Housing drive connection for a constant velocity joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11655858-B2
Application number	US-201715855003-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2017
Priority date	Dec 27, 2017
Publication date	May 23, 2023
Grant date	May 23, 2023

Abstract

A constant velocity joint for use in a vehicle and a method of mounting a constant velocity joint including a splined shaft. The constant velocity joint also includes an O-ring gland, an inner race, an outer race, rolling elements, and a boot. The splined shaft of the constant velocity joint transmits torque from a splined hub of a second rotating element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A joint assembly for use in a vehicle, the joint assembly comprising:
an inner race;
an outer race comprising a clip interface at a first outer portion of the outer race, wherein the clip interface is capable of making contact with a clip to hold the joint assembly in place;
a splined shaft including a splined portion at a second outer portion of the outer race, wherein the splined shaft is capable of applying torque originating from a gear box of the vehicle to the outer race; and
an O-ring gland at a third outer portion of the outer race, wherein the third outer portion is located on the outer race between the first outer portion and the second outer portion.

2. The joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the splined shaft comprises an involute spline.

3. The joint assembly of claim 2 , wherein the splined shaft generates a self-centering effect.

4. The joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the joint assembly connects directly with a gearbox.

5. The joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner race connects directly with drive shaft.

6. The joint assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an O-ring that fits into the O-ring gland to create a seal between the outer race and a planetary carrier.

7. The joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the splined shaft fits within a splined hub of a planetary carrier.

8. The joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the splined shaft defines an outer diameter of the joint assembly.

9. A vehicle comprising a joint assembly, the joint assembly comprising:
an inner race;
an outer race comprising a clip interface at a first outer portion of the outer race, wherein the clip interface is capable of making contact with a clip to hold the joint assembly in place;
a splined shaft including a splined portion at a second outer portion of the outer race, wherein the splined shaft is capable of applying torque originating from a gear box of the vehicle to the outer race; and
an O-ring gland at a third outer portion of the outer race, wherein the third outer portion is located on the outer race between the first outer portion and the second outer portion.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the splined shaft comprises an involute spline.

Assignees

• Nio Technology Anhui Co Ltd

Inventors

• Bassis Dimitri

Classifications

• F16B2/20

  Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening · CPC title

• F16D3/845

  allowing relative movement of joint parts due to the flexing of the cover · CPC title

• F16D1/10 Primary

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

• F16D2001/103

  the torque is transmitted via splined connections · CPC title

• F16D1/116

  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