Lightweight universal joint, splined pair, and propeller shaft

Abstract

A lightweight universal joint includes a socket, a ball, and a straight shaft, where the socket is a thin-walled structure, and is not configured to transfer a transmission torque; the ball is provided in the socket in a hinged manner, and the ball is provided with a transmission hole; the straight shaft runs through the transmission hole; two ends of the socket are connected to fixed wings, respectively; and each of the fixed wings is provided with a carrying hole and a transmission key. A lightweight splined pair includes a spline shaft and a spline sleeve that are thin-walled structures. A lightweight propeller shaft includes the lightweight universal joint and/or the lightweight splined pair. By forming the socket and the splined pair into integrated thin-walled structures, the lightweight propeller shaft achieves chipless or partial chipless machining, improves production efficiency and quality stability, and reduces part weight and processing costs.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.