Abstract: A method of forming a ring gear from a ring blank includes providing a mandrel having a central axis and an outer annular forming surface. The outer annular forming surface defines a plurality of forming elements having a forming element axis offset from the central axis of the mandrel. The ring blank has a ring axis and is placed over the mandrel generally aligning the central axis of the mandrel with the ring axis of the ring blank. A roll is provided having a roll axis that is generally parallel with the element axis. The roll is forced radially inwardly while circumscribing the central axis. The roll pivots around the roll axis deforming the ring blank radially inwardly forming teeth on an inner surface of the ring blank that coaxial with the element axis and offset from the mandrel axis.

Abstract: A method for forming a component includes forming a workpiece into a hollow preform cylinder concentric with an axis and including an inner surface that extends along the axis, placing within the preform cylinder a mandrel having an outer surface, flow-forming the inner surface and the outer surface of the preform cylinder such that the inner surface of the cylinder conforms to at least a portion of the outer surface of the mandrel, and cutting the flow formed cylinder transversely with respect to the axis into segments, each segment having an axial length.

Abstract: A system for extruding teeth in a workpiece includes a first mandrel supported on a first press and including first die teeth that produce partially formed teeth on the workpiece as the first die teeth are extruded into the workpiece by the first press, a second mandrel supported on a second press and including second die teeth that produce fully formed teeth on the workpiece as the second die teeth are extruded into the workpiece by the second die station, and a transfer system for supporting and carrying the workpiece with the lower die assembly from the first press to the second press.

Abstract: An apparatus for extruding teeth in a blank includes a press that includes a lower die plate for supporting the blank thereon, and upper die plate that moves along an axis relative to the lower die plate. A mandrel, aligned with the axis, moves with the upper die plate along the axis, and includes die teeth which form gear teeth to net shape by back extrusion. An impingement ring, located between the upper die plate and the blank, has an opening that allows the die teeth of the mandrel to contact the blank, and includes a stinger that forces material of the blank toward the axis during the forming cycle.

Abstract: A method for forming a component that transmits torque in an automatic transmission includes forming a workpiece with a hub concentric with and extending along an axis and forming the workpiece with a disc that is integral with the hub and extends radially outward from the hub. A hollow perform cylinder is formed integrally with the disc, located at a radial end of the disc distant from the hub, concentric with the axis, and includes an inner surface and an outer surface. A hollow perform cylinder is flow-formed using a flow-forming mandrel located within the cylinder and having an outer surface formed with gear teeth such that the inner surface of the cylinder conforms to at least a portion of the gear teeth on the flow-forming mandrel.

Abstract: A component for transmitting torque between a gear unit and a shaft includes a ring gear portion, a park brake drum portion formed integrally with the ring gear portion, a disc portion formed integrally with the park brake drum portion, and a hub portion formed integrally with the disc portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for extruding helical teeth in a gear blank includes a press including a die plate and a die base, the die plate being movable along an axis relative to the die base, the die base supporting the gear blank. A mandrel, aligned with the axis and moveable with the die plate along the axis, includes a surface that includes helical die teeth. A servo motor drives the mandrel in rotation about the axis to the required helix angle as the mandrel moves axially relative to the gear blank.

Abstract: A driveline system for an automotive driveline system includes a transmission device, a differential device, and a universal joint having a drive shaft presenting terminal ends and interconnecting the transmission and differential devices. A yoke is connected to each of the terminal ends of the drive shaft and presents an internal surface and an external surface having generally equal thickness defined therebetween to form a dish of the yoke having a tubular monolithic structure. The yoke portion includes a bottom and a pair of spaced lugs each presenting sloping side walls for reinforcing the lugs as said yoke is rotated around a longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A driveline system for an automotive driveline system includes a transmission device, a differential device, and a universal joint having a drive shaft presenting terminal ends and interconnecting the transmission and differential devices. A yoke is connected to each of the terminal ends of the drive shaft and presents an internal surface and an external surface having generally equal thickness defined therebetween to form a dish of the yoke having a tubular monolithic structure. The yoke portion includes a bottom and a pair of spaced lugs each presenting sloping side walls for reinforcing the lugs as said yoke is rotated around a longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method of forming a ring gear from a ring blank includes providing a mandrel having a central axis and an outer annular forming surface. The outer annular forming surface defines a plurality of forming elements having a forming element axis offset from the central axis of the mandrel. The ring blank has a ring axis and is placed over the mandrel generally aligning the central axis of the mandrel with the ring axis of the ring blank. A roll is provided having a roll axis that is generally parallel with the element axis. The roll is forced radially inwardly while circumscribing the central axis. The roll pivots around the roll axis deforming the ring blank radially inwardly forming teeth on an inner surface of the ring blank that coaxial with the element axis and offset from the mandrel axis.

Abstract: A system of the present invention is adaptable for transporting and installation a guardrail assembly having a panel connected to the ground by a plurality of posts. A vehicle of the system includes a manipulator for selectively engaging and removing the posts and the panels from the vehicle. A tool inserts the posts into the ground. A die device interconnects the post with the panel by partially deforming the panel into the post thereby snapping the panel by the posts. The present invention includes a method of installing the guardrail assembly.

Abstract: A differential mechanism includes a housing having a wall exposed to an open end and a pair of receptors defined in the wall. A lid is affixed to the open end forming an enclosure with the housing. The opposing gears are in driving engagement with one and the other and are disposed in the enclosure. A shaft is slidably disposed in the receptors extending through two of the opposing gears thereby supporting the opposing gears rotatable relative the housing. A retaining mechanism is defined between the shaft and at least one of the receptors forming a rigid connection therebetween to prevent movement of the shaft relative the housing.

Abstract: A torque converter housing includes an end cover that is secured to an impeller outer wall in a unique manner. The outward portions of the end cover extend in a radial direction but not in an axial direction. The end cover preferably does not extend axially beyond a plane of a clutch supported within the assembly. The impeller outer wall extends axially beyond the plane where it is secured to the end cover. The inventive arrangement changes the location of the connection between the impeller outer wall and the end cover, which enables the use of various other optional and advantageous features of the inventive arrangement. In one example, the impeller outer wall is welded to the end cover. In another example, a threaded connection secures the impeller outer wall to the end cover.

Abstract: A driveline system for an automotive driveline system includes a transmission device, a differential device, and a universal joint having a drive shaft presenting terminal ends and interconnecting the transmission and differential devices. A yoke is connected to each of the terminal ends of the drive shaft and presents an internal surface and an external surface having generally equal thickness defined therebetween to form a dish of the yoke having a tubular monolithic structure. The yoke portion includes a bottom and a pair of spaced lugs each presenting sloping side walls for reinforcing the lugs as said yoke is rotated around a longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A torque converter housing includes an end cover that is secured to an impeller outer wall in a unique manner. The outward portions of the end cover extend in a radial direction but not in an axial direction. The end cover preferably does not extend axially beyond a plane of a clutch supported within the assembly. The impeller outer wall extends axially beyond the plane where it is secured to the end cover. The inventive arrangement changes the location of the connection between the impeller outer wall and the end cover, which enables the use of various other optional and advantageous features of the inventive arrangement. In one example, the impeller outer wall is welded to the end cover. In another example, a threaded connection secures the impeller outer wall to the end cover.

Abstract: A method of detecting high risk movements of an infant relating to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome includes generating a reference image of an infant by signaling a controller a location of a first plurality of pixels. The first plurality of pixels are stored in a controller generating a reference image. A second electronic image of the infant is generating a second plurality of pixels that are signaled to the controller. The controller compares the second electronic image to the first electronic image by determining a correlation between the first plurality of pixels to the second plurality of pixels for determining if the infant has made a high risk movement.

Abstract: A differential mechanism includes a housing having a wall exposed to an open end and a pair of receptors defined in the wall. A lid is affixed to the open end forming an enclosure with the housing. The opposing gears are in driving engagement with one and the other and are disposed in the enclosure. A shaft is slidably disposed in the receptors extending through two of the opposing gears thereby supporting the opposing gears rotatable relative the housing. A retaining mechanism is defined between the shaft and at least one of the receptors forming a rigid connection therebetween to prevent movement of the shaft relative the housing.

Abstract: A method of detecting high risk movements of an infant relating to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome includes generating a reference image of an infant by signaling a controller a location of a first plurality of pixels. The first plurality of pixels are stored in a controller generating a reference image. A second electronic image of the infant is generating a second plurality of pixels that are signaled to the controller. The controller compares the second electronic image to the first electronic image by determining a correlation between the first plurality of pixels to the second plurality of pixels for determining if the infant has made a high risk movement.

Abstract: A differential mechanism includes a housing portion having a generally annular wall with a generally annular inner surface. The annular wall defines an open end of the housing portion. The lid is affixed to the open end forming an enclosure with the housing portion. The opposing side bevel gears are in driving engagement with at least one bevel pinion assembly. The bevel pinion assembly includes at least one bevel pinion shaft with opposing axial ends, each supporting a side bevel gear. The bevel pinion assembly and the side bevel gears are disposed within said enclosure. The annular inner surface defines at least two receptors having ingress's, each receptorengaging one axial end of the pinion shaft independently of the lid.

Abstract: A method of detecting high risk movements of an infant relating to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome includes generating a reference image of an infant by signaling a controller a location of a first plurality of pixels. The first plurality of pixels are stored in a controller generating a reference image. A second electronic image of the infant is generating a second plurality of pixels that are signaled to the controller. The controller compares the second electronic image to the first electronic image by determining a correlation between the first plurality of pixels to the second plurality of pixels for determining if the infant has made a high risk movement.