Vehicle joint
AssigneeDana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
InventorsSeth A. Metzger, Seung Tark Oh, Jeffrey A. Dutkiewicz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle joint has a drive sleeve, a pinion shaft and a drive nut. The sleeve has a vent hole, a first set of splines and a first set of venting grooves. The pinion shaft has a second set of splines engaged with the first set of splines. A fluid gap radially outboard of the engaged spines extends the length of the engaged splines. A second set of venting grooves is engaged with the first set of venting grooves. The pinion shaft also has a first set of threads. The drive nut has a second set of threads engaged with the first set of threads. The drive nut also has a radial aperture extending through the drive nut. The first vent hole is in fluid connection with the radial aperture through some of the features described above.
Claims11
A vehicle joint, comprising:
- a drive sleeve, comprising:
- a first vent hole;
- a first set of splines;
- and
- a first set of venting grooves;
- a pinion shaft, comprising:
- a second set of splines engaged with said first set of splines, wherein a radial gap radially outboard of said engaged splines extends the length of said engaged splines;
- a second set of venting grooves engaged with said first set of venting grooves;
- and
- a first set of threads;
- a drive nut, comprising:
- a second set of threads engaged with said first set of threads;
- and
- a fluid aperture extending through said drive nut;
- wherein said first vent hole is in fluid communication with said fluid aperture through said radial gap, said first and second set of venting grooves and said first and said second set of threads;
- wherein said first vent hole is located in a middle portion of said drive sleeve, said first vent hole is oriented along a longitudinal axis of said sleeve.
A vehicle joint, comprising:
- a drive sleeve, comprising:
- a first vent hole;
- a first set of splines;
- and
- a first set of venting grooves;
- a pinion shaft, comprising:
- a second set of splines engaged with said first set of splines, wherein a radial gap radially outboard of said engaged splines extends the length of said engaged splines;
- a second set of venting grooves engaged with said first set of venting grooves;
- and
- a first set of threads;
- a drive nut, comprising:
- a second set of threads engaged with said first set of threads;
- and
- a fluid aperture radially extending through said drive nut, wherein a check valve is located within said fluid aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.