Hybrid drive shaft using friction-stir welding and fabrication method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hybrid drive shaft using friction-stir welding and a fabrication method thereof, and more particularly to a drive shaft comprising a metal tube, a composite material layer formed inside the metal tube, and a metal yoke connected to both ends of the drive shaft by means of friction-stir welding so as to make the components simple and lightweight and to enhance the durability, and a fabrication method thereof. The fabrication method comprises the steps of: shaping a composite material sheet; bonding the cylindrical composite material layer to the inside of a metal tube; maintaining the inside of the metal tube in a vacuum state for a given duration; heating the metal tube maintained in the vacuum state in an autoclave; and adjoining a connection member for connecting other parts to the ends of the metal tube.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.