# US 8,226,490 B2 · Collapsible shaft assembly

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- Number: US 8,226,490 B2
- Document ID: US8226490B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/177,018
- Filed: 2011-07-06
- Published: 2012-01-12
- Granted: 2012-07-24
- Earliest claimed: 2010-07-06
- Assignees: Szuba Consulting, Inc.; Value Extraction LLC
- Inventors: Joseph Szuba
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8226490B2

## CPC

- F16C 3/02: Shafts; Axles
- B21D 39/032: {by fitting a projecting part integral with one plate in a hole of the other plate}
- B21D 39/04: of tubes with tubes; of tubes with rods {(crimped pipe joints as such F16L13/14)}
- B21D 53/88: other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards
- B60K 17/22: characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft
- F16D 1/104: having retaining means rotating with the coupling and acting only by friction
- F16D 3/06: specially adapted to allow axial displacement
- B60Y 2306/01: Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection
- F16C 2326/06: Drive shafts
- F16D 2001/103: {the torque is transmitted via splined connections}
- F16D 2250/0023: Shaping by pressure
- Y10T 29/49913: by constricting outer annulus
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F)
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A drive shaft assembly for a vehicle includes a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The second tubular member is mated to the first tubular member. The first tubular member defines a plurality of protuberances and the second tubular member includes a plurality of apertures. Each of the plurality of apertures receives one of the plurality of protuberances substantially affixing the first tubular member to the second tubular member in a circumferential orientation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drive shaft assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a first tubular member and a second tubular member received by said first tubular member thereby defining a coaxial relationship between said tubular members, said first tubular member defining a plurality of protuberances and said second tubular member defining a plurality of apertures each having opposing sidewalls, with each of said plurality of apertures receiving one of said plurality of protuberances such that each of said protuberances abut said sidewalls of each respective said apertures and thereby affixing said first tubular member to said second tubular member in a substantially fixed circumferential orientation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of apertures define a length along an axis of said first and second tubular members and said plurality of protuberances define a length along said axis of said first and second tubular members shorter than said length of said plurality of apertures thereby allowing said first tubular member to move axially relative to said second tubular member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of protuberances define a protuberance width and each of said plurality of apertures define an aperture width, said widths being substantially the same thereby reducing circumferential movement between said first tubular member and said second tubular member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of protuberances defines a radially inwardly surface having a substantially convex configuration.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of protuberances is collapsible during axial movement of said first tubular member relative to said second tubular member exceeding one half a difference in a length of said plurality of protuberances and a length of said plurality of said apertures.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of protuberances defined by said first tubular member extend radially inwardly into said plurality of apertures defined by said second tubular member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of protuberances defined by said first tubular member extend radially outwardly into said plurality of apertures defined by said second tubular member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of protuberances is circumferentially spaced in a common axial relationship.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said first tubular member and said second tubular member include a ring seal disposed there between.

### Claim 10

A collapsible shaft assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a first tubular member and a second tubular member received by said first tubular member thereby defining a coaxial relationship between said tubular members, said first tubular member defining a plurality of protuberances defining a protuberance length and said second tubular member defining a plurality of apertures having an aperture length, each of said plurality of apertures each having opposing sidewalls and receiving one of said plurality of protuberances such that each of said protuberances abut said sidewalls of each respective said apertures and thereby affixing said first tubular member to said second tubular member in a fixed circumferential orientation and said protuberance length being less than said aperture length allowing axial movement of said first tubular member relative to said second tubular member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The assembly set forth in claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of protuberances define a protuberance width and each of said plurality of apertures define an aperture width, said widths being substantially the same thereby preventing circumferential movement between said first tubular member and said second tubular member.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The assembly set forth in claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of protuberances defines a radially inwardly surface having a substantially convex configuration.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The assembly set forth in claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of protuberances is collapsible during axial movement of said first tubular member relative to said second tubular member exceeding one half a difference in a length of said plurality of protuberances and a length of said plurality of said apertures.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The assembly set forth in claim 10, wherein said plurality of protuberances defined by said first tubular member extend radially inwardly into said plurality of apertures defined by said second tubular member.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The assembly set forth in claim 10, wherein said plurality of protuberances defined by said first tubular member extend radially outwardly into said plurality of apertures defined by said second tubular member.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The assembly set forth in claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of protuberances is circumferentially spaced in a common axial relationship.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The assembly set forth in claim 10, wherein said first tubular member and said second tubular member include a ring seal disposed there between.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The assembly set forth in claim 10, wherein said plurality apertures each define a slot including a variable width narrowing at opposing ends of said slot.