A method of manufacturing an annular transmission component for a vehicle includes providing a tube defining an annular wall having a predetermined diameter. The tube is cut to a form a tube blank having a first end and a second end. The tube blank placed into a forming machine and the first end of the tube blank is rolled relative to the second end of the tube blank forming an annular U-shaped channel defined between the first and the second end.
B62D 65/10 - Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components the sub-units or components being engines, clutches or transmissions
A method of forming a joint for interconnecting adjacent elements comprises providing a first element defining at least one aperture extending from a first edge to a second edge through a thickness of the first element. The method further comprises mating a second element to the first element with the second element overlaying the at least one aperture of the first element at the second edge thereof such that the second element extends through the at least one aperture perpendicular to the first element with an excess portion of the second element extending beyond the first edge of the first element. Finally, the method comprises compressing the excess portion of the second element such that the second element is continuous across the at least one aperture and adjacent the first and second edges of the first element, thereby interlocking the first and second elements and forming the joint.
B60K 23/02 - Arrangement or mounting of control devices for vehicle transmissions, or parts thereof, not otherwise provided for for main transmission clutches
A rotational assembly includes a mating surface and an interlocking surface disposed in driving engagement with a cooperable interlocking member of a driving mechanism. A plurality of receptors is defined in the mating surface. A bearing element is received in each of the plurality of receptors for reducing frictional interaction between the mating surface of the rotational assembly and a complementary mating surface of an interacting component. A retainer is defined in the mating surface at each of the receptors providing rotational retention of each of the bearing elements within its corresponding receptor.
F16C 19/00 - Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement
F16C 19/22 - Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing rollers essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows, e.g. needle bearings
F16C 19/02 - Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing balls essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows
F16C 43/06 - Placing rolling bodies in cages or bearings
A drive shaft assembly for a vehicle includes a first tubular member and a second tubular member that is received by the first tubular member defining a coaxial relationship. The first tubular member defines a plurality of protuberances with each of the protuberances defining a side wall and the second tubular member defines a plurality of apertures with each of the apertures defined by a flange circumscribing the aperture and extending radially inwardly of second tubular member. Each aperture receives a protuberance so that the protuberance abuts the sidewalls of the aperture affixing the first tubular member to said second tubular member in a substantially fixed circumferential orientation.
B60K 17/22 - Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft
B60K 17/24 - Arrangement of mountings for shafting
5.
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED CLUTCH PLATE INTERFACE
A clutch assembly includes a housing defining an axis. A plurality of plates disposed within the housing are in driving engagement with the housing around the axis. The housing defines a housing wall circumscribing the axis and having a sinusoidal configuration including a wall crest and a wall trough. The wall crest and the wall trough are substantially parallel to the axis defined by the housing. The plates have teeth complimentary of the sinusoidal configuration of the housing wall for engaging the housing wall enabling the driving engagement between the housing wall and the plates.
F16D 23/12 - Mechanical clutch-actuating mechanisms arranged outside the clutch as such
F16D 25/063 - Fluid-actuated clutches in which the fluid actuates a piston incorporated in the clutch the clutch having friction surfaces with clutch members exclusively moving axially
F16D 25/0638 - Fluid-actuated clutches in which the fluid actuates a piston incorporated in the clutch the clutch having friction surfaces with clutch members exclusively moving axially with flat friction surfaces, e.g. discs with more than two discs, e.g. multiple lamellae
A rotational assembly includes a mating surface and an interlocking surface disposed in driving engagement with a cooperable interlocking member of a driving mechanism. A plurality of receptors is defined in the mating surface. A bearing element is received in each of the plurality of receptors for reducing frictional interaction between the mating surface of the rotational assembly and a complimentary mating surface of an interacting component. A retainer is defined in the mating surface at each of the receptors providing rotational retention of each of the bearing elements within its corresponding receptor.
F16C 19/22 - Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing rollers essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows, e.g. needle bearings
B21K 1/02 - Making machine elements balls, rolls, or rollers, e.g. for bearings
A structural metal tube having a variable thickness varying between a minimum thickness and a maximum thickness providing structural rigidity and support for the tube. The structural tube may be polygonal, such as rectangular and utilized as an automotive A pillar, wherein the thicker wall provides a support for a hinge plate. The method includes rolling the desired configuration of the tube and welding the thinner edges.
B21C 37/06 - Manufacture of metal sheets, rods, wire, tubes, profiles or like semi-manufactured products, not otherwise provided forManufacture of tubes of special shape of tubes or metal hosesCombined procedures for making tubes, e.g. for making multi-wall tubes
B21C 37/15 - Making tubes of special shapeMaking the fittings
8.
METHOD OF MANUFACTURING IMPELLER AND TURBINE ASSEMBLIES
A method of manufacturing an impeller and turbine assembly of a transmission includes providing an impeller housing and a turbine housing. An impeller blade defining an impeller receptor and a turbine blade defining a turbine receptor are provided. The impeller blade is mated to the impeller housing by deforming a portion of said impeller housing into the impeller receptor. The turbine blade is mated to the turbine housing by deforming a portion of the turbine housing into the turbine receptor. In this manner, the impeller blade is secured to the impeller housing and the turbine blade is secured to the turbine housing.
F16H 41/24 - Rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type Details
F16H 41/28 - Rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type Details with respect to manufacture, e.g. blade attachment
B62D 65/10 - Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components the sub-units or components being engines, clutches or transmissions
A method of forming a shaft for transferring force from a driving element to a driven element makes use of a tube. The tube is deformed to define distal ends of said shaft. At least one of the distal ends of the tube is trimmed to define a yoke for engaging one of the driving element or the driven element, with the yoke being integrally formed with the shaft.
A method of forming a housing which includes roll forming a steel tube radially inwardly with a plurality of rollers each having a rolling axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the rollers compressing the tube and forming reduced diameter portions and enlarged diameter portions. The method then includes cutting the tube perpendicular to the longitudinal axis generally midway through an enlarged diameter portion and a reduced diameter portion, forming a plurality of mirror image preforms. Finally, the method includes cold working the preforms into the desired shape of the housing and increasing the strength of the steel at least 15% and forming a housing member having enlarged diameter open end and a reduced diameter open end.
A torque transmitting assembly, such as a differential, including a tubular housing having a polygonal cross-section including a plurality of angularly related surfaces and a torque transmitting member within the housing having flat surfaces engaging the flat surfaces of the housing, such that torque is transmitted through the housing. In a differential, the torque transmitting member includes annular side gears having a plurality of annular teeth and annular pinion gears including gear teeth meshing with the gear teeth of the side gears.
A method of making a universal joint from a tube, including forming a plurality of pairs of coaxially aligned holes at longitudinally spaced locations in the tube, cutting the tube along a curvilinear cutting path around the holes forming a pair of projecting arms and U-shaped recesses between the arms forming a plurality of yokes and pivotally interconnecting the yokes using a pivot member received in the holes of adjacent yokes.
A housing for use with a clutch assembly includes an annular wall disposed around an axis and extending between an open end of the housing and a floor of the housing with the floor extending toward the axis. A plurality of splines are spaced around the annular wall and extends between the open end and the floor. The splines define a work surface for engaging teeth of a clutch plate with the work surface being fractured from the annular wall providing a substantially normal relationship to the annular wall.
A clutch assembly for a vehicle transmission includes a housing defined by a wall having an annular configuration circumscribing a clutch axis. The wall extends between an open end and a floor. The floor extends inwardly from the wall toward the clutch axis. A plurality of splines formed in the wall and each is spaced from the open end of the housing. A snap ring retains clutch plates in the housing. The open end of the wall is deformed inwardly toward the clutch axis defining a retainer for retaining the snap ring within the housing.
A method of forming a housing which includes roll forming a steel tube radially inwardly with a plurality of rollers each having a rolling axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the rollers compressing the tube and forming reduced diameter portions and enlarged diameter portions. The method then includes cutting the tube perpendicular to the longitudinal axis generally midway through an enlarged diameter portion and a reduced diameter portion, forming a plurality of mirror image preforms. Finally, the method includes cold working the preforms into the desired shape of the housing and increasing the strength of the steel at least 15% and forming a housing member having enlarged diameter open end and a reduced diameter open end.
A drive shaft assembly for a vehicle includes a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The second tubular member is mated to the first tubular member. The first tubular member defines a plurality of protuberances and the second tubular member includes a plurality of apertures. Each of the plurality of apertures receives one of the plurality of protuberances substantially affixing the first tubular member to the second tubular member in a circumferential orientation.
A drive shaft assembly for a vehicle includes a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The second tubular member is mated to the first tubular member. The first tubular member defines a plurality of protuberances and the second tubular member includes a plurality of apertures. Each of the plurality of apertures receives one of the plurality of protuberances substantially affixing the first tubular member to the second tubular member in a circumferential orientation.
A clutch assembly for a vehicle transmission includes a housing defined by a wall having an annular configuration circumscribing a clutch axis. The wall extends between an open end and a floor. The floor extends inwardly from the wall toward the clutch axis. A plurality of splines formed in the wall and each is spaced from the open end of the housing. A snap ring retains clutch plates in the housing. The open end of the wall is deformed inwardly toward the clutch axis defining a retainer for retaining the snap ring within the housing.
F16D 25/0638 - Fluid-actuated clutches in which the fluid actuates a piston incorporated in the clutch the clutch having friction surfaces with clutch members exclusively moving axially with flat friction surfaces, e.g. discs with more than two discs, e.g. multiple lamellae
patents
