Protected connection interface for direct torque flow constant velocity joint and method thereof
AssigneeGKN Driveline North America, Inc.
InventorsSteven C. Hahn, Robert Benson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A direct torque flow constant velocity joint connection interface includes a drive unit, a direct torque flow constant velocity joint connector and a sealant. The drive unit includes a shaft having a second interface surface. The direct torque flow constant velocity joint connector includes a unitary inner joint part having a first interface surface, where the first interface surface is connected to the second interface surface of the drive unit. The sealant provides filling between the first and second interface surfaces. Also provided is a direct torque flow constant velocity joint connector having sealant on an interface portion of an inner joint part and a method thereof.
Claims20
A protected connection interface for a direct torque flow constant velocity joint connector comprising:
- a direct torque flow connector comprising:
- an outer joint part having an inner cavity with outer ball tracks;
- a unitary inner joint part having an interface portion engageable with a second interface portion of a supplied drive unit, said unitary inner joint part having inner ball tracks coupled to said outer ball tracks in said inner cavity of said outer joint part;
- and
- a boot assembly coupled between said unitary inner joint part and said outer joint part providing internal sealing for said inner cavity such that said interface portion of said unitary inner joint part is unprotected by said boot assembly when said interface portion is coupled to said second interface portion;
- and
- a sealant coupled to said interface portion of said inner joint part, said sealant providing additional sealing when said interface portion is coupled to said second interface portion.
A direct torque flow constant velocity joint connection interface comprising:
- a shaft having a second interface surface;
- a direct torque flow constant velocity joint connector having an outer joint part having an inner cavity with outer ball tracks, a unitary inner joint part having a first interface surface and inner ball tracks coupled with said outer ball tracks in said internal cavity, and a boot assembly coupled between said unitary inner joint part and said outer joint part and sealing said inner cavity such that said first interface surface is unprotected by said boot assembly, and wherein said second interface surface of said shaft is coupled to said first interface surface of said unitary inner joint part;
- and
- a sealant coupled between a portion of said first interface surface and said second interface surface.
A direct torque flow constant velocity joint comprising:
- an outer joint part having an inner cavity with outer ball tracks;
- a unitary inner joint part having an interface portion and inner ball tracks, said inner ball tracks of said unitary inner joint part coupled to said outer ball tracks in said inner cavity of said outer joint part;
- and
- a boot assembly coupled to said outer joint part and to said unitary inner joint part, said boot assembly including a sealing surface coinciding with a minimum diameter of said boot assembly, said sealing surface engaging said unitary inner joint part;
- and
- a sealant coupled to said interface portion of said inner joint part, said sealant providing sealing when said interface portion is coupled to a second interface portion of a supplied drive unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.