Sideshaft with interconnecting fuse
AssigneeGKN Driveline North America, Inc.
InventorsTony N Arden, Samuel J Oram
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automotive shaft assembly is provided including a first barshaft having a first connection end and a second barshaft having a second connection end. A connection tube rotationally engages the first connection to the second connection end and includes a shear diameter configured to experience shear failure in the presence of an overload torque such that the first connection end is rotationally disengaged the said second connection end.
Claims16
An automotive shaft assembly comprising:
- a first barshaft having a first connection end;
- a second barshaft having a second connection end;
- and
- a connection tube rotationally engaging said first connection to said second connection end, said connection tube including a shear diameter configured to experience shear failure in the presence of an overload torque such that said first connection end is rotationally disengaged from said second connection end, wherein said connection tube is secured longitudinally directly to an outer surface of said first and second barshafts;
- wherein said first connection end comprises first external splines;
- said second connection end comprises second external splines;
- and
- said connection tube comprises connection internal splines engaging said first external splines and said second external splines.
An automotive driveline assembly comprising:
- a differential assembly;
- and
- at least one sideshaft assembly in communication with said differential assembly, said sideshaft assembly comprising:
- a first barshaft having a first channel configured to receive at least one engagement screw and a first connection end;
- a second barshaft having a second channel configured to receive at least one engagement screw and a second connection end;
- and
- a connection tube rotationally engaging said first connection to said second connection end, said connection tube including a shear feature configured to experience shear failure in the presence of a design torque such that said first connection end is rotationally disengaged from said second connection end, wherein said connection tube includes at least one engagement bore spaced about the circumference of the connection tube, said engagement bore being configured to receive the at least one engagement screw and said engagement screw securing said connection tube to said first barshaft and said second barshaft.
A method of protecting an automotive shaft assembly from overload torque comprising:
- utilizing a first barshaft having a first connection end and a second barshaft having a second connection end;
- rotationally connecting said first connection end to said second connection end using a connection tube, said connection tube is directly secured longitudinally to an outer surface of the first barshaft and the second barshaft, said connection tube including a shear feature configured to experience shear failure in the presence of the overload torque such that said first connection end is rotationally disengaged from said second connection end;
- and
- maintaining said first barshaft and said second barshaft in approximate axially parallel orientation when said first barshaft and said second barshaft are rotationally disengaged using a protection sleeve surrounding said connection tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.