with a smaller pitch, wherein the first groove portion extends over a smaller circular-arch-shaped portion than the second groove portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Theodor Gassmann, Mark Schmidt, Kurt Müller, Kai Sorge
  • Publication number: 20100216587
    Abstract: An arrangement for transmitting a torque from a transmission of a motor vehicle to a sideshaft is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a transmission having a transmission housing and a sideshaft assembly. The sideshaft assembly has at least one differential with a differential housing, a hollow shaft, a first sideshaft and a second sideshaft. The sideshaft assembly extends through the transmission housing and the differential being arranged outside the transmission housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: GKN DRIVELINE INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Joachim Horst, Wolfgang Hidebrandt, Gert Herrmann, Heiko Kossack
  • Patent number: 7758431
    Abstract: A cage having a plurality of cutouts for receiving rolling bodies of a joint, wherein the cage comprises a quenched and tempered steel, and the entire cage has a substantially uniform ductility over its cross section without surface hardening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Cremerius, Rainer Adolfs
  • Patent number: 7758432
    Abstract: An outer joint part (12) of a constant velocity universal joint (11) in the form of a joint bell (16) with an attached connecting journal (17) and a radial supporting face (18) at the joint bell (16). The outer joint part (12), by threading, can be tensioned relative to a wheel hub (25) slid on to the connecting journal and which is supported either directly or indirectly on the supporting face (18). An annular disc (22) which is made of a low-friction material and is positioned on the supporting face (18) so as to be concentric relative to the connecting journal (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Nestor Rekalde Arrieta, Joseba Romatet, Julian Arrillaga
  • Patent number: 7735210
    Abstract: A process of machining outer joint parts (11) and inner joint parts (21) of constant velocity universal ball joints, which outer joint parts (11) and inner joint parts (21) each comprise a longitudinal axis and a number of ball tracks (12), wherein the ball tracks are each arranged circumferentially in pairs (121, 122), whose central track lines are positioned in planes (E1, E2, E3, E4) extending parallel relative to one another, wherein the pairs of ball tracks (12) are machined by rotating disc tools (16) whose axes of rotation (R) perpendicularly intersect the respective longitudinal axis at a distance from one another and are held and guided coaxially relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International, GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Cremerius
  • Patent number: 7717794
    Abstract: A longitudinal plunging unit comprises a profiled sleeve with longitudinally extending first ball grooves, and a profiled journal with longitudinally extending second ball grooves. The profiled journal engages said profiled sleeve with balls arranged in groups in pairs of first ball groove and second ball grooves. A ball cage positioned between the profiled sleeve and the profiled journal fixes the balls in their axial position relative to one another. The ball cage is displaceable relative to the profiled journal between spaced axial stops. On the profiled journal, there is arranged a stop sleeve, which can abut the profiled journal or a component connected thereto. The stop sleeve delimits the displacement path of the ball cage towards the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Arne Berger, Olf Wolf, Stephan Maucher, Heiko Kossack, Robert Sandig
  • Patent number: 7713158
    Abstract: A transfer box with a housing, an input shaft, a first output shaft extending coaxially relative to said input shaft, and a second output shaft extending parallel to said two shafts, as well as with a differential gear assembly arranged between said shafts, wherein the input shaft carries a cross member with a plurality of radial bearing arms for the differential gears, wherein a first side gear is connected in a rotationally fast way to the first output shaft and wherein a second side gear is rotatably supported on the input shaft and drives the second output shaft, wherein the differential gears are spur gears and the side gears crown gears and wherein the teeth of the differential gears engage the teeth of the side gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Theodor Gassmann, Heinzwilli Fuchs
  • Patent number: 7699740
    Abstract: A friction coupling assembly includes: a ball ramp assembly (2) with two coaxial discs (6, 7), wherein the faces (8, 9) of the two discs (6, 7) each have ball grooves (12, 13) of increasing depth, wherein pairs of opposed ball grooves hold balls to axially support the two discs (6, 7); a plate package (3) arranged coaxially relative to the discs (6, 7) and having outer plates (24) for fixing to a coupling carrier (40) and inner plates (25) for fixing to a coupling hub (56); and a plate spring (5) for introducing force into the plate package (3), the plate spring (5) is arranged coaxially relative to the discs (6, 7), is axially pretensioned and, functionally, is arranged in series with the plate package (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Theodor Gassmann, Mark Schmidt, Andreas Pottharst, Kurt Müller
  • Patent number: 7699710
    Abstract: A sealing sleeve (11) of the rolling boot type having a first larger, substantially cylindrical collar (12), a second smaller, substantially cylindrical collar (13), as a well as a wall portion (14) which is positioned between the collars (12, 13) and which forms at least one axially open annular fold (15) with circumferentially distributed indentations (18) in the convex curvature of the axially open annular fold (15), or with radial ribs (21) in the concave inner curvature of the axially open annular fold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International, GMBH
    Inventor: Joachim Wette
  • Patent number: 7698960
    Abstract: An assembly for measuring force at a friction coupling, more particularly in the driveline of a motor vehicle. The assembly includes an outer plate carrier (6) at which outer plates (7) are held so as to be rotationally secured and in a way so as to be axially displaceable, wherein at least one of the outer plates (7) comprises an outer cam (12); an inner plate carrier (8) at which inner plates (9) are held in a rotationally fast way and in a way so as to be axially displaceable; wherein the outer plates (7) and the inner plates (9) are arranged so as to alternate in the axial direction, while jointly forming a plate package (10); a force measuring device arranged in such a way that, upon actuation of the friction coupling (3), it is loaded by the cam (12) in an operating direction extending at a distance from, and transversely to, the longitudinal axis (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Theodor Gassmann, Nikolaus Mayr, Mark Schmidt, Ralph Mertens, Kurt Müller
  • Patent number: 7686695
    Abstract: A constant velocity joint (11) in the form of a counter track joint wherein, when the joint is in the aligned condition, the ratio (V1) of the pitch circle diameter (PCDS) of the shaft toothing in the inner joint part (15) in the power of three relative to the product of the ball diameter (DK) squared and pitch circle diameter (PCDB) of the balls (17) assumes a value ranging between 0.9 and 1.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Maucher, Wolfgang Hildebrandt, Anna Gremmelmaier, Ida Hassenrik
  • Patent number: 7677374
    Abstract: A method of determining the coupling moment in a friction coupling with an electro-mechanical actuator which comprises a supporting element axially supported in a housing and a displaceable setting element axially supported on said supporting element, wherein the supporting element is axially supported in the housing via an undisplaceably enclosed hydraulic medium and that the pressure in the hydraulic medium is measured and used by lookup tables of values for the actuator and for the friction coupling for the purpose of calculating the coupling moment in a central ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Artur Grunwald, Theodor Gassmann
  • Patent number: 7658692
    Abstract: A double differential assembly having a first differential drive (3) with a differential carrier (5) drivable around an axis of rotation (A), a plurality of first differential gears (6) rotatably supported therein, as well as two output gears (7, 8) which are coaxially arranged relative to the axis of rotation (A) and engage the first differential gears (6). It also includes a second differential drive (4) with a cage element (22) which is firmly connected to one of the output gears (8) of the first differential drive (3) and is drivable thereby around the axis of rotation (A), a plurality of second differential gears (25) which are rotatably held in the cage element (22), and two sideshaft gears (26, 27) which are arranged coaxially relative to the axis of rotation (A) and engage the second differential gears (25). At least one of the two differential drives (3, 4) is a crown gear differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Engelmann, Mark Schmidt, Heinzwilli Fuchs
  • Patent number: 7648011
    Abstract: A drive assembly for the driveline of a motor vehicle with an axle which can be driven when required. The drive assembly includes a drive and a multi-plate coupling. The drive comprises a drive housing with a sleeve-shaped projection in which a drive input shaft is rotatably supported. The multi-plate coupling which is rotatably supported in a coupling housing connected to the drive housing comprises a coupling input part for introducing torque and a coupling output part connected to the drive input shaft in a rotationally fast way. The multi-plate coupling is arranged coaxially on the outside relative to the sleeve-shaped projection and partially axially covers the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Kwoka, Adrian Chludek, Bernd Bender
  • Patent number: 7644601
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing hollow shafts having end portions of greater wall thickness and at least one intermediate portion of reduced wall thickness, from a tube having constant wall thickness. The method includes providing a mandrel having diameters stepped over its length, with a first longitudinal section having a smallest diameter and at least one further longitudinal section having a further larger diameter. Reducing the external diameter of a first portion of the tube over the first longitudinal section of the mandrel to produce the first end portion. Reducing the external diameter of a middle portion of the tube over the at least one further longitudinal section of the mandrel to produce the at least one intermediate portion. Reducing the external diameter of a further portion of the tube over the first longitudinal section of the mandrel to produce the second end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International, GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Brochheuser, Andreas Gehrke
  • Patent number: 7641557
    Abstract: A flexible coupling capable of transmitting moments and comprising a first member having a longitudinal axis (30) connected by at least three joints (27) to a second member (41) having a longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the first member, the joints being circumferentially spaced apart about said axis, each joint comprising a first part (27) on one of the members and a second part (31) on the other member, the parts of each joint interfitting so that moments can be transmitted between said members by the joints and so that relative sliding and rotational movement can take place between the parts of teach joint, the joint parts on at least one of the members being flexibly arranged (41) so that the members may articulate relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International, GmbH
    Inventor: Stephen Charles Bartlett
  • Patent number: 7621816
    Abstract: A constant velocity universal ball joint 11 having first and second outer ball tracks 16, 18, and first and second inner ball tracks 17, 19, forming first pairs of tracks 16, 17 which widen in a first axial direction Ri1 (?), and forming second pairs of tracks 18, 19 which widen in a second axial direction Ri2 (?). Balls 20 are guided in the pairs of tracks and have centers Z positioned on a pitch circle radius PCR around a joint centre M. A ball cage 21 holds the balls 20 in a common central plane E on to the angle-bisecting plane when the joint is articulated. There is provided an axial clearance permitting a relative axial displacement S wherein, when in the aligned condition, the ratio between the axial clearance S and the pitch circle radius PCR ranges between 0.01 and 0.09 (0.01<S/PCR<0.09).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Weckerling, Orkan Eryilmaz
  • Patent number: 7614818
    Abstract: An assembly having a shaft (11) with external splining (23) of a limited length at a shaft end (27), and a hub (41) with a corresponding internal splining (43) that extends essentially the length of the hub. A first axial securing mechanism functions between the shaft and hub, prevents the hub from sliding further onto the shaft, and includes a stop surface (44, 46) on the hub and a counterpart surface (28, 59) on the shaft. A second axial securing mechanism functions between the shaft and hub, prevents the hub from being pulled off from the shaft, and includes a securing ring (51) that is situated at the end of the shaft and the end of the hub oriented toward the shaft end and that engages in radial recesses (48, 54) in the shaft and hub. The recesses form contact surfaces for the securing ring on the shaft and hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Inaki Gutiérrez, Marta Díez, Enrique Mandado, Grégory Lucas
  • Patent number: 7607985
    Abstract: A constant velocity fixed joint having an outer and inner joint part forming pairs of ball tracks, wherein the track base lines of the pairs of tracks each form an opening angle relative to one another. The track base lines of the outer ball tracks, at the attaching part end, form a radius whose center is positioned beyond a first longitudinal axis and is offset by a first offset from the central plane of the outer joint part towards the attaching part. The track base lines of the inner ball tracks, at the aperture end, comprise a radius whose center is positioned beyond the second longitudinal axis and is offset by a second offset from the central plane of the inner joint part towards the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Krude, Peter Harz