Propeller shaft with crash feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11047426-B2
Application number	US-201816212840-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2018
Priority date	Dec 8, 2017
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

A propeller shaft assembly comprises a first rotary component having a first splined portion and a first engaging surface arranged transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first rotary component and spaced from the first splined portion and a second rotary component having a second splined portion configured to engage the first splined portion. The second splined portion defines a second engaging surface arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first rotary component. A shear component is disposed between the first engaging surface of the first rotary component and the second engaging surface of the second rotary component. The shear component forms a crash feature of the propeller shaft assembly configured to shear at an edge of the second engaging surface when the first shear component is compressed between the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A propeller shaft assembly comprising:
a first rotary component having a first splined portion and a first engaging surface arranged transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first rotary component and spaced from the first splined portion;
a second rotary component having a second splined portion configured to engage the first splined portion, an end surface of the second splined portion defining a second engaging surface arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first rotary component; and
a first shear component disposed between the first engaging surface of the first rotary component and the second engaging surface of the second rotary component with respect to a longitudinal direction of the first rotary component, wherein the first shear component extends circumferentially around at least a portion of an outer surface of the first rotary component, the first shear component configured to shear at an edge of the second engaging surface when the first shear component is compressed between the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface, wherein the edge is formed at an intersection of the end surface of the second splined portion forming the second engaging surface and an inner surface of the second splined portion, wherein the edge has a circumferentially extending corrugated profile shape corresponding to a circumferentially extending corrugated profile shape of the inner surface of the second splined portion.

2. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 1 , wherein the edge of the second engaging surface includes a circumferentially extending saw-toothed profile shape.

3. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second engaging surface is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the first rotary component, wherein an angle of inclination of the second engaging surface relative to the longitudinal axis of the first rotary component is greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees.

4. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second engaging surface is inclined relative to an end surface of the first shear component, wherein an angle of inclination of the second engaging surface relative to the end surface of the first shear component is greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees.

5. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first engaging surface is defined by an end surface of a projection projecting from an outer surface of the first rotary component.

6. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second rotary component includes a retaining lip projecting from the second engaging surface of the second splined portion, the retaining lip projecting in the longitudinal direction of the first rotary component.

7. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second rotary component is coupled to a first shaft tube having a hollow interior, wherein the first rotary component is configured to telescope into the hollow interior of the first shaft tube following a shearing of the first shear component.

8. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first splined portion extends longitudinally from a first end to a second end, wherein the first end of the first splined portion is disposed adjacent the first shear component and the first rotary component includes a groove formed adjacent the second end of the first splined portion, wherein the groove receives a retention clip therein, wherein at least a portion of the retention clip extends across a joint formed between the first splined portion and the second splined portion.

9. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first shear component restricts motion of the first rotary component in a first direction relative to the second rotary component and wherein the retention clip restricts motion of the first rotary component relative to the second rotary component in a second direction opposite the first direction.

10. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second rotary component is an inner race of a constant velocity joint.

11. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first end of the first rotary component includes the splined portion thereof, and wherein a second end of the first rotary component is coupled to one of a constant velocity joint or a Cardan joint.

12. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first shear component has a substantially C-shaped cross-sectional shape.

13. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first shear component is configured to elastically flex to receive the first shaft component.

14. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first shear component is formed from a polymeric material.

15. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first shear component is formed from a composite material including a polymeric material and an inorganic filler material.

16. A propeller shaft assembly comprising:
a first rotary component comprising a first shaft component and a second shaft component, the first shaft component extending from a first end to a second end, the first shaft component including a first splined portion and a first engaging surface disposed adjacent the first end thereof, the first engaging surface arranged transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first rotary component and spaced apart from the first splined portion, the first shaft component further including a second splined portion disposed adjacent the second end thereof, the second splined portion defining a second engaging surface arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first rotary component, the second shaft component including a third splined portion configured to engage the second splined portion and a third engaging surface arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first rotary component and spaced apart from the third splined portion;
a second rotary component having a fourth splined portion configured to engage the first splined portion, the fourth splined portion defining a fourth engaging surface arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first rotary component;
a first shear component disposed between the first engaging surface of the first shaft component and the fourth engaging surface of the second rotary component, the first shear component configured to shear at an edge of the fourth engaging surface when the first shear component is compressed between the first engaging surface and the fourth engaging surface; and
a second shear component disposed between the second engaging surface of the first shaft component and the third engaging surface of the second shaft component, the second shear component configured to shear at an edge of the fourth engaging surface when the second shear component is compressed between the first engaging surface and the fourth engaging surface.

17. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first shear component is configured to shear at a first predetermined axial load and the second shear component is configured to shear at a second predetermined axial load different from the first predetermined axial load.

18. The propeller shaft assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first splined portion extends longitudinally from a first end to a second end, wherein the first end of the first splined portion is disposed adjacent the first shear component and the first shaft component includes a first groove formed adjacent the second end of the first splined portion, wherein the first groove receives a first retention clip therein, wherein at least

Assignees

• Neapco Intellectual Property Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Wehner Robert J
• Dubiel Nick
• Srinivasan Arvind

Classifications

• F16D1/116 Primary

  the interengaging parts including a continuous or interrupted circumferential groove in the surface of one of the coupling parts (circlips for retaining hubs on shafts F16B21/18) · CPC title

• Y10T403/7033

  including a lock or retainer · CPC title

• F16D2001/103

  the torque is transmitted via splined connections · CPC title

• F16D9/06 Primary

  by breaking due to shear stress · CPC title

• F16D3/223

  the rolling members being guided in grooves in both coupling parts · CPC title