Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Shafting
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-11
2001-08-28
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3629)
Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro
Shafting
C029S525000, C464S180000, C464S906000, C464S140000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280340
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to improvements in a power transmission device which is able to absorb axial impact energy and is applicable to a drive shaft and a steering column of an automotive vehicle.
A Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 53-91236 discloses a power transmission device arranged to connect a shaft and a pipe by means of a spline coupling so as to allow a relative slide in the axial direction therebetween and to forbid a relative rotation therebetween. Further, a shear pin is installed in a through-hole of the shaft and a through-hole of the pipe to connect the shaft and the pipe so as to restrict the axial movement therebetween. If the power transmission device receives an axial impact applied to the shaft and the pipe, the axial impact energy is absorbed by the axial movement between the shaft and the pipe while absorbing the energy by means of the friction caused by the spline coupling and of a breakage of the shear pin. In case that a universal joint is fixedly installed to an end portion of the shaft by means of a press-fitting, it is necessary to apply a press-fitting force to the shaft and the pipe. If such an installation of the universal joint is simply carried out, the shaft will slide with respect to the pipe through the spline coupling. Therefore, in case of such a conventional power transmission device with a universal joint, it is necessary that the universal joint is installed to the shaft by fixedly supporting an intermediate portion of the shaft by means of a chucking device in order to receive the press-fitting force of the universal joint.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, there is a possibility that such chucking of the shaft will injure a peripheral surface of the shaft so as to lower the mechanical strength of the shaft.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved power transmission device which is produced to have an impact absorbing property while maintaining the mechanical strength of a shaft.
An impact-absorbable power transmission device according to the present invention comprises a shaft, a pipe, a spline coupling connecting the shaft and the pipe, and a universal joint connected to the shaft. The spline coupling connects the shaft and the pipe so as to allow an axial movement with a frictional force therebetween and to forbid a relative rotation therebetween. The universal joint is fixed with an end portion of the shaft by means of press-fitting. The shaft has a flange at which a force for press-fitting the universal joint is received.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2698528 (1955-01-01), Boesch
patent: 4177654 (1979-12-01), Aucktor
patent: 4183258 (1980-01-01), Stephan
patent: 4184345 (1980-01-01), Cutler
patent: 5830071 (1998-11-01), Castellon
patent: 5916026 (1999-06-01), Sadakata
patent: 19 60 550 (1967-05-01), None
patent: 198 09 197 (1997-03-01), None
patent: 91236 (1978-08-01), None
patent: UP 4-7729 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 10-258646 (1998-09-01), None
patent: 11-303846 (1999-11-01), None
patent: WO 97/07344 (1997-02-01), None
Journal “Oelhydraulik und Preumatik” [Oil Hydraulics and Penumatics], 1972, No. 1, pp. I-IV.
Roloff/Matek: Maschinenelemente [Machine Elements], 6thEdition, 1974, Vieweg-Verlag, pp. 21, 288, 289, 294, 295.
H. Heldt: Verfahren and Hilsmittel beim Einbau und Ausbau von Walzlagern [Methods and Means for Assembling and Disassembling Roller Bearings]. In: “Die Kugellagerzeitschrift”, No. 3, 1959, pp. 62-67.
Dunwoody Aaron M
Foley & Lardner
Knight Anthony
Unisia Jecs Corporation
LandOfFree
Impact-absorbable power transmission device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Impact-absorbable power transmission device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Impact-absorbable power transmission device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2528927