Non-uniform axisymmetric driveline/axle damper
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJim Chern, Max Gibbs, Milind Shankarrao Ravan, Tony Ge, Wan Joe Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A non-uniform axisymmetric damper device is provided, comprising a first portion that extends radially outward from an outer surface of a flange protrusion, and is spaced from and concentric with the flange protrusion. Further, a second portion of the damper device is provided with an inner surface coupled to an outer surface of the first portion and a non-uniform outer surface extending radially outward from the first portion. Accordingly, a light-weight damper is provided that allows for resonance suppression in six degrees of freedom.
Claims17
A non-uniform axisymmetric damper device comprising:
- a first portion positioned radially outward relative to an outer surface of a flange protrusion, spaced from and concentric with the flange protrusion;
- and
- a second portion with an inner surface coupled to an outer surface of the first portion and a non-uniform outer surface radially outward from the first portion, wherein an outer surface of the second portion includes first and second thick sections of equal thickness that are spaced circumferentially from one another by first and second thin sections of lesser thickness than the thick sections, wherein the first thin section is positioned circumferentially between and in contact with the first thick section and the second thick section, the second thin section is positioned circumferentially between and in contact with the first thick section and the second thick section, and the second thin section is positioned radially opposite from the first thin section.
An axle system comprising:
- an axle, connectively coupling to two wheels;
- a driveshaft, comprising a companion flange extending radially outward from the driveshaft;
- a differential gear box, coupled to the axle and the driveshaft;
- and
- a non-uniform axisymmetric axle damper positioned between the differential gear box and the companion flange of the driveshaft, wherein the axle damper comprises a first portion, positioned radially outward relative to an outer surface of the companion flange and spaced from the companion flange, and a second portion with an inner surface coupled to an outer surface of the first portion and a non-uniform outer surface radially outward from the companion flange, an outer surface of the second portion includes first and second thick sections of equal thickness that are spaced from one another circumferentially relative to the driveshaft by first and second thin sections of lesser thickness, the two thin sections are positioned such that the first thin section is positioned circumferentially between and in contact with the first thick section and the second thick section, the second thin section is positioned circumferentially between and in contact with the first thick section and the second thick section, and the second thin section is radially opposite from the first thin section.
A non-uniform axisymmetric axle damper coupled to a flange of a driveshaft comprising:
- a first, uniform ring-shaped portion, composed of an elastic material, spaced from and positioned concentrically around a protrusion of the flange;
- and
- a second, non-uniform portion, comprising sections of alternating thickness distributed around an outer circumference of the first, uniform ring-shaped portion, the sections of alternating thickness further comprising a first thick section, a second thick section, a first thin section, and a second thin section, wherein the first thin section is positioned circumferentially between and in contact with the first thick section and the second thick section, the second thin section is positioned circumferentially between and in contact with the first thick section and the second thick section, and the second thin section is positioned radially opposite from the first thin section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.