Abstract: A pump system for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic valve actuation system for operating engine valves of an internal combustion engine comprises a conventional pump, driven by the engine, which supplies the necessary volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid when the engine is running. The system further comprises a booster pump which is driven by the starter motor of the engine and which supplies the necessary volume of hydraulic fluid during starting/cranking of the engine. The conventional pump is preferably designed and constructed for operating efficiency during engine operating conditions while the booster pump is preferably designed and constructed for operating efficiency during cranking/starting of the engine.

Abstract: A transfer case includes an input shaft and first and second output shafts. An overdrive unit is driven at an increased speed relative to the input shaft. A clutch is operable in a first position to establish a drive connection between the input shaft and the first output shaft. The clutch is further operable in a second position to establish a drive connection between the overdrive unit and the first output shaft. An actuator is driven by a motor for moving the clutch between its first and second positions. The actuator includes an axially movable fixed disk fixed for rotation with an output member of the overdrive unit. The shift engages an axially movable sleeve of the clutch.

Abstract: A pulley integrally has a hub, an outer rim and a flange joining the hub and outer rim. A flux ring is press fitted to the inside surface of the outer rim. The flux ring has an inner diameter sized to closely encircle an electromagnetic coil mounted on a compressor housing. The pulley assembly provides a simple method of providing different sized pulleys for a compressor, enabling different sized engines to utilize a common compressor.

Abstract: A power compounder, for transmitting rotary power from a transmission to a driveline assembly includes a housing adapted to be mounted to the transmission. An input shaft is rotatably supported by the housing and adapted to be driven by the transmission. The compounder further includes an output shaft adapted to drive the driveline assembly and a gearset. The gearset selectively communicates rotational movement between the input and output shafts. A centralized passageway is formed in the input shaft. A separator insert is disposed in the passageway and is adapted to carry fluid at a first pressure to a first predetermined location and carry fluid at a second pressure to a second predetermined location.

Abstract: A pump assembly includes a pump housing, a stator ring supported within the pump housing, and a pump ring also rotatably supported within the pump housing. The pump ring interfaces with the stator ring to define a plurality of variable volume pressure chambers. A cover plate covers the stator ring and pumping ring within the pump housing. The cover plate is axially displaceable relative to the pump housing and defines a wall of each of the pressure chambers. Pressure within the pressure chambers induces linear movement of the cover plate away from the stator ring and the pump ring.

Abstract: A shift device for a transmission, which comprises a sliding sleeve, a shift fork engaging in the sliding sleeve, and an actuator that can rotate on a shaft that is disposed at an angle to the transmission shaft. In order to provide a simple and reliable control that satisfies all functional requirements, a cam having two flanks and a flattened section on the maximum radius is disposed on the shaft. On the base of the shift fork, two interacting pushrods are disposed at a fixed distance so that one pushrod rests against the one flank and the other pushrod rests against the other flank and one pushrod rests against the flattened section in at least one extreme position.

Abstract: A transfer case includes a two-speed range unit, a mode clutch, an actuation mechanism and a control system. The actuation mechanism includes an electric motor, an actuator shaft driven by the motor, a range actuator assembly and a mode actuator assembly. The range actuator assembly includes range, a cam driven by the actuator shaft and a shift fork having a follower retained in a groove formed in the cam and a fork engaging a shift collar associated with the range unit. The mode actuator assembly has a range cam member with cam surfaces and a control gear with rollers engaging the cam surfaces. The control gear is rotatively driven by the actuator shaft. The cam member is axially moveable for controlling engagement of the mode clutch. An anti-rotation mechanism limits rotation of the cam member in response to continued rotation of the control gear.

Abstract: A variable capacity gerotor pump includes an inner rotor that is axially displaceable with respect to the outer rotor to vary the volumetric capacity of the pump. An active piston abuts the lower surface of the inner rotor and can ride inside the outer rotor, as the inner rotor is axially displaced, to provide the necessary scaling of the lower surface of the inner rotor with respect to the outer rotor. A passive piston, against which a return spring acts, abuts the upper surface of the inner rotor to provide the necessary sealing of the upper surface of the inner rotor with respect to the outer rotor. In an embodiment, a control chamber, supplied with pressurized working fluid, generates a force acting against the force of the return spring to move the inner rotor to reduce the volumetric capacity of the pump. In another embodiment, a control mechanism, such as an electric solenoid or mechanical mechanism, acts on the control piston against the force of the return spring.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a four-wheel drive system arranged to supply motive power to a primary output shaft of a transfer case from an internal combustion engine and to a secondary output shaft from an electric motor/generator. The transfer case is comprised of a planetary gearset having an input driven by the motor/generator and an output directing drive torque to the secondary drivelines. This hybrid drive arrangement permits use of a modified transfer case in place of a conventional transfer case in a traditional four-wheel drive driveline.

Abstract: A drive axle assembly includes a pair of axleshafts connected to a pair of wheels and a drive mechanism for selectively coupling a driven input shaft to one or both of the axleshafts. The drive mechanism includes first and second drive units that can be selectively engaged to control the magnitude of the drive torque transferred and the relative rotary speed between the input shaft and the axleshafts. Each drive unit includes a planetary gearset disposed between the input shaft and its corresponding axleshaft, a bi-directional overrunning clutch and a mode clutch that may be activated to cause the planetary gearset to establish different speed ratio drive connections between the input shaft and the axleshaft. A control system including an electronic control unit (ECU) and sensors are provided to control actuation of the mode clutches so as to control the side-to-side traction characteristics of the drive axle assembly.

Abstract: A drive axle assembly includes first and second axleshafts and a drive mechanism coupling a driven input shaft to the axleshafts. The drive mechanism includes a differential assembly, a planetary gear assembly operably disposed between the differential assembly and the first axleshafts, a transfer clutch and first and second brakes. The first brake is operable with the transfer clutch and the planetary gear assembly to increase the rotary speed of the first axleshaft which, in turn, causes a corresponding decrease in the rotary speed of the second axleshaft. The second brake is operable with the transfer clutch and the planetary gear assembly to decrease the rotary speed of the first axleshaft so as to cause an increase in the rotary speed of the second axleshaft. A control system controls actuation of both brakes and the transfer clutch.

Abstract: A transmission including a ring gear engageable with clutch teeth. A shift fork connected to a cam roller is engageable with the ring gear. The cam roller includes at least one V-shaped groove, and an element is disposed between the V-shaped groove of the cam roller and a base of the shift fork such that rotation of the cam roller translates into displacement of the shift fork and the ring gear.

Abstract: A power take-off unit for a transaxle is provided with a unique double enveloping worm/worm gear transmission which has a ratio of the number of gear teeth on the worm gear to the number of threads on the worm which is low. The worm/worm gear transmission is more compact than conventional bevel gear systems which have typically been used in power take-off unit applications. The worm and worm gear transmission of the present invention also is quieter in operation and has a higher torque capacity than standard bevel gears of comparable size.

Abstract: A power transfer unit is provided with a torque limiting coupling that limits the amount of torque that can be transferred to the driveline components when torque peaks occur while torque is transferred to the non-slipping wheels. The torque limiting coupling includes an engagement member disposed between an input from a driving member and an output to a driven member. The engagement member is located radially between and provides a frictional engagement between the input and the output. The engagement member is capable of slipping under heavy torque loads in order to protect the driveline components.

Abstract: A piston engine with a compensation shaft unit, wherein a window surrounded by a flange is provided on the crankcase thereof. The flange forms a separating surface to which the housing of the compensation shaft unit is fixed by means of screws. In order to ensure clean, toothed-wheel engagement for the compensation shafts, which are integrated into the housing, and easy assembly, the compensation shaft is provided with a toothed wheel, which protrudes through the window inside the crankcase, and which is driven by a toothed wheel, which is arranged on the crankshaft, and the housing of the compensation shaft unit has a separating surface, which can be displaced in order to adjust the amount of engagement clearance on the separating surface of the crankcase before the screws are tightened.

Abstract: An adjustable position sensor is provided suitable for use with a clutch actuation control system. The position sensor includes: a rotatable shaft adapted to engage a control gear of the clutch actuation control system; and an encoder having a position indicator adjustably coupled to the shaft and operable to detect the position of the shaft over a range of motion that is less than the range of movement exhibited by the control gear. The position indicator of the encoder is adjustable in relation to the shaft so that the range of motion detected by the encoder can be correlated to an area of interest within the range of motion exhibited by the control gear.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle having a brake system and a drive train, the brake system comprises a vehicle movement dynamics controller (10), a control group (40) for actuating brakes and a hydraulic unit with pressure medium supply (25, 27, 30) and wheel-specific hydraulic valves (43LV, 43RV, 43LH, 43RH) for activating the individual wheel brake cylinders (12LV, 12RV, 12LH, 12RH), and the drive system has at least one drive train (2, 3; 5, 7, 8) in which a controllable clutch (6) is arranged, which clutch (6) is activated by a clutch actuation means (40K), a hydraulic valve (43K) and an actuator (16) In order to make the vehicle as a whole cheaper but also bring about a functional improvement, the clutch controller of the drive system is integrated into the vehicle movement dynamics controller (10) of the brake system, and the hydraulic valve (43K) for activating the clutch (6) is connected to the pressure medium supply (25, 27, 30) of the brake system, and the modular control group 11.

Abstract: A drive axle assembly includes a pair of axleshafts connected to a pair of wheels and a drive mechanism for selectively coupling a driven input shaft to one or both of the axleshafts. The drive mechanism includes first and second drive units that can be selectively engaged to control the magnitude of the drive torque transferred and the relative rotary speed between the input shaft and the axleshafts. Each drive unit includes a planetary gearset disposed between the input shaft and its corresponding axleshaft, a bi-directional overrunning clutch and a mode clutch that may be activated to cause the planetary gearset to establish different speed ratio drive connections between the input shaft and the axleshaft. A control system including an electronic control unit (ECU) and sensors are provided to control actuation of the mode clutches so as to control the side-to-side traction characteristics of the drive axle assembly.

Abstract: A drive axle assembly includes first and second axleshafts and a drive mechanism coupling a driven input shaft to the axleshafts. The drive mechanism includes a differential assembly, a planetary gear assembly operably disposed between the differential assembly and the first axleshafts, a transfer clutch and first and second brakes. The first brake is operable with the transfer clutch and the planetary gear assembly to increase the rotary speed of the first axleshaft which, in turn, causes a corresponding decrease in the rotary speed of the second axleshaft. The second brake is operable with the transfer clutch and the planetary gear assembly to decrease the rotary speed of the first axleshaft so as to cause an increase in the rotary speed of the second axleshaft. A control system controls actuation of both brakes and the transfer clutch.

Abstract: A torque coupling for use in a power transfer device. The torque coupling includes a friction clutch and a clutch actuator. The clutch actuator controls engagement of the friction clutch and has a first actuator plate rotatable about an axis, a second actuator plate adjacent to the first actuator plate, and a ballramp unit disposed between the first and second actuator plates. A piston assembly acts to induce rotation of the first actuator plate relative to the second actuator plate. Relative rotation between the first actuator plate and the second actuator plate induces linear movement of one of the first and second actuator plates along the axis to regulate engagement of the friction clutch.