US 12,276,332 B1
Torque transfer member having a strengthened fluid port and method of making the same
Shun Xun Zhang, West Bloomfield, MI (US); and Bradly Trine, Marshall, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Oct. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/493,970.
Int. Cl. F16H 57/04 (2010.01); C21D 1/18 (2006.01); C21D 6/00 (2006.01); C21D 9/32 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 57/043 (2013.01) [C21D 1/18 (2013.01); C21D 6/00 (2013.01); C21D 9/32 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A torque transfer member having a strengthened fluid port, comprising:
a body member rotatable about an axis, wherein the body member includes an external surface and a body member toughness;
a fluid passageway extending through the body member, wherein the fluid passageway includes an interior surface; and
the strengthened fluid port is in communication with the fluid passageway, wherein the strengthened fluid port includes a port surface connecting the external surface of the body member to the interior surface of the fluid passageway and a region immediately beneath the port surface; and
wherein the port surface and the region immediately beneath the port surface include a fluid port toughness greater than the body member toughness, wherein the fluid port toughness is obtained by applying a predetermined compressive load onto the port surface and applying a heat treatment process;
wherein applying the heat treatment process follows applying the predetermined compressive load onto the port surface;
wherein the body member comprises a metal alloy having an alloy yield point; and
wherein the predetermined compressive load is greater than the alloy yield point.