Propeller shaft including compressive load transmitting section

Abstract

A propeller shaft for automobiles includes a cylindrical main body 1 made of FRP and joints 2 that are joined to the ends of this main body by press fitting, the main body 1 having a main layer 1a extending over the entire length thereof and including reinforcing fibers helically wound at an angle of ±5˜30° with respect to the axial dimension of the main body, and sub-layers 1b formed at the ends of the main body so as to be integral with and internally of the main layer 1a and including hooped reinforcing fibers. Each joint 2 has a slope 2c descending toward the joint surface between this joint and the main body 1, an erect surface 2d having an outer diameter not larger than the outer diameter of the sub-layers 1b and abutting the end surface of the associated sub-layer 1b, or a wedge 2f the tip of which is opposed to the interface between the main layer 1a and the associated sub-layer 1b. When an axial compressive load is applied to the joints 2, the slopes 2c, the erect surfaces 2d or the wedges 2f cause the main layer 1a and the sub-layers 1b to be separated from each other to cause rupture of the main body to proceed, thereby enabling the energy absorbing effect due to a crashable body structure to be realized.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.