Direct Torque Flow Connection with Optimized Ratios in Attachment Methods
AssigneeGKN Driveline North America, Inc.
InventorDanny Lee BOOKER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present application is directed to a direct torque flow connector for torque transmission. The DTF connector includes a direct torque flow constant velocity universal joint having an outer race part and an inner race part, and a shaft coupled to the outer race part. The direct torque flow connector has at least one direct torque flow optimized ratio. Further, the inner race part of the direct torque flow connector may be selectively connected to a journal shaft of a drive unit. A direct torque flow connection with optimized ratios in attachment methods is also provided.
Claims19
A direct torque flow assembly comprising:
- an inner joint part comprising inner ball tracks, and a spline hole defining a spline length (LS) and adapted to engage a journal shaft of a drive unit;
- an outer joint part having outer ball tracks and directly connected to a shaft;
- a cage between the inner joint part and outer joint part;
- and
- a plurality of balls (N) held by said cage and engaging pairs of the inner and outer ball tracks, said balls defining a joint pitch circle diameter (PCD),
- wherein 0.5≦(PCD/LS)≦3.2 is satisfied.
A direct torque flow assembly comprising:
- an inner joint part comprising inner ball tracks, and a spline hole defining a spline length (LS) and adapted to engage a journal shaft of a drive unit;
- an outer joint part having outer ball tracks and directly connected to a shaft;
- a cage between the inner joint part and outer joint part;
- and
- a plurality of balls (N) each having a diameter (d), the balls held by said cage and engaging pairs of the inner and outer ball tracks, said balls defining a joint pitch circle diameter (PCD),
- wherein 1≦((PCD/2)*d2*N))/(1000*LS)≦8 is satisfied.
A direct torque flow assembly comprising:
- an inner joint part comprising inner ball tracks, and a spline hole defining a spline length (LS) and adapted to engage a journal shaft of a drive unit;
- an outer joint part having outer ball tracks and directly connected to a shaft having a diameter (TD);
- a cage between the inner joint part and outer joint part;
- and
- a plurality of balls held by said cage and engaging pairs of the inner and outer ball tracks,
- wherein 0.5≦(TD/LS)≦2.0 is satisfied.
A direct torque flow assembly comprising:
- an inner joint part comprising inner ball tracks defining an inner race width (WIR), and a spline hole defining a spline length (LS) and adapted to engage a journal shaft of a drive unit;
- an outer joint part having outer ball tracks and directly connected to a shaft;
- a cage between the inner joint part and outer joint part;
- and
- a plurality of balls held by said cage and engaging pairs of the inner and outer ball tracks,
- wherein 0.3≦(WIR/LS)≦1.0 is satisfied.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.