Abstract: An axial adjusting device comprising two discs which are rotatable relative to one another, which are supported coaxially relative to one another and between which there are guided balls in pairs of ball grooves whose depth varies across the circumference. Of the discs, one is axially supported and one is axially displaceable against resilient returning forces of spring means. At least one of the discs is rotatingly drivable by a driving motor. For load reducing purposes, at least two balls are guided in each of the pairs of ball grooves.

Abstract: The invention relates to a controllable viscous coupling for generating a locking effect between two coupling parts rotatable relative to one another around a common longitudinal axis, more particularly for the driveline of a motor vehicle. The viscous coupling comprises a first coupling part, a second coupling part, wherein the first and the second coupling part form a sealed annular chamber. First plates are connected to the first coupling part in a rotationally fast way and second plates are connectable to the second coupling part in a rotationally fast way, as well as controllable connecting means to allow switching between an open position in which the second plates are freely rotatable relative to the second coupling part, and a closed position in which the second plates are connected to the second coupling part in a rotationally fast way.

Abstract: The invention relates to a controllable viscous coupling for generating a locking effect between two coupling parts rotatable relative to one another around a common longitudinal axis, more particularly for the driveline of a motor vehicle. This viscous coupling comprises a first coupling part, a second coupling part, wherein the first and the second coupling part form a sealed annular chamber. First plates are connectable to the second coupling part in a rotationally fast way. Controllable connecting apparatus allow switching between an open position in which the second plates are freely rotatable relative to the second coupling part and a closed position in which the second plates are connected to the second coupling part in a rotationally fast way.

Abstract: An axial setting device in a housing, especially for actuating a multi-plate coupling whose friction plates are alternately connected in a rotationally fast and axially displaceable way to the one and the other respectively of two parts rotatable relative to one another, which rest against an axially fixed supporting disc and which can be loaded by an axially displaceable pressure disc, comprising a setting disc which is rotatably supported in the housing, which is mounted so as to be axially fixed in the housing and which is rotatingly drivable, a pressure disc which is held in the housing, which is held in a rotationally fast way by anti-rotation means arranged in the housing and which is axially displaceable in the housing, ball groove configurations in the surfaces of the setting disc and of the pressure disc, which surfaces face one another, which ball groove configurations extend in the circumferential direction, have oppositely directed gradients across the circumference and are associated with one ano

Abstract: A viscous coupling comprising two parts which form an annular chamber 16 which is filled with a highly viscous fluid and in which first coupling plates 17 are connected to the first one of the parts 11 for rotation therewith and second coupling plates 18 are connectable to the second one of the parts 12 which are arranged so as to alternate in the longitudinal direction. The second coupling plates 18 are arranged so as to alternate with clamping rings 20 in the second one of the parts 12, which clamping rings 20, in turn, are connected to the second one of the parts 12 for rotation therewith. A first axial adjusting device 23 acts in an axial direction on the second coupling plates 18 and on the clamping rings 20 and locks the same relative to one another and to the second one of the parts 12.

Abstract: In a differential drive having one differential carrier rotating in a housing, two side shaft gears are arranged coaxially relative to said differential carrier, and two sets of differential gears are supported in the differential carrier and rotate therewith and each engage one of the side shaft gears. The side shaft gears are crown gears and the differential gears form two sets of straight pinions which rotate on radial journals in the differential carrier, with the pinions of the two sets directly engaging one another in pairs so that, when the differential carrier is stationary, the side shaft gears are able to rotate in identical directions. In a differential drive having two differential carriers rotating in a housing, two side shaft gears are arranged coaxially relative to said differential carriers, and two sets of differential gears are supported in the differential carriers and rotate therewith, and each engage one of the side shaft gears.

Abstract: An axial setting device for loading the friction plates of a coupling or for fixing the viscous plates of a coupling having two parts which are co-axially supported on a fixed housing and which are rotatable relative to one another. A pump assembly has housing parts that are connected to the one of the coupling parts and whose conveying elements are connected to the other one of the coupling parts in such a way that, when the parts rotate relative to one another, fluid is conveyed in the pump assembly. A reservoir is provided for fluid with a variable volume and a pressure chamber is delimited by an axial piston. A fluid connection is made from the reservoir to the chamber via the pump assembly and a fluid connection is made from the chamber to the reservoir via a bypass line with a solenoid valve.

Abstract: An axial setting device in a housing, especially for actuating a multi-plate coupling whose friction plates are alternately connected in a rotationally fast and axially displaceable way to the one and the other respectively of two parts rotatable relative to one another, which rest against an axially fixed supporting disc and which can be loaded by an axially displaceable pressure disc, comprising a setting disc which is rotatably supported in the housing, which is mounted so as to be axially fixed in the housing and which is rotatingly drivable, a pressure disc which is held in the housing, which is held in a rotationally fast way by anti-rotation means arranged in the housing and which is axially displaceable in the housing, ball groove configurations in the surfaces of the setting disc and of the pressure disc, which surfaces face one another, which ball groove configurations extend in the circumferential direction, have oppositely directed gradients across the circumference and are associated with one ano

Abstract: A shaft coupling having two attachment elements that are rotatable relative to one another and that are connected to one another by a rotationally resilient assembly, and further having a dampening device which is active between the attachment elements for the purpose of suppressing torsional vibrations of the rotationally resilient assembly is disclosed. The rotationally resilient assembly comprises two ramp discs that are rotatable relative to one another and that support one another at least indirectly. One disc is supported in a rotationally fixed and rigid manner on one of the attachment elements and the other disc is supported in a rotationally fixed and axially resilient manner on the other one of the attachment elements by a spring. The dampening device is a viscous coupling having a hub connected to one of the attachment elements and a housing connected to the other one of the attachment elements.

Abstract: A viscous coupling having two rotatable parts in the form of a hub and a housing for the transmission of torque between the rotatable parts caused by a positive speed differential between the rotatable parts, which are supported inside one another, which are rotatable relative to one another around a common longitudinal axis, and which form an annular chamber which is filled with a highly viscous fluid and in which first coupling plates non-rotatably connected to the first one of the two rotatable parts, e.g. the hub, and second coupling plates non-rotatably connected to the second one of the rotatable parts, e.g. the housing, are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A viscous coupling for lockingly connecting two parts which are rotatable relative to one another, having the following characteristics: a first coupling part is provided in the form of a rotational housing; a second coupling part is provided in the form of a hub; the first coupling part and the second coupling part are arranged so as to be rotatable relative to one another and, while being positioned co-axially inside one another, together form a sealed annular chamber; inside the chamber, there are arranged axially-alternating first coupling plates in the shape of annular discs with means for providing a non-rotatable connection with the first coupling part, and second coupling plates in the shape of annular discs with means for providing a non-rotatable connection with the second coupling part; otherwise, the annular chamber is at least partially filled with a viscous fluid; the coupling plates, in their entirety, are divided into at least two functionally different sets of coupling plates each of which se

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling an axle drive for the purpose of distributing torque from a propulsion shaft to two axle shafts, having a coupling carrier which is rotatably supported in a axle drive housing, and two controllable friction couplings arranged in the coupling carrier and provided for engageably connecting and driving the axle shafts, with first friction plates of each friction coupling being non-rotatably connected to the coupling carrier and with second friction plates of each friction coupling being non-rotatably connected to the respective axle shaft, and having two actuating devices for the two friction couplings, which actuating devices, when the two axle shafts both rotate in the same direction relative to the coupling carrier, function autonomously independently of one another, and when the two axle shafts rotate in opposite directions relative to the coupling carrier, the actuating devices are shut down.

Abstract: In a differential drive having one differential carrier rotating in a housing, two side shaft gears are arranged coaxially relative to said differential carrier, and two sets of differential gears are supported in the differential carrier and rotate therewith and each engage one of the side shaft gears. The side shaft gears are crown gears and the differential gears form two sets of straight pinions which rotate on radial journals in the differential carrier, with the pinions of the two sets directly engaging one another in pairs so that, when the differential carrier is stationary, the side shaft gears (20, 21) are able to rotate in identical directions.

Abstract: A coupling for transmitting torque between two parts which are rotatable relative to one another, which coupling comprises a friction coupling whose friction plates are each non-rotatably connected to the one and to the other of the parts which are rotatable relative to one another, having a pressure chamber which is filled with a highly viscous fluid and which is formed by a housing formed in one of the rotatable parts and by a displaceable piston sealed relative to said housing, and having a pump unit in which there rotates a conveying member connected to the other one of the rotatable parts, wherein a reservoir for a highly viscous fluid is provided in the housing, which reservoir is connected to the pump unit, wherein the pressure chamber is supplied by the pump unit and the piston loads the friction coupling and wherein the pump unit is provided in the form of an internally toothed rotor pump and the conveying member forms an externally toothed rotor which is concentrically connected to the other one of

Abstract: A coupling assembly comprising a friction coupling a pressure-generating device comprising a pump body member, an axially-displaceable piston loading the friction coupling, and a pressure chamber formed by the pump body and by the piston and filled with a highly-viscous fluid, and with at least one conveying plate being provided in the pressure chamber; and a shear channel with a control member in the pressure chamber, the control member cooperating with at least one conveying plate. In a first embodiment, the shear channel with a control member forms two circumferential grooves of limited length and each covered by one of the two radial surfaces of the conveying plate, thereby forming two shear channels. Passages through the conveying plate connect the two shear channels. In a second embodiment, the shear channel with a control member forms a circumferential groove of limited length which is covered by one of the two radial surfaces of the conveying plate to form a first shear channel.

Abstract: A viscous coupling comprising two parts which are supported inside one another, which are rotatable around a common longitudinal axis and which form an annular chamber which is filled with a highly viscous medium and in which there are arranged inner plates which are non-rotatably connected to the inner one of the parts and form a set of inner plates, as well as outer plates which are non-rotatably connected to the outer one of the parts and form a set of outer plates, said inner plates and outer plates being arranged so as to alternate in the longitudinal direction for the purpose of generating a coupling effect between the two parts when the latter rotate relative to one another, wherein a partial set of one of the sets of inner plates and outer plates is directly carried by a sleeve which is connected to the part of the coupling which carries said set of inner plates or outer plates in such a way that it can be uncoupled.

Abstract: A mechanical clutch with two elements (11, 21) which, for the purpose of positively engaging one another, are provided with opposed end toothings which are adapted to one another, the first element (11) being rotatably mounted and axially supported, the second element (21) also being rotatably mounted and axially supported, and further being axially blocked in a first position for the purpose of being non-rotatably engaged with the first element (11), and being axially moveable into a position in which it is freely rotatably and disengaged from the first element (11), with a device for selectively axially blocking the second element (21), the clutch further comprising: a cavity system whose shape is variable and which is filled with a magneto-rheological fluid; a displacing member which can be moved between a first position and a second position, which delimits the cavity system and which is connected to the second element (21); and an electro-magnet (37) which can magnetize at least part of the magneto-rheol

Abstract: An automatic coupling has two parts supported inside one another, and which are rotatable around a common longitudinal axis. The parts form an annular chamber. An annular piston axially divides the annular chamber into two compartments. The annular piston is connected to one of the parts in a rotationally fast and axially movable way and there is formed a shear channel which extends helically relative to the longitudinal axis. The shear channel connects the two compartments separated by the annular piston to one another. The end faces of the annular chamber are formed by the other one of the parts, with the annular piston being able to support itself on the end faces of the annular chamber while generating braking forces.

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 member 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 of the highly viscous fluid for the purpose of loading the friction coupling. When the relative rotation between the rotatable parts exceeds a given value, the increase in pressure is checked to limit the torque transferred through the friction coupling.

Abstract: A coupling device for transmitting torque between a first part and a second part which are rotatable relative to one another is disclosed. The coupling device comprises a multi-plate coupling unit with axially alternating arranged first plates and second plates. The first plates are each connected in a rotationally fixed manner to one of the first part or the second part and the second plates are each connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the other of the first part or the second part. The coupling device further comprises an actuating assembly for axially loading the multi-plate coupling unit by means of a setting piston. The multi-plate coupling unit also comprises a first annular chamber filled with a highly viscous fluid and delimited by the setting piston, and a rotational member arranged in the annular chamber. The first annular chamber is formed in one of the first or second parts with the rotational member being connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the other of the first or second part.