Universal joint with protective shield
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsChristopher Peter Nicholas, Scott Wilson, Jonathan Gretsky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A constant velocity (CV) joint includes a conical shield to protect a J-boot from damage due to projectiles such as stones. In order to facilitate vehicle assembly, the conical shield is divided into a number of leaves which each flex radially to permit installation of bolts. When the CV joint is shipped to the vehicle assembly plant, a band is installed to hold the leaves in a stowed position. Once the bolts have been installed to attach the CV joint to a driveline component, the band is removed and the leaves flex to a deployed position in which they protect the J-boot.
Claims4
A vehicle driveshaft comprising:
- a shaft having a shaft axis and adapted for fixation at a first end to a differential;
- a ring adapted for fixation to a transmission and coupled to a second end of the shaft to rotate about a ring axis non-coincident with the shaft axis, the ring defining a plurality of holes, each hole having a hole axis;
- and
- a conical sleeve fixed at a narrow end to the shaft and having a number of leaves configured to flex radially between a deployed position in which the hole axes intersect the conical sleeve and a stowed position in which the hole axes do not intersect the conical sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.