Driveshaft assembly and method for assembling driveshaft assembly

• US 8,262,491 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GKN Driveline Newton LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: GKN Driveline Newton LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Burgbacher, Martin, Scharpf, Volkhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Binda, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): SKROUPA, JOSHUA A
• Application Number:
  US12/458,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20100022317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 464/182, 464/183, 403/265, 403270-272, 4033591-3596
• US Class Current: 464/183
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/006 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/06 Tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/04 Steel or steel alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/08 Non-ferrous metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/10 Aluminium or alloys thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/16 Composite materials , e.g. fibre reinforced
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/18 Dissimilar materials
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/282 of tube sections
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0282 for welding tube sections
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2226/36 by welding
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 3/023 made of several parts, e.g. by welding

Abstract

A driveshaft assembly for a vehicle includes a tube having a first end and a second end. The driveshaft assembly also includes a first member configured to transmit torque. A portion of the first member is provided within the first end of the tube and is coupled to an inner surface of the tube by a weld. The driveshaft assembly also includes a second member configured to transmit torque. A portion of the second member is provided within the second end tube and is coupled to the inner surface of the tube by a weld. The first and second members are configured to have axes of rotation that are collinear with an axis of rotation of the tube such that when the first and second members are coupled to the tube, no further alignment between the tube, the first member, and the second member is required.

Claims

1. A driveshaft assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a tube having a first end and a second end;

a first member configured to transmit torque, wherein a portion of the first member is provided within the first end of the tube and the portion of the first member is coupled to an inner surface of the tube; and

a second member configured to transmit torque, wherein a portion of the second member is provided within the second end of the tube and the portion of the second member is coupled to an inner surface of the tube;

wherein the portion of the first member and the portion of the second member each have a variation of less than 0.20 mm relative to the inner surfaces of the tube;

wherein the first member and the second member are configured to have axes of rotation that are collinear with an axis of rotation of the tube such that when the first member and second member are coupled to the tube, no further alignment between the tube, the first member, and the second member is required.

2. The driveshaft assembly of claim 1, wherein the first member is configured to engage a first component of a torque tube assembly.

3. The driveshaft assembly of claim 2, wherein the first member includes external splines for engaging the first component of the torque tube assembly.

4. The driveshaft assembly of claim 2, wherein the second member is configured to engage a second component of the torque tube assembly.

5. The driveshaft assembly of claim 4, wherein the second member includes internal splines for engaging the second component of the torque tube assembly.

6. The driveshaft assembly of claim 1, wherein the first member includes a surface configured to engage the first end of the tube.

7. The driveshaft assembly of claim 1, wherein the second member includes a surface configured to engage the second end of the tube.

8. The driveshaft assembly of claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member are configured to be press-fit with the tube such that the first member and the second member are secured to the tube before a welding operation.

9. The driveshaft assembly of claim 1, wherein the portion of the first member and the portion of the second member each have a variation of less than 0.08 mm relative to the axis of rotation of the tube after being coupled to the tube.

10. A driveshaft assembly for a vehicle configured to transfer torque from a first component of a torque tube assembly to a second component of the torque tube assembly, the driveshaft assembly comprising:

a tube having a first end and a second end;

a first member having a first end with an engaging surface configured to transmit torque to the first component and a second end configured to be coupled to a substantially parallel surface at the first end of the tube; and

a second member having a first end with an engaging surface configured to transmit torque to the second component and a second end configured to be coupled to a substantially parallel surface at the second end of the tube;

wherein the first member and the second member are configured to have axes of rotation that are collinear with an axis of rotation of the tube when the first member and second member are coupled to the tube;

wherein the engaging surface of the first end of the first member and the engaging surface of the first end of the second member each have a surface variation of less than 0.20 mm relative to the axis of rotation of the tube after being coupled to the tube.

11. The driveshaft assembly of claim 10, wherein the first end of the second member is configured for engaging the first component of a torque tube assembly.

12. The driveshaft assembly of claim 11, wherein the first end of the second member includes external splines for engaging the second component of the torque tube assembly.

13. The driveshaft assembly of claim 11, wherein the first end of the first member is configured for engaging the second component of a torque tube assembly.

14. The driveshaft assembly of claim 13, wherein the first end of the first member includes internal splines for engaging the first component of the torque tube assembly.

15. The driveshaft assembly of claim 11, wherein the first ends of the first and second members includes splines for engaging the torque tube assembly.

16. The driveshaft assembly of claim 10, wherein the surface at the first end of the tube is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tube.

17. The driveshaft assembly of claim 10, wherein the surface at the second end of the tube is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tube.

18. The driveshaft assembly of claim 10, wherein a portion of the second end of the first member is provided within the first end of the tube.

19. The driveshaft assembly of claim 10, wherein a portion of the second end of the second member is provided within the second end of the tube.

20. The driveshaft assembly of claim 10, wherein the first member and the second member are configured to be press-fit with the tube such that the first member and the second member are secured to the tube before a welding operation.

21. The driveshaft assembly of claim 10, wherein the first end of the first member and the first end of the second member each have a variation of less than 0.08 mm relative to the axis of rotation of the tube after being coupled to the tube.