Universal joint with protective shield

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9494198-B2
Application number	US-201414551623-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 24, 2014
Priority date	Nov 24, 2014
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A constant velocity (CV) joint includes a conical shield to protect a J-boot from damage due to projectiles such as stones. In order to facilitate vehicle assembly, the conical shield is divided into a number of leaves which each flex radially to permit installation of bolts. When the CV joint is shipped to the vehicle assembly plant, a band is installed to hold the leaves in a stowed position. Once the bolts have been installed to attach the CV joint to a driveline component, the band is removed and the leaves flex to a deployed position in which they protect the J-boot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle driveshaft comprising:
a shaft having a shaft axis and adapted for fixation at a first end to a differential;
a ring adapted for fixation to a transmission and coupled to a second end of the shaft to rotate about a ring axis non-coincident with the shaft axis, the ring defining a plurality of holes, each hole having a hole axis; and
a conical sleeve fixed at a narrow end to the shaft and having a number of leaves configured to flex radially between a deployed position in which the hole axes intersect the conical sleeve and a stowed position in which the hole axes do not intersect the conical sleeve.

2. The driveshaft of claim 1 further comprising a flexible boot fixed to the ring and to the shaft.

3. The driveshaft of claim 2 further comprising a retention strap configured to hold the leaves in a stowed position.

4. The driveshaft of claim 2 further comprising:
six balls each configured to roll within a respective convex groove in the shaft and within a respective concave groove in the ring.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Nicholas Christopher Peter
• Wilson Scott
• Gretsky Jonathan

Classifications

• Y10S464/906

  Torque transmitted via radially spaced balls · CPC title

• F16D2003/22326

  Attachments to the outer joint member, i.e. attachments to the exterior of the outer joint member or to the shaft of the outer joint member · CPC title

• F16D2300/12

  Mounting or assembling · CPC title

• F16D3/223

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

• F16D3/841 Primary

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