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EP0298079A1 - Arbre de transmission pour vehicule a moteur - Google Patents

Arbre de transmission pour vehicule a moteur

Info

Publication number
EP0298079A1
EP0298079A1 EP87901570A EP87901570A EP0298079A1 EP 0298079 A1 EP0298079 A1 EP 0298079A1 EP 87901570 A EP87901570 A EP 87901570A EP 87901570 A EP87901570 A EP 87901570A EP 0298079 A1 EP0298079 A1 EP 0298079A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
shaft
portions
elements
interfitting
deformed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP87901570A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Leslie George Fisher
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BRD Co Ltd
Original Assignee
BRD Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BRD Co Ltd filed Critical BRD Co Ltd
Publication of EP0298079A1 publication Critical patent/EP0298079A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C3/00—Shafts; Axles; Cranks; Eccentrics
    • F16C3/02—Shafts; Axles
    • F16C3/03—Shafts; Axles telescopic
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D3/00—Yielding couplings, i.e. with means permitting movement between the connected parts during the drive
    • F16D3/02—Yielding couplings, i.e. with means permitting movement between the connected parts during the drive adapted to specific functions
    • F16D3/06—Yielding couplings, i.e. with means permitting movement between the connected parts during the drive adapted to specific functions specially adapted to allow axial displacement

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a transmission shaft for use as the longitudinal shaft (usually, and herein, termed the propeller shaft) of a motor vehicle.
  • a transmission shaft for use as the longitudinal shaft (usually, and herein, termed the propeller shaft) of a motor vehicle.
  • Such a shaft is used for power transmission between a forwardly mounted engine unit and a rearwardly mounted differential gear unit, or gearbox and differential, in a vehicle.
  • a vehicle's propeller shaft it is usual to provide for a vehicle's propeller shaft to be capable of accommodating a relatively small change in the length of the shaft. Such a change in length is necessary to facilitate installation of the shaft and to accommodate geometrical changes with suspension movement and movement of the engine unit in service and may be provided by a sliding splined joint forming part of the shaft. If, however, the vehicle is involved in an accident involving front and/or rear impact, the shortening of the shaft length allowed for in its design may be exceeded as the body structure of the vehicle collapses longitudinally. It will be appreciated that it is usual to design the body structure of some vehicles, particular modern passenger cars, to absorb impact energy by progressive collapse of the front and rear parts thereof.
  • the propeller shaft will act as a rigid strut, which can buckle with possible dangerous consequences. For example, it may puncture the vehicle's fuel tank, cause damage to fuel lines, possibly enter the passenger compartment of the vehicle, or cause the engine unit to be displaced in an undesirable manner such as to enter the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Accordingly, it would be desirable if the propeller shaft were capable of axial collapse under such accident conditions, to avoid the above mentioned dangerous effects.
  • the shaft should, of course, perform as an ordinary shaft in normal service. Further, if the shaft were to be capable of collapsing progressively and absorbing energy in so doing, it could assist the energy absorbing design of the structure of the vehicle and increase overall vehicle safety. It is the object of the present invention to provide a propeller shaft which meets these requirements.
  • a propeller shaft including two tubular shaft elements having portions interfitting axially with one another and of a cross-sectional shape providing for transmission of torque therebetween and to prevent relative axial displacement between said elements under axial loads encountered in normal service, and wherein the configuration of said interfitting portions is such that, during shortening of the shaft by relative axial displacement between said shaft elements under excess axial load, at least one of said shaft elements is subject to progressive deformation thereby to absorb energy.
  • the requirement for energy absorbtion to enable the propeller shaft to partake in the energy absorbing deformation of the rest of the vehicle structure is met.
  • the simplest safety requirement would, of course, be met if the shaft collapsed without further resistance after the initial resistance to collapse is overcome, but then the shaft would take no further part in controlling the progressive deformation of the vehicle's structure.
  • a motor vehicle propeller shaft may rotate at a very high speed, e.g. several thousands of revolution per minute. It is important that the bending stiffness of such a shaft should be sufficient to ensure that the shaft remains straight and in balance at such speeds. Therefore the axially interfitting torque transmitting connection between the two tubular shaft elements must be of such a character as " to provide sufficient bending rigidity in the shaft.
  • said shaft elements adjacent said interfitting portions are of circular cross-sectional shape, and said interfitting portions thereof are deformed together to a splined configuration, i.e. one having circumferentially spaced axially extending projections and recesses.
  • the shaft element whose interfitting portion is innermost may be arranged to be progressively deformed during collapse of the shaft, by having its undeformed outside diameter greater than the minor diameter of the deformed portion of the outer shaft element. As will be described hereafter, the difference between such dimensions determines the force required to be exerted during shortening of the shaft.
  • the invention also provides a method of manufacturing the propeller shaft as above described, comprising assembling portions of two tubular shaft elements together in interfitting relation and deforming said portions together to provide a cross-sectional shape for torque transmission therebetween and a connection of a tightness sufficient to resist relative axial displacement between said elements under axial loads encountered in normal service, at least one of said deformed portions having a dimension arranged to cause progressive deformation of the other sha ' ft element during shortening of the shaft by relative axial displacement between said shaft elements under excess axial load.
  • Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of part of a propeller shaft according to the invention
  • Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section, in two planes of Figure 3, of part of the shaft assembly illustrating manufacture thereof;
  • Figure 3 is a transverse cross-section through part of the shaft assembly.
  • FIG. 1 of the drawings there is shown part of a propeller shaft according to the invention.
  • a Hookes joint 10 of which one yoke is connected to a drive flange 11 and the other yoke is welded to a tubular shaft element 12.
  • the tubular shaft element 12 is connected at 13, by a torque transmitting connection as described hereafter, to a further tubular shaft element 14 which is itself welded to the outer element 15 of a slip spline joint whose inner element is indicated at 16.
  • the remainder of the shaft is not shown.
  • the spline joint 15, 16 provides for length adjustment of the shaft to facilitate installation and to accommodate relatively small shaft length changes in use.
  • tubular element 12 is of appreciably greater diameter than tubular element 14 and a portion 17 thereof is swaged down to a smaller diameter.
  • a portion 18 of tubular element 14 is expanded to a diameter such that portions 17, 18 closely telescopically interfit axially with one another.
  • Such interfitting portions are then deformed simultaneously with one another to a splined torque transmitting configuration having interfitting circumferentially spaced axially extending projections and recesses.
  • This deformation is effected by inserting a mandrel 19 into the portion 18 of shaft element 14, the mandrel having an external surface of the required configuration, and inwardly deforming circumferentially spaced parts 17a, 18a of the portions 17, 18 together.
  • This is effected by axial movement of a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers as 20, in the direction of arrow 21, in engagement with the exterior of portion 17.
  • the extreme end 22 of portion 18 remains at its expanded dimension.
  • the dimensions of the shaft element 14, and roller 20 and mandrel 19, are selected so that the minor diameter of the deformed portion 17 of the outer tubular shaft element 12, indicated as A in Figure 3, is less than the outside diameter of the undeformed inner shaft element 14, the latter dimension being indicated as B in Figure 2.
  • the length of the interfitting and deformed portions 17, 18 must be sufficient to ensure torsional rigidity and bending stiffness in the complete shaft.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Shafts, Cranks, Connecting Bars, And Related Bearings (AREA)
  • Motor Power Transmission Devices (AREA)

Abstract

Un arbre de transmission pour véhicule à moteur comprend deux éléments d'arbre (12, 14) comportant des parties (17, 18), qui s'adaptent entre elles l'une dans l'autre dans le sens axial et qui sont déformées pour que leur section transversale ait une forme transmettant le couple, de telle sorte que les forces de friction s'exerçant entre elles soient suffisantes pour empêcher tout mouvement axial relatif en fonctionnement normal. Lors d'un accident, cependant, l'arbre peut se replier axiallement et un des éléments d'arbre (14) est progressivement déformé par l'autre, afin de permettre une absorption progressive d'énergie.
EP87901570A 1986-03-08 1987-03-05 Arbre de transmission pour vehicule a moteur Withdrawn EP0298079A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB868605769A GB8605769D0 (en) 1986-03-08 1986-03-08 Propeller shaft for motor vehicle
GB8605769 1986-03-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0298079A1 true EP0298079A1 (fr) 1989-01-11

Family

ID=10594278

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87901570A Withdrawn EP0298079A1 (fr) 1986-03-08 1987-03-05 Arbre de transmission pour vehicule a moteur

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0298079A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH01502442A (fr)
CA (1) CA1286119C (fr)
GB (2) GB8605769D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1987005369A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3943535C2 (de) * 1989-06-24 1994-11-24 Gkn Automotive Ag Verbindungsanordnung
DE4119359C2 (de) * 1990-06-23 1997-03-13 Gkn Glaenzer Spicer Antriebswelle
DE4113709C2 (de) * 1991-04-26 1997-02-06 Audi Ag Rohrförmige Antriebswelle
DE4309622C2 (de) * 1993-03-24 1995-08-17 Daimler Benz Ag Gelenkwelle für den Antriebstrang eines Kraftfahrzeuges
DE4343470C1 (de) * 1993-12-20 1995-02-23 Gkn Automotive Ag Geteilte Längswelle im Antriebsstrang eines Kraftfahrzeuges
DE19515180C2 (de) * 1995-04-25 1997-09-04 Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag Gebaute Welle zur Kraftübertragung
US6083108A (en) * 1998-05-07 2000-07-04 General Electric Co. Collapsible and relatively rotatable drive shaft
US6368225B1 (en) * 1999-12-30 2002-04-09 Spicer Driveshaft, Inc. Axially collapsible driveshaft assembly and method of manufacturing same
GB2371614B (en) * 2001-01-26 2004-08-18 Dana Corp Method of manufacturing an axially collapsible driveshaft assembly
EP1698787A3 (fr) * 2005-03-05 2008-07-30 Dana Corporation Procédé de fabrication d'un ensemble télescopable à cannelures
MX378829B (es) 2010-09-30 2025-03-11 Hendrickson Usa Llc Montaje de eje de componente de sistema de frenos.
MX2013002443A (es) 2010-09-30 2013-05-06 Hendrickson Usa Llc Conexion de eje de vehiculo de trabajo pesado.
US10948008B2 (en) 2014-10-17 2021-03-16 Thyssenkrupp Presta Ag Steering shaft and method for producing a profiled hollow shaft for a telescopic steering shaft of a motor vehicle
CN110621899B (zh) * 2017-04-25 2023-03-10 Gkn 动力传动系统有限公司 轴连接件和具有这种轴连接件的驱动轴
GB201717371D0 (en) 2017-10-23 2017-12-06 Hendrickson United Kingdom Ltd Heavy-duty connections e.g. for axle/suspension systems

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1331015A (fr) * 1962-08-03 1963-06-28 élément tubulaire de transmission à cannelures axiales et son procédé d'exécution
US3394612A (en) * 1966-09-15 1968-07-30 Gen Motors Corp Steering column assembly
DE2108913C3 (de) * 1970-02-23 1975-05-28 General Motors-Holden's Pty. Ltd., Port Melbourne, Victoria (Australien) Stange oder Welle, insbesondere Lenkwelle für Kraftfahrzeuge, und Verfahren zu ihrer Herstellung
AT372314B (de) * 1981-07-03 1983-09-26 Supervis Ets Lenkspindel fuer lenkvorrichtungen bei kraftfahrzeugen
DE3241715A1 (de) * 1982-11-11 1984-05-24 Gelenkwellenbau Gmbh, 4300 Essen Teleskopwelle

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8705369A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8605769D0 (en) 1986-04-16
JPH01502442A (ja) 1989-08-24
GB8816053D0 (en) 1988-09-21
GB2208313A (en) 1989-03-22
GB2208313B (en) 1989-11-08
WO1987005369A1 (fr) 1987-09-11
CA1286119C (fr) 1991-07-16

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

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Effective date: 19880711

AK Designated contracting states

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Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR IT LI LU NL SE

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19890804

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

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18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19900706

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Inventor name: FISHER, LESLIE, GEORGE