Articulation stop
AssigneeGKN Driveline North America, Inc.
InventorsEric LaMothe, Noel Sutton, Donald Dine, Albert D. Webb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A joint apparatus includes an outer joint portion having an opening end, an outer joint axis, and an outer joint inside surface defining, at least in part, an internal vault. The joint apparatus also includes an inner joint portion including a spider interposed within the outer joint portion and a shaft extending through the opening end. The spider includes a trunnion. The trunnion is at least partially interposed within the vault. The shaft defines a shaft axis. The inner joint portion includes an angular range of motion limiting device that selectively restricts the articulation of the shaft relative to the outer joint to prevent the shaft from contacting the outer joint.
Claims16
A constant velocity joint comprising:
- an outer joint portion having an opening end, an outer joint axis, and an outer joint inside surface defining, at least in part, an internal vault;
- an inner joint portion including a spider interposed within the outer joint portion and a shaft extending through the opening end, wherein the spider includes a trunnion, the trunnion is at least partially interposed within the vault, and the shaft defines a shaft axis, and wherein the inner joint portion includes an angular range of motion limiting device that selectively restricts the articulation of the shaft relative to the outer joint portion to prevent the shaft from contacting the outer joint;
- and
- a boot assembly including a boot can and a boot, wherein the boot can has a tulip end connected to the outer joint portion and a crimped end connected to the boot, the boot has a boot outer surface and shaft end connected to the shaft, and wherein articulation of the shaft relative to the outer joint portion will result in the limiting device contacting the outer joint portion, thereby preventing contact between an outside surface of the boot and an outside surface of the boot can.
An articulated joint comprising:
- a tulip having an opening end, a tulip axis, and an tulip inside surface defining, at least in part, an internal vault;
- an inner joint portion including a spider interposed within the tulip and a shaft extending from the spider and through the opening end, wherein the spider includes a trunnion, the trunnion is at least partially interposed within the vault, and the shaft defines a shaft axis, and wherein the inner joint portion includes a limiting device that selectively restricts the articulation of the shaft relative to the tulip to prevent the shaft from contacting the tulip;
- and
- a boot assembly including a boot can and a boot, wherein the boot can has a first cover end connected to the tulip and a second cover end connected to the boot, the boot has a boot outer surface and shaft end connected to the shaft, and wherein selective articulation of the shaft relative to the tulip will result in the limiting device interfering with the tulip such that the boot is not bindingly engaged between the boot can and the shaft;
- wherein the limiting device prevents contact between an outside surface of the boot and an outside surface of the boot can.
A drive shaft comprising:
- an articulated joint interconnecting a first propeller shaft to a second propeller shaft, the joint including an outer joint portion and an inner joint portion, the outer joint portion having an opening end, an outer joint axis, and an outer joint inside surface defining, at least in part, an internal vault, the inner joint portion including a spider interposed within the outer joint portion and a shaft extending through the opening end, wherein the spider includes a trunnion, the trunnion is at least partially interposed within the vault, the shaft defines a shaft axis, and wherein the inner joint portion includes an angular range of motion limiting device that selectively restricts the articulation of the shaft relative to the outer joint portion to prevent the shaft from contacting the outer joint;
- and
- a boot assembly including a boot can and a boot, wherein the boot can has a first cover end connected to the outer joint portion and a second cover end connected to the boot, the boot has a boot outer surface and shaft end connected to the shaft, and wherein articulation of the shaft relative to the outer joint portion will result in the limiting device contacting the outer joint portion, thereby preventing contact between an outside surface of the boot and an outside surface of the boot can.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.