Dual plunging constant velocity drive shaft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11248658-B2
Application number	US-201916714505-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2019
Priority date	Feb 26, 2016
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

A dual plunging constant velocity (CV) drive shaft is provided for communicating rotational forces from a transaxle to a drive wheel of a vehicle. The dual plunging CV drive shaft comprises a drive shaft that transfers torque from the transaxle to the drive wheel. An inboard plunging CV joint is coupled between the transaxle and the drive shaft, and an outboard plunging CV joint is coupled between the drive shaft and the drive wheel. The inboard and outboard plunging CV joints each comprises an elongate housing that receives a CV joint coupled with the drive shaft. The inboard and outboard plunging CV joints communicate rotational forces from the transaxle to the drive wheel during vertical pivoting of a trailing arm coupled with the outboard plunging CV joint. The elongate housings allow the drive shaft to “float” longitudinally, as needed, during extreme pivoting motion of the suspension.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dual plunging constant velocity, CV, drive shaft for conducting rotational motion from a transaxle to a drive wheel of a vehicle, comprising:
an inboard elongate housing that is configured to be coupled with the transaxle;
an outboard elongate housing that is configured to be coupled with the drive wheel, and a trailing arm supporting the drive wheel by way of one or more bearings, wherein each of the inboard elongate housing and the outboard elongate housing comprises threads that are configured to rotatably engage with threads disposed within an interior of an end-cap, a groove being comprised of clearance remaining between an interior surface of the end-cap and the edge of each of the inboard elongate housing and the outboard elongate housing; and
an elongate member coupled at a first end with a first CV joint that is configured to move longitudinally within the inboard elongate housing, and coupled at a second end with a second CV joint that is configured to move longitudinally within the outboard elongate housing, wherein the inboard elongate housing is configured to enable at least a portion of the first CV joint to be exposed to an exterior of the inboard elongate housing during longitudinal movement.

2. The drive shaft of claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal ball race disposed within an interior of the inboard elongate housing is configured to allow the first CV joint to move longitudinally relative to the transaxle, and wherein a longitudinal ball race disposed within an interior of the outboard elongate housing is configured to allow the second CV joint to move longitudinally relative to the trailing arm.

3. The drive shaft of claim 1 , wherein the first CV joint is comprised of a plurality of balls positioned uniformly around an inner race and retained thereon by way of a bearing cage, the inner race comprising recesses configured to allow the plurality of balls to move longitudinally relative to the drive shaft, and wherein the second first CV joint is comprised of a plurality of balls positioned uniformly around an inner race comprising recesses configured to allow the plurality of balls to move longitudinally relative to the trailing arm, the plurality of balls being retained on the inner race by way of a bearing cage.

4. The drive shaft of claim 1 , wherein the inboard elongate housing and the outboard elongate housing each comprises a groove that receives a snap-ring, the grooves and the snap-rings cooperating to retain the first CV joint and the second CV joint respectively retained with the inboard elongate housing and the outboard elongate housing.

5. The drive shaft of claim 4 , wherein the groove is circumferentially disposed at an outer-most edge of the interior of each of the inboard elongate housing and the outboard elongate housing.

6. The drive shaft of claim 1 , wherein each groove is configured to receive a snap-ring, the grooves and snap-rings being configured to cooperatively retain the first CV joint and the second CV joint respectively retained with the inboard elongate housing and the outboard elongate housing.

7. The drive shaft of claim 1 , wherein each of the inboard elongate housing and the outboard elongate housing comprises threads that are configured to rotatably engage with threads disposed within an interior of an end-cap, a lip of the end-cap comprising a narrow portion of the end-cap that prevents the first CV joint and the second CV joint from fully exiting respective interiors of the inboard elongate housing and the outboard elongate housing.

8. The drive shaft of claim 1 , wherein the outboard plunging joint includes an outboard elongate housing configured to receive a second CV joint coupled to the drive shaft and to allow the second CV joint to move longitudinally within the outboard elongate housing, wherein the outboard elongate housing is configured to enable at least a portion of the second CV joint to be exposed to an exterior of the outboard elongate housing during longitudinal movement.

Assignees

• Gordon Robby

Inventors

• Gordon Robby

Classifications

• B60B35/128

  of the homokinetic or constant velocity type · CPC title

• B60B2900/115

  Complexity · CPC title

• B60B35/14

  composite or split, e.g. half- axles; Couplings between axle parts or sections · CPC title

• B60B2900/351

  versatility, e.g. usable for different purposes or different arrangements · CPC title

• F16D3/841

  Open covers, e.g. guards for agricultural p.t.o. shafts · CPC title