Tapered minor diameter spline to increase strength and fatigue life
AssigneeSteering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
InventorsJeffrey P. Courville, Eduardo R. Mondragon-Parra, Jon N. Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A motor vehicle shaft assembly has a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite ends, with the shaft having a male spline adjacent at least one of the opposite ends, and a housing having a through bore extending about the longitudinal axis, with the through bore having a female spline configured for meshed engagement with the male spline to prevent relative torsional movement between the shaft and the housing. At least one of the male and female splines includes a tapered spline extending in oblique relation to the longitudinal axis.
Claims23
A motor vehicle shaft assembly, comprising:
- a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite ends and having a male spline adjacent at least one of said opposite ends;
- and
- a mating housing having a through bore extending about said longitudinal axis with a female spline configured for meshed engagement with said male spline to prevent relative torsional movement between said shaft and said housing,
- wherein at least one of said male spline and said female spline includes a tapered spline extending in oblique relation to said longitudinal axis.
A constant velocity joint assembly, comprising:
- a half shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite ends and having a male spline adjacent at least one of said opposite ends;
- and
- a constant velocity joint having an inner race, an outer race and a plurality of rollers between said inner race and said outer race, said inner race having a through bore extending about said longitudinal axis with a female spline configured in meshed engagement with said male spline of said half shaft to prevent relative rotation between said half shaft and said inner race,
- wherein at least one of said male spline and said female spline has a tapered minor diameter.
A method of reducing torsional shear stress across a spline joint of a constant velocity joint assembly, comprising:
- providing a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite ends and providing a male spline adjacent one of said opposite ends;
- and
- providing an inner race having a through bore with a female spline configured for meshed engagement with said male spline to prevent relative rotation between said shaft and said housing;
- and
- providing at least one of said male spline and said female spline having a tapered spline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.