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US 2019/0154128 A1Published application
Clutched Component
AssigneeAmerican Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorJames P. DOWNS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutched component having a locking mechanism that employs a plurality of radially movable locking elements to selectively rotationally couple first and second coupling parts to one another. A sleeve is employed to control radial movement of the locking elements.
Claims18
A locking differential assembly comprising:
- a differential case having an open end, the differential case being adapted to rotate about an output axis;
- a first coupling part assembled to the differential case to close the open end, the first coupling part defining a plurality of locking member apertures that are spaced circumferentially about the output axis;
- a gearset having first and second outputs that are rotatable relative to the differential case about the output axis;
- a second coupling part coupled to the first output for rotation therewith, the second coupling part received in the first coupling part and having a plurality of locking member recesses that are spaced circumferentially apart about the output axis;
- a plurality of locking members received in the locking member apertures;
- and
- a sleeve that is slidably disposed on the first coupling part, the sleeve being movable between a first position, in which the sleeve provides radial clearance about the first coupling part that permits the locking members to disengage from the second coupling part to permit relative rotation between the second coupling part and the first coupling part, and a second position in which the sleeve is engaged to the locking members and the locking members are received in the locking member recesses such to thereby rotatably couple the second coupling part with first coupling part.
4 more elements
A disconnecting stabilizer bar assembly comprising:
- a first bar member that is rotatable about a stabilizer bar axis;
- a second bar member that is rotatable about the stabilizer bar axis;
- a first coupling part coupled to the first stabilizer bar member for rotation therewith about the stabilizer bar axis, the first coupling part defining a plurality of first locking member apertures, which are spaced circumferentially about the stabilizer bar axis, and a plurality of second locking member apertures that are spaced circumferentially about the stabilizer bar axis, each of the second locking member apertures being disposed circumferentially between a pair of the first locking member apertures;
- a second coupling part coupled to the second bar member for rotation therewith about the stabilizer bar axis, the second coupling part received in the first coupling part and having a plurality of locking member recesses that are spaced circumferentially apart about the stabilizer bar axis;
- a plurality of first locking members received in the first locking member apertures, each of the first locking members being movable in a radial direction relative to the stabilizer bar axis into and out of a corresponding one of the locking member recesses;
- a pair of second locking members received in the second locking member apertures, each of the second locking members being movable in the radial direction into an out of a corresponding one of the locking member recesses;
- a first sleeve that is slidably disposed on the first coupling part, the first sleeve being movable between a first position, in which the first sleeve provides radial clearance about the first coupling part that permits the first locking members to move outwardly of the locking member recesses, and a second position in which the first locking members are received in the locking member recesses and the first sleeve, the first locking members and the second coupling part are engaged to one another;
- a second sleeve that is slidably disposed on the first coupling part, the second sleeve being movable between a third position, in which the second sleeve provides radial clearance about the first coupling part that permits the second locking member to move outwardly of the locking member recesses, and a fourth position in which the second locking members are received in the locking member recesses and the second sleeve, the second locking members and the second coupling part are engaged to one another;
- wherein positioning the first sleeve in the first position and the second sleeve in the third position permits relative rotation between the first and second bar members, and wherein position the first sleeve in the second position and the second sleeve in the fourth position inhibits relative rotation between the first and second bar members.
6 more elements
A method for assembling a locking differential assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a first output and a second coupling part;
- mounting the second coupling part into a first coupling part;
- inserting locking members through locking member apertures in the first coupling part and into locking member recesses in the second coupling part;
- installing a sleeve over the first coupling part to retain the locking members to the first coupling part;
- providing a differential case with an open end;
- installing a second output and a pair of differential pinions through the open end into the differential case;
- meshing the second output with the pair of differential pinions while abutting the first coupling part to the differential case;
- and
- securing the first coupling part to the differential case to close the open end.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.