Patent Application
20180142735
The subject invention relates to the art of vehicles and, more particularly, to a composite flange for a vehicle.
Vehicles include numerous components that may be joined by interfacing flanges. Flanges may be employed to join cooling components, exhaust components, intake components, and driveline components. Flanges may support vibrational loads associated with operating a vehicle. Driveline flanges may support torque loading that may pass through a driveline component. Flanges that support vibrational loading and torque loading may add undesirable weight to the vehicle that can detract from vehicle performance. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide flanges are lightweight and capable of supporting operating loads.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a multi-piece flange includes a hub portion formed from a first material. The hub portion includes a central opening. A disc portion is formed from a second material that is lighter than the first material. The disc portion includes hub receiving portion configured to receive the hub portion.
In accordance with another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a vehicle includes a chassis, a body supported by the chassis, and a drive system including at least one driveline component supported by the chassis. The at least one driveline component includes a multi-piece flange having a hub portion formed from a first material. The hub portion includes a central opening. A disc portion is formed from a second material that is lighter than the first material. The disc portion includes hub receiving portion configured to receive the hub portion.
In accordance with another aspect of an exemplary embodiment a method of forming a driveline flange for a vehicle includes installing a hub portion formed from a first material into a hub receiving portion of a disc portion formed from a second material that is lighter than the first material.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description of embodiments, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which:
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
A vehicle, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, is indicated generally at 10 in
In accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, vehicle 10 includes a number of driveline components 42, one of which may take the form of a driveshaft 44 operatively connecting transmission 24 and rear differential 28. Driveshaft 44 includes a first end 46, a second end 48 and an intermediate portion 49 extending therebetween. Transmission 24 includes a multi-piece flange 50 that interfaces with first end 46 of driveshaft 44. Rear differential 28 may include a multi-piece flange 52 that interfaces with second end 48 of driveshaft 44.
Reference will now follow to
Disc portion 64 incudes a body 70 having an outer annular edge 72, a first surface 74 and a second surface 76. A hub receiving portion 80 extends through first surface 74 and second surface 76. Hub receiving portion 80 includes an inner annular surface 81 defining a first dimension “X” and is arranged centrally on body 70. An annular recess 82 extends about hub receiving portion 80 axially into first surface 74 and an annular projection 84 extends about hub receiving portion 80 axially outwardly of second surface 76. A plurality of openings 86 are formed in body 70. Openings 86 may receive mechanical fasteners (not shown) that connect multi-piece flange 50 to, for example, transmission 24.
Hub portion 68, in
Reference will now follow to
A hub portion 150, as shown in
At this point it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments describe a flange formed from multiple materials that meets both weight reduction and force transmission goals. That is, the hub portion is formed from a material that supports torque loading while the disc portion may be formed from a lighter weight material. Those materials may vary and may be dependent upon particular applications. Further, while described as being employed with a driveline component, it is to be understood that the exemplary embodiments may be employed in other systems in which weight reduction and torque transmission are of interest.
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the application.
