Universal Driveshaft Assembly

Abstract

A driveshaft assembly includes a driveshaft including a longitudinal shaft axis, a first end, a second end, and a radially outer surface. The first end includes a plurality of recesses extending radially inward from the radially outer surface. The recesses each include a convex engagement surface. The driveshaft assembly also includes a first end housing including a longitudinal housing axis and an axially extending receptacle. The receptacle includes a plurality of planar receptacle surfaces. In addition, the driveshaft assembly includes a plurality of torque transfer keys configured to transfer torque between the driveshaft and first end housing. Each of the torque transfer keys includes a planar key surface and a concave key surface. The convex engagement surface of each recess engages the concave key surface of one of the torque transfer keys. The planar key surface of each torque transfer key engages one of the planar receptacle surfaces.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.