Connection device for a drive train

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10941815-B2
Application number	US-201715708282-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2017
Priority date	May 19, 2015
Publication date	Mar 9, 2021
Grant date	Mar 9, 2021

Abstract

A connection device for a joint shaft in a motor vehicle includes an axis of rotation, a first connection area for connecting the connection device to a drive train element, a predetermined breaking region, and a tube region which connects directly to the predetermined breaking region. The connection device has an axial extension in the direction of the axis of rotation, and a radial extension orthogonal to the axis of rotation and is designed, at least substantially, as a tubular hollow body. The predetermined breaking region is arranged between the first connection region and the tube region in the axial direction. A connection area is arranged in the axial direction between the first connection region and the predetermined breaking region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connection device for a shaft in a motor vehicle, comprising:
an axis of rotation;
a first connection region for connecting the connection device to a drive train element;
a predetermined breaking region; and
a tube region which directly adjoins the predetermined breaking region,
wherein the connection device has an axial extent in an axial direction of the axis of rotation and a radial extent orthogonal thereto and is formed at least in part as a tubular hollow body,
wherein the predetermined breaking region is arranged between the first connection region and the tube region in the axial direction,
wherein a connecting region is arranged in the axial direction between the first connection region and the predetermined breaking region,
wherein the greatest outer radial extent of the first connection region is smaller than the greatest outer radial extent of the connecting region,
wherein the greatest outer radial extent of the connecting region is smaller than the smallest inner radial extent of the tube region,
wherein at least one of: the first connecting region, the breaking region, the tube region, and a tapering region, has a different wall thickness than at least one other of: the first connecting region, the breaking region, the tube region, and a tapering region,
wherein there is an uninterrupted material fiber flow between the tube region, the breaking region and the connecting region, and
wherein the predetermined breaking region is formed as a radially outwardly curved connection between the tube region and the connecting region.

2. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the greatest outer radial extent of the first connection region is smaller than the smallest inner radial extent of the connecting region.

3. The connection device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second connection region which adjoins the tube region in the axial direction, wherein
the second connection region, relative to the first connection region, is arranged on an opposite side of the predetermined breaking region and
the second connection region is provided for connecting to another drive train element.

4. The connection device according to claim 3 , wherein the second connection region has a hollow cylindrical body.

5. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection device has, at least in part, a wall thickness which is greater than 0.5 mm and smaller than 5 mm.

6. The connection device according to claim 5 , wherein the wall thickness is greater than 0.75 mm and smaller than 4 mm.

7. The connection device according to claim 6 , wherein the wall thickness is greater than 1.25 mm and smaller than 3 mm.

8. The connection device according to claim 7 , wherein the wall thickness is greater than 1.75 mm and smaller than 2.25 mm.

9. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection device has, at least in part, a wall thickness which is greater than 1.75 mm and smaller than 2.25 mm.

10. The connection device according to claim 9 , wherein all of the first connection region, the connecting region, and the tube region have a hollow cylindrical body.

11. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection device has a steel material as a component or is composed of a steel material.

12. The connection device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one of the first connection region, the connecting region, and the tube region has a hollow cylindrical body.

13. The connection device according to claim 12 , wherein all of the first connection region, the connecting region, and the tube region have a hollow cylindrical body.

14. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein
a first tapering region is arranged between the first connection region and the connecting region, and
a rigidity of the predetermined breaking region in the axial direction is lower than a rigidity of the first tapering region.

15. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein
a first tapering region is arranged between the first connection region and the connecting region, and
a strength of the predetermined breaking region in the axial direction is lower than a strength of the first tapering region.

16. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft in the motor vehicle is a cardan shaft.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Schneider Franz
• Fusseder Erwin
• Streinz Wolfgang
• Hofstetter Josef
• Blieninger Hans

Classifications

• F16D1/0858 Primary

  due to the elasticity of the hub (including shrink fits) · CPC title

• F16C3/02

  Shafts; Axles · CPC title

• F16D1/087

  due to other loading elements in the hub or shaft · CPC title

• F16C2326/06

  Drive shafts · CPC title

• F16D1/10

  Quick-acting couplings in which the parts are connected by simply bringing them together axially · CPC title