Abstract: An improved bearing support structure for a vehicle driveline includes a bracket having ears for supporting a bearing cushion. The ears are separated by a distance which is greater than the thickness of the cushion such that the cushion can self-align within the bracket. In this way, a variety of driveline angles can be accommodated by the bearing cushion within the bracket. Moreover, the bearing cushion is provided with recesses which facilitate the ability of the cushion to flex to further allow relative alignment of the axis of the driveline within the bracket.

Abstract: A method for automatically controlling angles in a driveline of a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes an air-wide suspension system, and the driveline includes a drive shaft driven through a universal joint. The universal joint produces a rotational velocity that is detected by a sensor of a control assembly. A controller, also part of the control assembly, converts the rotational velocity into alternating rotational acceleration and deceleration of the drive shaft. Once quantified, the acceleration and deceleration of the drive shaft is compared to determine any changes in rotational acceleration. In response to any changes in rotational acceleration, the air-ride suspension system is adjusted to control the driveline angle at one end of the drive shaft such that the driveline angle at one end is balanced relative to the driveline angle at the other end of the drive shaft, and noise, vibration, fatigue, or failure of the drive shaft is reduced.

Abstract: A unique structure for connecting the cross member of a universal joint to two yokes includes at least a pair of wing bearings bolted to one of the yokes. Preferably, the other yoke utilizes full circular bores to receive the other two shafts of the cross member. The wing bearings include structure which ensures a secure connection to the yoke. In particular, a locator finger extends radially inwardly from the yoke and over the wing bearing and shaft. In this way, the distance between a reaction plane between the yoke and wing bearing and the centerline of the shaft within the wing bearing is reduced. This reduces a force moment on the shaft. In other features of this invention, the use of the full circular bore for one of the yokes allows the universal joint manufacturer to fully assemble the first yoke to the cross member, and ship that assembled yoke and cross member to the vehicle manufacturer.

Abstract: A structure for connecting the cross member of a universal joint to two yokes includes at least a pair of wing bearings bolted to one of the yokes. Preferably, the other yoke utilizes full circular bores to receive the other two shafts of the cross member. The wing bearings include structure which ensures a secure connection to the yoke. In particular, a locator finger extends radially inwardly from the yoke and over the wing bearing and shaft. In this way, the distance between a reaction plane between the yoke and wing bearing and the centerline of the shaft within the wing bearing is reduced. This reduces a force moment on the shaft. In other features of this invention, the use of the full circular bore for one of the yokes allows the universal joint manufacturer to fully assemble the first yoke to the cross member, and ship that assembled yoke and cross member to the vehicle manufacturer.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing performance of vehicle control systems based on the dynamics of the specific vehicle include a sensor for sensing a predetermined parameter associated with any one of the vehicle control systems during a predetermined trigger event. A control logic determines a critical vibration mode characteristic for the vehicle control system based on the sensed parameter and operates the vehicle control system based on the determined critical vibration mode characteristic.

Abstract: An device for controlling a level of lubricant in a gear housing of an automotive vehicle that has a sealed interior portion containing lubricant. A gear is rotatably mounted in the housing and rotates through the lubricant. The housing includes at least one wall secured to a bottom portion of the sealed interior portion. The wall defines a first and second space wherein the gear rotates in the first space and displaces the lubricant over the wall into the second space as the gear rotates at high speeds. The wall has an opening of a predetermined size that allows the lubricant to flow back into the first space at a rate greater than the displacement rate at low speeds and less than the displacement rate at high speeds. The gear and housing may be an axle housing, a transmission or other gears and housings.

Abstract: Systems are provided which retard rotation of a driveline at times associated with an engine firing pulse from an engine driving the driveline to reduce torque peaks. In one system, a control monitors rotation of a drive shaft, to provide an indication of when an engine firing pulse should occur. The control selectively closes a switch to power a coil such that the coil retards rotation of the driveline, and generates electricity for use elsewhere. In a second embodiment, circumferentially spaced magnets are mounted on a driveline and move past a coil at a selected circumferential location. The coil resists the rotation of the shaft, retarding torque peaks. The embodiments thus reduce or eliminate imbalances in rotation of the shaft due to engine firing pulses.

Abstract: An improved method of removing heat from a lubricant in an axle housing includes the use of a deflector in the axle housing. The deflector is positioned on a cover secured to the housing bowl. Lubricant is thrown against the deflector by a ring gear in the bowl. The lubricant is directed by the deflector outwardly to the axle ends of the axle assembly. In this way, the lubricant is exposed to a greater surface area, and the cooling efficiency of this system is greatly improved.

Abstract: An isolator to prevent transmitted vibrations includes a ring which fits within a shaft opening of a housing. A bearing is received within the isolator and a shaft is received within the bearing. The vibrations are decoupled from a vibration transmission path by the different material of the isolator. The isolator is preferably manufactured of a rigid laminate material dissimilar to the housing material. Another embodiment of the present invention integrates the isolator directly into the bearing assembly. By manufacturing the outer member of the bearing assembly of the laminated material, the outer member similarly breaks the transmission path of vibrations without the need of the additional member. Noise is thereby substantially prevented from reaching, and from being amplified by, the housing. This greatly reduces the resulting noise and vibration.

Abstract: A driveline assembly including a tubular male member and a tubular female member both disposed about an axis and having thin walls defining inner and outer surfaces. Both the male and female members are fixed to yokes. The yoke of the female member is coupled to a transmission and the yoke of the male member is coupled to a wheel axle. An elastomeric sleeve is adhered to and conforms with the inner surface of the female member and is complementary in configuration to the outer surface of the male member. A male tooth is formed within the thin wall of the male member and a female tooth is formed within the thin wall of the female member. Each tooth has a linear portion and a pair of legs. The legs of the male and female teeth are separated by additional circumferentially extending linear portions. The male member nonrotatably engages the female member for transmitting torque from the transmission to the axle. Specifically, the female member is the drive shaft and the male member is the driven shaft.

Abstract: A sealing device for a drive line slip yoke includes a generally resilient seal and a substantially rigid cover that cooperate to provide a fluid-tight seal at the interface between a slip yoke and an axially moving splined shaft. The seal has a mounting portion that includes a shoulder received within a groove defined on an outer surface of the slip yoke. The cover is snapped over the seal and maintained in position by cooperating tabs on the cover and a groove defined on an outer surface of the seal. The seal includes a sealing portion having three axially spaced and radially inwardly extending lips. A middle lip acts as an O-ring that serves as a back-up in the event that one of the other two lips becomes damaged or deteriorates with use. The substantially rigid cover serves to maintain the seal in proper engagement with the end of the slip yoke and protects the seal from damage potentially caused by debris encountered during operation.

Abstract: A driveline apparatus with a one piece sealing member to prevent loss and contamination of lubricant. The slip type assembly is generally of a sliding spline design. A yoke shaft is fitted into a slip yoke with an internal spline that generally mates with the external spline of the yoke shaft. Universal joint assemblies are attached to each yoke completing the assembly. The splined cavity within the slip yoke generally contains lubricants and is sealed by a plug and a seal which keeps the lubricants in and contaminants out. The sealing member is made of a resilient material and is of one piece construction. The sealing member has a cylindrical wall and integral radially inwardly extending circumferential annulus. The wall and annulus generally complement and mate with the cylindrical end of the slip yoke that has a groove on its surface to receive the annulus.

Abstract: A slip type driveline assembly with a one piece sealing member to prevent loss and contamination of lubricant. The slip type assembly is generally of a sliding spline design. A spline plug is fitted into a slip yoke with an internal spline that generally mates with the external spline of the spline plug. A tube and weld yoke assembly is generally pressure fit and welded to the spline plug. Universal joint assemblies are attached to each yoke completing the assembly. The splined cavity within the slip yoke generally contains lubricants and is sealed by a plug and a seal which keeps the lubricants in and contaminants out. The sealing member is made of a resilient material and is of one piece construction. The sealing member has a cylindrical wall and integral radially inwardly extending circumferential annulus. The wall and annulus generally complement and mate with the cylindrical end of the slip yoke that has a groove on its surface to receive the annulus.

Abstract: Agricultural slip type driveline assemblies are generally of a sliding shaft design. A square shaft is fitted into a square tube slip yoke having an internal cavity that generally mates with the square shaft. The square shaft is generally welded to the square hole yoke. The sealing member is made of a resilient material and has four walls and integral radially inwardly extending ridge members. The walls and ridges generally complement and mate with the square end of a slip yoke that has four grooves on its surface to receive the ridges and hold the seal in place. The walls are joined to four radially inwardly extending walls which in turn are joined to radially inwardly converging square pyramidal walls. The pyramidal walls terminate at four radially outwardly extending reinforcing ribs.

Abstract: A unitary center bearing assembly for rotatably mounting a vehicle drive shaft which includes a resilient support having an aperture therethrough, an anti-friction bearing seated in the aperture and a generally U-shaped mounting bracket having a plurality of tabs and at least one detent extending inward and securing the resilient support against movement relative to the bracket.

Abstract: A unitary center bearing assembly for rotatably mounting a vehicle drive shaft which includes a resilient support having an aperture therethrough, an anti-friction bearing seated in the aperture and a generally U-shaped mounting bracket having a plurality of tabs and at least one detent extending inward and securing the resilient support against movement relative to the bracket.

Abstract: A one piece sealing member for a slip type driveline assembly to prevent loss and contamination of lubricant. The sealing member is made of a resilient material and has a cylindrical wall and integral radially inwardly extending circumferential annulus. The wall and annulus generally complement and mate with the cylindrical end of a slip yoke that has a groove on its surface to receive the annulus. The cylindrical wall is joined to a radially inwardly extending wall which in turn is joined to a radially inwardly converging truncated conical wall. The truncated conical wall terminates at a radially outwardly extending reinforcing rib.

Abstract: A square one piece sealing member for a slip type driveline assembly to prevent loss and contamination of lubricant. The sealing member is made of a resilient material and has four walls and integral radially inwardly extending ridge members. The walls and ridges generally complement and mate with the square end of a slip yoke that has four grooves on its surface to receive the ridges. The walls are joined to four radially inwardly extending walls which in turn are joined to radially inwardly converging square pyramidal walls. The pyramidal walls terminate at four radially outwardly extending reinforcing ribs.