Attachment method for pulley device and drive shaft and assembly formed thereby
AssigneeLitens Automotive Partnership
InventorsBoris Replete, Andrew M. Boyes, Hao Tran
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an aspect, an assembly is provided and includes a pulley device and a drive shaft. The pulley device includes a pulley and has a shaft adapter. A selected amount of combined resistance in the first and second connections to relative rotation in the second direction is generated by a threaded first connection and a second connection between the shaft adapter and the shaft at least some of which is provided by a compression force between them.
Claims25
A method of attaching a pulley device to a drive shaft, wherein the pulley device includes a pulley and has a shaft adapter that has a bore extending from a first axial end of the shaft adapter to a second axial end of the shaft adapter, wherein the pulley device further includes a shaft adapter shoulder proximate the first axial end, a first shaft adapter connection structure which is threaded and is in the bore, and a second shaft adapter connection structure, the drive shaft including a shaft axial end, a shaft shoulder, a first shaft connection structure which is threaded, and a second shaft connection structure, the method comprising:
- a) inserting the shaft axial end into the bore and causing relative rotation between the shaft and the shaft adapter in a first direction to engage the first shaft adapter connection structure and the first shaft connection structure with one another to provide a first non-destructively releasable connection;
- b) engaging the second shaft adapter connection structure and the second shaft connection structure with one another to provide a second connection;
- and
- c) generating a selected amount of axial compression force between the shaft adapter shoulder and the shaft shoulder, wherein steps a), b) and c) together generate a selected amount of combined resistance in the first and second connections to relative rotation between the shaft and the shaft adapter in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.
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An assembly, comprising:
- a pulley device including a pulley and having a shaft adapter that has a bore extending from a first axial end of the shaft adapter to a second axial end of the shaft adapter, wherein the pulley device further includes a shaft adapter shoulder proximate the first axial end, a first shaft adapter connection structure which is threaded and is in the bore, and a second shaft adapter connection structure;
- and
- a drive shaft including a shaft axial end, a shaft shoulder, a first shaft connection structure which is threaded and a second shaft connection structure,
- wherein the first shaft adapter connection structure and the first shaft connection structure are engaged with one another to provide a first non-destructively releasable connection such that relative rotation of the shaft and the shaft adapter in a first direction tightens the first connection and relative rotation of the shaft and the shaft adapter in a second direction loosens the first connection,
- wherein the second shaft adapter connection structure and the second shaft connection structure are engaged with one another to provide a second connection,
- wherein the shaft adapter shoulder and the shaft shoulder are engaged with one another to generate a selected compression force therebetween
- wherein a selected amount of combined resistance in the first and second connections to relative rotation in the second direction is generated by the first and second connections and the compression force.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.