James R Brichta

6896108, May 24, 2005

Apr 4, 2002

10/116206

Mark M. Schneider - Royal Oak MI, US
Larry W. Bowman - Troy MI, US
Eric B. Ratts - Northville MI, US
Paul R. Sieber - Rochester Hills MI, US
Robert W. Hildebrand - Rochester Hills MI, US
Michael E. Johnson - Rochester MI, US
James R. Brichta - Highland MI, US

AxleTech International IP Holdings, LLC - Troy MI

F16D065/78

188264R, 188264 P, 74606 A

A system for controlling the temperature of a vehicle driveline component assembly includes using forced air to cool lubricant within the assembly. As heat builds up during braking applications, for example, a controller determines when additional cooling may be needed. An air source is activated to induce air flow through at least one flow passage supported relative to the housing so that the air flowing through the passage can absorb heat from the lubricant. In one example, the air flow passage is supported within the component housing. In another example, the air flow passage is associated with a heat exchanger supported external to the component housing in a strategic location on the vehicle or the housing, for example. A pump responsible for causing the air flow preferably also causes lubricant flow in a desired manner to facilitate heat dissipation.

7032722, Apr 25, 2006

Jul 7, 2003

10/614582

Dennis A. Kramer - Troy MI, US
Frederick A. Jelley - Suttons Bay MI, US
Joseph A. Kay - Highland MI, US
James R. Brichta - Highland MI, US
Dennis G. O'Reilly - Rochester Hills MI, US
Christopher S. Keeney - Troy MI, US
Jaeho Kwak - West Lafayette IN, US

ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC - Troy MI

F16D 55/08

188 728

A brake assembly has a caliper with a first brake pad and a second brake pad. The first brake pad is moveable relative to the caliper. A brake actuator moves the first brake pad and has a first threaded member and a second threaded member. The first threaded member has first thread characteristics for moving the brake actuator at a first speed and a first force. The second threaded member has a second thread characteristics for moving the brake actuator at a second speed and a second force. The first speed is greater than the second speed while the first force is lower than the second force.

7055658, Jun 6, 2006

Dec 29, 2003

10/747746

Frederick A. Jelley - Suttons Bay MI, US
Joseph A. Kay - Highland MI, US
James R. Brichta - Highland MI, US
Dennis G. O'Reilly - Rochester Hills MI, US
Christopher S. Keeney - Troy MI, US
Jaeho Kwak - West Lafayette IN, US
Dennis A. Kramer - Troy MI, US

ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC - Troy MI

F16D 55/14
F16D 55/46

188 722, 188 28, 188 729

A self-energized disk brake assembly includes gain stabilization features for controlling the multiplication of applied force against a rotatable brake member. The brake assembly includes a first brake pad supported about a first pivot and a second brake pad supported about a second pivot. An actuator applies a force to drive the brake pads into the rotatable brake member. Frictional force between the brake pads and the rotatable brake member pulls the brake pads into further engagement generating an increase in braking force from self-energization. A position of the first and second pivots is adjustable to control the amount of braking force generated from self-energization.

20020108817, Aug 15, 2002

Apr 3, 2002

10/115651

Paul Sieber - Rochester Hills MI, US
Mark Schneider - Royal Oak MI, US
Larry Bowman - Troy MI, US
Robert Hildebrand - Rochester Hills MI, US
Michael Johnson - Rochester MI, US
James Brichta - Highland MI, US
Raji El-Kassouf - St. Priest En-Jarez, FR

F16D055/08

188/072100

A drive axle assembly includes a supplemental brake force assembly that utilizes a variable viscosity fluid. The assembly includes a housing defining a cavity and a drive component mounted for rotation relative to the housing. Rotating plates are mounted for rotation with the drive component and a Theological fluid is enclosed within the housing to surround the rotating plates. A current source generates current within the fluid to vary the viscosity. At higher traveling speeds, no current is applied to the fluid so the viscosity of the fluid is low, which reduces drag against the rotating plate. However, when a braking even occurs, current is applied to the fluid to increase viscosity and generate a supplemental braking force. The assembly is preferably incorporated into a wet disc brake with a plurality of non-rotating plates positioned in an alternating dispersal between the rotating plates. A brake actuator compresses the non-rotating and rotating plates together to generate a primary braking force in addition to the supplemental braking force. Fins are formed on the external surface of the housing to dissipate heat generated during braking.

20030183455, Oct 2, 2003

Apr 2, 2002

10/114207

Mark Schneider - Royal Oak MI, US
Larry Bowman - Troy MI, US
Eric Ratts - Northville MI, US
Paul Sieber - Rochester Hills MI, US
Robert Hildebrand - Rochester Hills MI, US
Michael Johnson - Rochester MI, US
James Brichta - Highland MI, US

F01M001/00
F16N007/26

184/011100

A vehicle drive axle is provided that includes a housing having a longitudinal portion defining a cavity. An axle shaft is supported within the cavity for rotation about an axis. The cavity is at least partially filled with oil. A plurality of spaced apart noncontiguous projections extend from the axle shaft in a direction transverse to the rotational axis. During rotation of the axle shafts, the projections extend into the oil within the cavity and splash the oil onto the upper portion of the axle housing. Increased heat dissipation is achieved by dispersing the oil throughout the cavity, and in particular the upper portion of the axle housing, where it radiates into the surrounding environment.

20030188546, Oct 9, 2003

Apr 4, 2002

10/116780

Mark Schneider - Royal Oak MI, US
Larry Bowman - Troy MI, US
Eric Ratts - Northville MI, US
Paul Sieber - Rochester Hills MI, US
Robert Hildebrand - Rochester Hills MI, US
Michael Johnson - Rochester MI, US
James Brichta - Highland MI, US

F28D005/00
F25D023/12

062/304000, 062/259400

A system for cooling vehicle driveline components, such as axles or wet disc brake assemblies utilizes evaporative cooling effects of liquid applied to an exterior surface on the housing. A liquid supply is coupled with an outlet and a controller determines when cooling is needed. Liquid is applied onto the housing from the outlet as cooling is needed. One example includes a plurality of fluid collectors on a portion of the housing exterior to increase the amount of liquid maintained on the housing to increase the evaporative cooling effect.

20030188932, Oct 9, 2003

Apr 5, 2002

10/117578

Mark Schneider - Royal Oak MI, US
Larry Bowman - Troy MI, US
Eric Ratts - Northville MI, US
Paul Sieber - Rochester Hills MI, US
Robert Hildebrand - Rochester Hills MI, US
Michael Johnson - Rochester MI, US
James Brichta - Highland MI, US

F16D055/02

188/071600

A temperature controlling assembly includes a thermoelectric device that is supported on or in a selected driveline component, such as an axle assembly or a brake assembly. The thermoelectric device preferably is controlled to operate in a first mode to remove heat from the selected component. In one example, fluid within a wet disc brake assembly is cooled using the thermoelectric device. In another mode of operation, the thermoelectric device provides heat to a selected lubricant. A controller monitors the temperature of the chosen component and causes the thermoelectric device to operate in the appropriate mode to maintain the component temperature within a desired range.

20030188933, Oct 9, 2003

Apr 5, 2002

10/117581

Michael Johnson - Rochester MI, US
Mark Schneider - Royal Oak MI, US
Larry Bowman - Troy MI, US
Eric Ratts - Northville MI, US
Paul Sieber - Rochester Hills MI, US
Robert Hildebrand - Rochester Hills MI, US
James Brichta - Highland MI, US

F16D055/02

188/071600

An axle assembly includes braking components that generate heat during braking applications. The axle assembly includes a housing defining a housing cavity and a rotating component mounted for rotation relative to the housing. A heat dissipation member is mounted along an external surface of the housing. Fluid flow cooperates with the heat dissipation member to cool axle components. The axle assembly preferably includes wet disc brakes having a brake housing defining a brake cavity in fluid communication with the housing cavity. The heat dissipation member preferably includes internal passages in communication with the housing and brake cavities. A pumping mechanism generates fluid flow through the internal passages and through the brake and housing cavities to dissipate heat generated during braking.