Configurable driveshaft assembly

• US 20050054454A1
• Filed: 09/10/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Kurzeja, Patrick L.
• Application Number:
  US10/659,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20050054454A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 464/179
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 3/03 telescopic axially displaceable couplings F16D3/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/848 allowing relative movement of joint parts due to sliding between parts of the cover

Abstract

A driveshaft assembly includes a common male component and a female component in engagement with the male component. The female component includes a yoke, a configurable segment and a receptacle member. The configurable segment provides a length that corresponds to a desired vehicle driveshaft length.

Claims

1. A configurable driveshaft assembly comprising:

a male component;

a female component in engagement with said male component, said female component comprising a configurable segment between a female yoke and a receptacle member, said configurable segment being selected from a plurality of optional different length configurable segments to result in a desired ovrall length for the configurable driveshaft assembly; and

a seal received at one end of said female component, and said male component having a yoke and a stem extending from said yoke into said female component, said seal sealing on an outer peripheral surface of said stem.

3. The configurable driveshaft assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said configurable segment is tubular.

4. The configurable driveshaft assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said configurable segment comprises a beveled edge.

5. The configurable driveshaft assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said configurable segment is a rolled tube.

16. The configurable driveshaft assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said configurable segment has a beveled edge at each of two ends, a first of said beveled edges sitting on an outer peripheral surface of said female yoke, and a second of said beveled edges sitting on an outer peripheral surface of said receptacle member.

2. (Cancelled)

6. A drivetrain assembly comprising:

a first axle;

an interaxle driveshaft connected to said first axle, said interaxle driveshaft comprising a configurable segment between a female yoke and a receptacle member;

a second axle connected to said interaxle driveshaft, said configurable segment being selected from a plurality of optional different length configurable segments to result in a desired overall length for the interaxle driveshaft; and

a seal received at one end of said receptacle member, and a male component having a yoke and a stem extending from said yoke into said receptacle member, said seal sealing on an outer peripheral surface of said stem.

8. The drivetrain assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said configurable segment is tubular.

9. The drivetrain assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said configurable segment has at least one beveled edge.

10. The drivetrain assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said configurable segment is a rolled tube.

17. The drivetrain assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein said configurable segment has a beveled edge at each of two ends, a first or said beveled edges sitting on an outer peripheral surface of said female yoke, and a second of said beveled edges sitting on an outer peripheral surface of said receptacle member.

7. (Cancelled)

11. A drivetrain assembly comprising:

a transmission;

a forward driveshaft connected to said transmission, said forward driveshaft comprising a configurable segment between a female yoke and a receptacle member;

an axle connected to said forward driveshaft, said configurable segment being selected from a plurality of optional different length configurable segments to result in a desired overall length for the forward driveshaft; and

a seal received at one end of said receptacle member, and a male component having a yoke and a stem extending from said yoke into said receptacle member, said seal sealing on an outer peripheral surface of said stem.

13. The drivetrain assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein said configurable segment is tubular.

14. The drivetrain assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein said configurable segment has at least one beveled edge.

15. The drivetrain assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein said configurable segment is a rolled tube.

18. The drivetrain as recited in claim 14, wherein said configurable segment has a beveled edge at each of two ends, a first of said beveled edges sitting on an outer peripheral surface of said female yoke, and a second of said beveled edges sitting on an outer peripheral surface of said receptacle member.

12. (Cancelled)