Patents Assigned to GKN Viscodrive GmbH
  • Patent number: 6080076
    Abstract: A differential drive has a differential carrier rotatably drivably supported around an axis in a drive housing. Two axle shaft gears are arranged in coaxial bores while being supported around the axis so as to be rotatable relative to the differential carrier. A plurality of differential gears are rotatably supported in axis-parallel cylindrical pockets in the differential carrier and rotate with the differential carrier. A first group of differential gears engage one of the axle shaft gears and a second group of differential gears engage the other one of the axle shaft gears. The axle shaft gears and the differential gears are designed as helical gears. The differential gears, on their tooth heads, rotate in the pockets, and the differential carrier has a central portion with the bores for the axle shaft gears and the pockets for the differential gears. Two cover parts axially close the bores and the pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Kwoka, Adrian Chludek
  • Patent number: 6068099
    Abstract: A coupling device with two parts which are coaxially rotatable relative to one another, comprising a friction coupling whose friction plates are alternately connected to each of the rotatable parts. Further the coupling device comprises an actuating device for the friction coupling, which comprises an annular chamber formed in one of the rotatable parts and containing a highly viscous fluid. A rotational chamber is arranged in the annular chamber and is drivingly connected to the other one of the rotatable parts. The actuating device, when the rotatable parts rotate relative to one another, causes an increase in pressure for the purpose of loading the friction coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventor: Adrian Chludek
  • Patent number: 6056097
    Abstract: The invention relates to a viscous coupling such as it used in the driveline of a motor vehicle, wherein, due to a relative rotational movement between the inner plates 80 and the outer plates 90, the viscous medium is made to flow towards the axis of rotation X--X of the viscous coupling. To achieve this objective, the plates 80, 90 are provided with closed apertures 81, 91, whose delimiting faces 82, 83, 92, 93 are inclined relative to an imaginary radius R, so that, in the case of a rotational movement, the delimiting faces press the viscous medium inwardly, independently of the direction of rotation. This counter-acts a separation of viscous medium and air often caused by centrifugal forces at high speeds. As a result, the plates 80, 90 are moistened uniformly, which, in turn, reduces the amount of wear and increases the service life of the viscous coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: GKN ViscoDrive GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Hofer, Rudolf Morawetz
  • Patent number: 5979624
    Abstract: A coupling device with two parts which are coaxially rotatable relative to one another, comprising a friction coupling whose friction plates are alternately connected to each of the rotatable parts. Further the coupling device comprises an actuating device for the friction coupling, which comprises an annular chamber formed in one of the rotatable parts and containing a highly viscous fluid. A rotational chamber is arranged in the annular chamber and is drivingly connected to the other one of the rotatable parts. The actuating device, when the rotatable parts rotate relative to one another, causes an increase in pressure for the purpose of loading the friction coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventor: Adrian Chludek
  • Patent number: 5976051
    Abstract: A differential drive having a drivable differential carrier rotatably supported in a drive housing, said differential carrier comprising a carrier portion and two cover parts. Two axle shaft gears are coaxially rotatably supported in the differential carrier. Further, two sets of differential gears are slidingly received on their tooth heads, in axis-parallel cylindrical bores in the carrier portion. The axis-parallel cylindrical bores are in the form of through-bores in the carrier portion. The differential gears comprise spacing journals with ends having friction bearing portions. Corresponding friction bearing sections are formed in the differential carrier, axially adjoining the carrier portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Madsack, Adrian Chludek
  • Patent number: 5967275
    Abstract: A coupling has two parts supported one inside the other, which are rotatable relative to one another around a common longitudinal axis. Together, the parts form a chamber filled with a highly viscous fluid and which is sealed by an axially movable piston. The coupling also includes a friction coupling with friction elements, having a spring assembly which is supported on a stop part and acting on a pressure plate. When the piston is in a position of rest, the friction elements of the friction coupling are held against a further stop part under pretension generated when the relative rotation begins. In the case of axial displacement, the piston displaces the pressure plate against the force of the spring assembly towards the first stop part, with there being provided an axial gap between the piston in a position of rest and a further stop part which is displaceable towards the first stop part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Gasch
  • Patent number: 5924948
    Abstract: A differential drive having a controllable locking device is loaded by a differential-speed-dependent actuating device. A rotatingly drivable differential carrier is supported in a drive housing and is provided with axle shaft bevel gears which are co-axially arranged therein and which are connectable by insertable axle shaft journals. A plurality of differential bevel gears are rotatably arranged on radial journals in the housing and each engage both axle shaft gears, with the axes of the journals of the differential bevel gears being positioned in a central plane of the differential carrier. A multi-plate coupling unit for locking purposes is arranged co-axially in the differential carrier relative to the central plane on a first side of the unit and with a pump unit for actuating purposes being arranged co-axially in the differential carrier relative to the central plane on a second side of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Kwoka
  • Patent number: 5890573
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling unit having a viscous coupling A and a friction coupling B. The coupling housing 29 of the friction coupling B is connected to the input and the hub 12 of the viscous coupling A to the output. Between the end face of the housing 17 of the viscous coupling A and the end face of the pressure plate 28 of the friction coupling B there are provided setting means 27 in the form of ramps. Up to a predetermined torque value, the torque is transmitted from the coupling housing 29 to the hub 12, i.e. it is transmitted only by the viscous coupling A to the hub 12 and the plug-in shaft connected thereto, and after the predetermined torque has been exceeded, torque is additionally transmitted by the friction coupling B via the coupling hub 48 to the plug-in shaft also connected to the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Kwoka
  • Patent number: 5884739
    Abstract: A coupling assembly has a friction coupling with friction plates alternately connected to respective ones of first and second coaxial parts which are rotatable relative to one another. A hydraulic actuating device for actuating the friction coupling has an annular chamber formed in one of the first and second parts. The annular chamber is defined by an axially movable piston which acts on the friction plates and containing a conveyor member for effecting fluid shear. The conveying member is connected to the other of the first and second parts. The annular chamber receives a highly viscous fluid, such that a pressure build up is generated to increase torque transmission between the first and second parts. The annular chamber is connected to a compensating chamber with a variable volume force for the highly viscous fluid. The compensating chamber is formed by an axially open annular groove and an axially movable annular element sealing said annular groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive Gmbh
    Inventor: Bernd Constantin
  • Patent number: 5881849
    Abstract: The invention relates to a viscous coupling particularly suitable as a brake for a firebreak door. Outer plates are non-rotatably associated with a housing by means of teeth. Between each two outer plates there is arranged one of two inner plates, which are non-rotatably connected to a hub rotatably arranged in the housing by teeth. The other inner plate is connectable in the direction of rotation to the first inner plate and to each other by two sets of lugs such that there is a free rotational path. When the lugs of two successive inner plates contact one another in the direction of rotation, a driving action occurs. Consequently, torque increases in a stepwise fashion. Therefore, it is possible for firebreak doors to affect the braking of movement into a closed position because braking is delayed and changes in steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventor: Theodor Gassmann
  • Patent number: 5791446
    Abstract: The invention relates to a viscous coupling 1 having a housing 2 consisting of a tubular housing casing 3, and end walls 4, 5 extending radially relative to the longitudinal axis 9. Furthermore the viscous coupling 1 comprises a hub 11 which is manufactured from a tube in a non-chip producing forming operation and which, by means of bearing faces 13 and 14, is relatively rotatably supported in the end walls 4, 5 of the housing 2. The inner toothing 10 of the housing 2 non-rotatably accommodates outer plates 35. Inner plates 36 are non-rotatably associated with the hub 11 so as to alternate with the outer plates 35. The inner plates 36 are received in the outer toothing 15 of the hub 11. The hub 11 also comprises inner toothing 30 to provide a non-rotating connection with corresponding outer toothing 29 of a shaft 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignees: GKN Viscodrive GmbH, Viscodrive Japan KK
    Inventors: Makoto Hagiwara, Manfred Hofer
  • Patent number: 5690201
    Abstract: A coupling for transmitting torque between two parts (14, 20; 16, 24) which are rotatable relative to one another, comprising a friction coupling (12) whose friction elements (15, 17) are each non-rotatably connected to the one and the other of the parts (14, 20; 16, 24) which are rotatable relative to one another, with the friction coupling (12) being loadable by at least one movable piston (19) which, at one end, delimits a pressure chamber (21) which is filled with a viscous fluid, which is connected to a reservoir (26), whose rotational housing (20) is formed by the one of the rotatable parts (14, 20) and by the piston (19) sealed relative thereto and in which there rotates a rotational member (22) connected to the other one of the rotatable parts (16, 24), with rotational faces of the rotational member (22), together with counter faces of a pumping and control member (23) positioned in the pressure chamber (21) constituting at least one sealed shear channel (38) which, in the respective direction of rela
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventor: Theodor Gassmann
  • Patent number: 5662196
    Abstract: The invention relates to a viscous coupling 1 having a housing 2 consisting of a tubular housing casing 3, and end walls 4, 5 extending radially relative to the longitudinal axis 9. Furthermore, the viscous coupling 1 comprises a hub 11 which is manufactured from a tube in a non-chip producing forming operation and which, by means of bearing faces 13 and 14, is relatively rotatably supported in the end walls 4, 5 of the housing 2. The inner toothing 10 of the housing 2 non-rotatably accommodates outer plates 35. Inner plates 36 are non-rotatably associated with the hub 11 so as to alternate with the outer plates 35. The inner plates 36 are received in the outer toothing 15 of the hub 11. The hub 11 also comprises inner toothing 30 to provide a non-rotating connection with corresponding outer toothing 29 of a shaft 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignees: GKN Viscodrive GmbH, Viscodrive Japan PK
    Inventors: Makoto Hagiwara, Manfred Hofer
  • Patent number: 5658214
    Abstract: A differential drive having a drivable differential carrier supported in a drive house. The differential drive includes two axle shaft gears which are coaxially supported in a first bore. A plurality of pairs of differential gears which are eccentrically supported in an axis-parallel way in the differential carrier second and third bores. The longer hub extension opposed to a region of engagement with the associated axle shaft gear is radially fixed. The shorter hub extension adjoining a region of engagement with an associated axle shaft gear is laterally guided in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Hofstetter, Manfred Hofer
  • Patent number: 5637050
    Abstract: A differential drive comprising two axle shaft gears supported coaxially in the differential carrier and having different pitch circle diameters, and a plurality of differential gears which are supported relative to said axle shaft gears in an axis-parallel way in the differential carrier and which, by means of their tooth heads, are slidingly supported in axial bores of the differential carrier, with first differential gears covering the axial length of both axle shaft gears and comprising two different toothed regions of which the teeth of a first one engage the teeth of the axle shaft gear with the greater pitch circle diameter and of which the teeth of a second one engage the teeth of at least one of said further differential gears and with second differential gears covering the axial length of the axle shaft gear with the smaller pitch circle diameter and, along said length, engaging both the axle shaft gear and at least one of the first differential gears and with the major diameters of both toothed reg
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventor: Adrian Chludek
  • Patent number: 5634507
    Abstract: The invention relates to a driving device for a roller shutter 1. For driving the roller shutter 1 into the open position there is provided a motor 8 with a drive 7 and a chain drive 5 which acts on the bearing shaft 3 of the roller 2 winding up the roller shutter 1. When using such shutters 1 as fire-resistant shutters 1, they must be transferable into the closed position under the influence of their dead weight, i.e. without involving any external energy. To allow the closing movement to proceed in a controlled way, the viscous coupling 10 constitutes a braking element whose housing is held non-rotatably and whose coupling hub is rotatably connected to the bearing shaft 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Kwoka
  • Patent number: 5632185
    Abstract: An axle drive for distributing torque from a propeller shaft to two axle shafts of a motor vehicle axle which is not permanently driven, having two torque transmitting friction couplings which are arranged in the coupling housing and intended to drive the axle shafts, and having two actuating devices for the two friction couplings. There is provided a common pump housing which is non-rotatably connected to the coupling housing and which contains two symmetrically and axially movably arranged pistons delimiting one end of pressure chambers each filled with a highly viscous fluid and connected to a reservoir. Pumping and control members are arranged opposite the pump housing between two end positions so as to be rotatable to a limited extent. The pressure chambers each contain conveying members which are each non-rotatably connected to one of the axle shafts. Rotational faces of a conveying member, together with counter-faces of the pumping and control member, constitute at least one sealed shear channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventor: Theodor Gassmann
  • Patent number: 5556350
    Abstract: A differential drive with a differential housing (13) supported in a housing (12) has driving bevel gears (16, 17) and differential bevel gears (22, 23) which engage one another. The differential housing (13) includes a bearing projection (41) with a cylindrical bearing face (39). Furthermore, the differential housing (13) includes a radially extending connecting face (40) with bores (42) to receive coupling pins. A viscous coupling (26) is supported on bearings (55, 57) in a flange housing (47) flanged to the housing (12). The viscous coupling (26) includes a bearing bore (46) which associates the viscous coupling with the differential drive, receives a bearing projection (41) of the differential housing (13), with the flange housing (47) supporting the bearing carrier. Furthermore, a plug-in shaft (58) is provided which, for connecting the hub (32), includes teeth and which itself may be plugged into a toothed bore (60) of the driving bevel gear (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Madsack
  • Patent number: 5507703
    Abstract: A differential drive having a differential carrier rotatably supported in a differential housing is disclosed. Two axle shaft gears are rotatably held in cylindrical bores in the differential carrier and are arranged coaxially relative to one another. A plurality of differential gears are supported in an axis-less way in bores in the differential carrier and are arranged so as to be axis-parallel. One group of the differential gears engages the one of the axle shaft gears and the other group engages the other of the axle shaft gears. At least one of the group of the differential gears engages the respective other group of the differential gears. At least the tooth heads of the differential gears are provided with grooves, with at least the bores or pockets for the differential gears in the differential carrier being provided with grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Madsack, Adrian Chludek
  • Patent number: 5419417
    Abstract: A viscous coupling (1) has a housing (2) with a housing casing (5) made of a softer material and covers (8, 9) adjoining the casing at its ends, made of a harder material. The two covers (8, 9) have sealing edges (22, 23). The two covers (8, 9) are tensioned relative to the end faces (6, 7) of the housing casing (5) and, via their sealing edges (22, 23), penetrate the end faces (6, 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: GKN Viscodrive GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Madsack