Back to results
US 6,547,479 B2Granted
Spline, an assembly utilizing the spline, and a method for transferring energy
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsWilliam Edmunds Dowling, Jr., David Joe Sell, Perry Edward Phelan, Kin Sang Yeung
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tapered spline 16 which allows members 12, 14 to be selectively coupled and which further allows energy to be selectively communicated by and between these members 12, 14.
Claims12
A method for transferring energy from a first member to a second member;
- said first member be selectively rotated and said second member deflecting in response to said rotation, of said first member, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming at least a first spline upon said first member;
- forming at least a second spline upon said second member, said at least a second spine having a shape which allows said second spline to substantially and fully engage at least one edge of said at least first spline as said first member is being rotated, wherein said at least a second spline is tapered along only one edge.
An assembly comprising a first selectively rotating shaft having at least one first spline;
- and a second shaft having at least one second spline which engages said at least one first spline, said second shaft deflecting in response to said rotation, wherein said at least on second spline is tapered along only one edge and which has a certain shape which allows said at least one second spline to engage said at least one first spline along substantially the entire length of said at least one second spline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.