# US 2017/0284476 A1 · Tripod joint spider, method of manufacturing the same, and alloy steel applied thereto

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- Number: US 2017/0284476 A1
- Document ID: US20170284476A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/216,371
- Filed: 2016-07-21
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-04
- Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company
- Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company
- Inventors: Si Yup Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284476A1

## CPC

- F16D 3/2055: {having three pins, i.e. true tripod joints}
- C21D 1/18: Hardening (C21D1/02 takes precedence); Quenching with or without subsequent tempering (quenching devices C21D1/62)
- C21D 1/42: Induction heating
- C22C 38/002: {containing In, Mg, or other elements not provided for in one single group C22C38/001 - C22C38/60}
- C22C 38/02: containing silicon
- C22C 38/04: containing manganese
- C22C 38/06: containing aluminium
- C22C 38/22: with molybdenum or tungsten
- C22C 38/24: with vanadium
- C22C 38/32: with boron
- F16D 2200/0021: Steel
- F16D 2250/0053: Hardening
- F16D 2300/10: Surface characteristics; Details related to material surfaces
- Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- C21D: MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING (surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class C23 and at least one process covered by this subclass C23F17/00; unidirectional solidification of eutectic materials or unidirectional demixing of eutectoid materials C30B)
- C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F)
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

Disclosed herein are a tripod joint spider, a method of manufacturing the same, and an alloy steel of the tripod joint spider. The method comprises producing a primary molded article using the alloy steel, producing a secondary molded article, hardening the secondary molded article by means of induction hardening, and producing an end product.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing a spider inserted into a tripod joint for a vehicle, the method comprising:
producing a round bar comprising an alloy steel, wherein the alloy steel comprises an amount of about 0.45 to 0.60 wt % of carbon (C), an amount of about 0.30 to 0.50 wt % of silicon (Si), an amount of about 0.8 to 1.3 wt % of manganese (Mn), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.80 wt % of chromium (Cr), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.90 wt % of molybdenum (Mo), an amount of about 0.01 to 0.10 wt % of vanadium (V), an amount of about 0.02 to 0.10 wt % of aluminum (Al), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of phosphorus (P), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0% wt of sulfur (S), an amount of about 0.004 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of boron (B), and iron (Fe) constituting the remaining balance of the alloy steel, all the wt % based on the total weight of the alloy steel;
producing a primary molded article by forging the round bar;
producing a secondary molded article by cutting the primary molded article;
hardening the secondary molded article by induction hardening; and
producing an end product by grinding the hardened secondary molded article.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein in the producing a round bar, the alloy steel has a heat treatment index (HI) of about 16 to 20 defined by the following equation 1:
HI=10.9×[C]−1.1×[Si]+6.7×[Mn]+2.3×[Cr]+7.9×[Mo], [Equation 1]
wherein each of [C], [Si], [Mn], [Cr], and [Mo] in Equation 1 means wt % of the components corresponding thereto.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the hardening the secondary molded article comprises an external process to perform the induction hardening on an outer surface of the secondary molded article, and an internal process to perform the induction hardening on an inner surface of the secondary molded article;
the external process comprises the induction hardening at a power of about 300 to 400 W and a frequency of about 5 to 20 kHz for about 5 to 15 seconds; and
the internal process comprises the induction hardening at a power of about 200 to 310 W and a frequency of about 10 to 30 kHz for about 2 to 10 seconds.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein the outer surface of the secondary molded article after the external process has a hardening depth of about 2.5 to 3.5 mm; and
the inner surface of the secondary molded article after the internal process has a hardening depth of about 1.0 to 2.0 mm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein in the hardening the secondary molded article, the outer surface of the secondary molded article after the external process has a greater hardness than the inner surface thereof after the internal process;
the outer surface of the secondary molded article after the external process has a hardness of about 550 Hv or greater; and
the inner surface of the secondary molded article after the internal process has a hardness of about 530 Hv or greater.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the alloy steel consists essentially of an amount of about 0.45 to 0.60 wt % of carbon (C), an amount of about 0.30 to 0.50 wt % of silicon (Si), an amount of about 0.8 to 1.3 wt % of manganese (Mn), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.80 wt % of chromium (Cr), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.90 wt % of molybdenum (Mo), an amount of about 0.01 to 0.10 wt % of vanadium (V), an amount of about 0.02 to 0.10 wt % of aluminum (Al), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of phosphorus (P), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0% wt of sulfur (S), an amount of about 0.004 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of boron (B), and iron (Fe) constituting the remaining balance of the alloy steel, all the wt % based on the total weight of the alloy steel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the alloy steel consists of an amount of about 0.45 to 0.60 wt % of carbon (C), an amount of about 0.30 to 0.50 wt % of silicon (Si), an amount of about 0.8 to 1.3 wt % of manganese (Mn), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.80 wt % of chromium (Cr), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.90 wt % of molybdenum (Mo), an amount of about 0.01 to 0.10 wt % of vanadium (V), an amount of about 0.02 to 0.10 wt % of aluminum (Al), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of phosphorus (P), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0% wt of sulfur (S), an amount of about 0.004 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of boron (B), and iron (Fe) constituting the remaining balance of the alloy steel, all the wt % based on the total weight of the alloy steel.

### Claim 8

A spider inserted into a tripod joint for a vehicle, the spider comprising an alloy steel,
Wherein the alloy steel comprises an amount of about 0.45 to 0.60 wt % of carbon (C), an amount of about 0.30 to 0.50 wt % of Si, an amount of about 0.8 to 1.3 wt % of an amount of about Mn, 0.40 to 0.80 wt % of an amount of about Cr, an amount of about 0.40 to 0.90 wt % of Mo, an amount of about 0.01 to 0.10 wt % of V, an amount of about 0.02 to 0.10 wt % of aluminum (Al), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of phosphorus (P), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of sulfur (S), an amount of about 0.004 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of boron (B), and iron (Fe) constituting the remaining balance of the alloy steel, all the wt % based on the total weight of the alloy steel, and
the alloy steel has a heat treatment index (HI) of about 16 to 20 defined by the following equation 1:
HI=10.9×[C]−1.1×[Si]+6.7×[Mn]+2.3×[Cr]+7.9×[Mo] [Equation 1]
wherein each of [C], [Si], [Mn], [Cr], and [Mo] means wt % of the components corresponding thereto.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The spider according to claim 8, wherein the spider has a surface hardened by induction hardening, and the induction hardening is performed on the spider such that an outer surface of the spider has a greater hardness than an inner surface thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The spider according to claim 9, wherein the outer surface of the spider has a hardness of about 550 Hv or greater, and the inner surface of the spider has a hardness of about 530 Hv or greater.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The spider according to claim 9, wherein the outer surface of the spider has a hardening depth of about 2.5 to 3.5 mm, and the inner surface of the spider has a hardening depth of about 1.0 to 2.0 mm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The spider according to claim 8, wherein the alloy steel consists essentially of an amount of about 0.45 to 0.60 wt % of carbon (C), an amount of about 0.30 to 0.50 wt % of silicon (Si), an amount of about 0.8 to 1.3 wt % of manganese (Mn), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.80 wt % of chromium (Cr), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.90 wt % of molybdenum (Mo), an amount of about 0.01 to 0.10 wt % of vanadium (V), an amount of about 0.02 to 0.10 wt % of aluminum (Al), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of phosphorus (P), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0% wt of sulfur (S), an amount of about 0.004 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of boron (B), and iron (Fe) constituting the remaining balance of the alloy steel, all the wt % based on the total weight of the alloy steel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The spider according to claim 8, wherein the alloy steel consists of an amount of about 0.45 to 0.60 wt % of carbon (C), an amount of about 0.30 to 0.50 wt % of silicon (Si), an amount of about 0.8 to 1.3 wt % of manganese (Mn), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.80 wt % of chromium (Cr), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.90 wt % of molybdenum (Mo), an amount of about 0.01 to 0.10 wt % of vanadium (V), an amount of about 0.02 to 0.10 wt % of aluminum (Al), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of phosphorus (P), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0% wt of sulfur (S), an amount of about 0.004 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of boron (B), and iron (Fe) constituting the remaining balance of the alloy steel, all the wt % based on the total weight of the alloy steel.

### Claim 14

An alloy steel applied to a spider inserted into a tripod joint for a vehicle, the alloy steel comprising:
an amount of about 0.45 to 0.60 wt % of carbon (C), an amount of about 0.30 to 0.50 wt % of silicon (Si), an amount of about 0.8 to 1.3 wt % of manganese (Mn), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.80 wt % of chromium (Cr), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.90 wt % of molybdenum (Mo), an amount of about 0.01 to 0.10 wt % of vanadium (V), an amount of about 0.02 to 0.10 wt % of aluminum (Al), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of phosphorus (P), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of sulfur (S), an amount of about 0.004 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of boron (B), and iron (Fe) constituting the remaining balance of the alloy steel, all the wt % based on the total weight of the alloy steel,
wherein the alloy steel has a heat treatment index (HI) of about 16 to 20 defined by the following equation 1:
HI=10.9×[C]−1.1×[Si]+6.7×[Mn]+2.3×[Cr]+7.9×[Mo] [Equation 1]
where each of [C], [Si], [Mn], [Cr], and [Mo] means wt % of the components corresponding thereto.

### Claim 15 (depends on 15)

The alloy steel according to claim 15, wherein the alloy steel consists essentially of an amount of about 0.45 to 0.60 wt % of carbon (C), an amount of about 0.30 to 0.50 wt % of silicon (Si), an amount of about 0.8 to 1.3 wt % of manganese (Mn), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.80 wt % of chromium (Cr), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.90 wt % of molybdenum (Mo), an amount of about 0.01 to 0.10 wt % of vanadium (V), an amount of about 0.02 to 0.10 wt % of aluminum (Al), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of phosphorus (P), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0% wt of sulfur (S), an amount of about 0.004 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of boron (B), and iron (Fe) constituting the remaining balance of the alloy steel, all the wt % based on the total weight of the alloy steel.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The alloy steel according to claim 15, wherein the alloy steel consists of an amount of about 0.45 to 0.60 wt % of carbon (C), an amount of about 0.30 to 0.50 wt % of silicon (Si), an amount of about 0.8 to 1.3 wt % of manganese (Mn), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.80 wt % of chromium (Cr), an amount of about 0.40 to 0.90 wt % of molybdenum (Mo), an amount of about 0.01 to 0.10 wt % of vanadium (V), an amount of about 0.02 to 0.10 wt % of aluminum (Al), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of phosphorus (P), an amount of about 0.030 wt % or less but greater than 0% wt of sulfur (S), an amount of about 0.004 wt % or less but greater than 0 wt % of boron (B), and iron (Fe) constituting the remaining balance of the alloy steel, all the wt % based on the total weight of the alloy steel.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

A vehicle that comprises a spider of claim 8.