The invention relates to a drive line apparatus for use where there is limited space between a driving member and a driven member.
The drive line shaft connects the transmission output to the differential at the rear wheel on rear drive vehicles. The rotary motion of the transmission output shaft is carried to the differential and from there to the wheel. The drive line shaft must change in length and angle as the wheels move up and down. To allow for these two variations, two or more universal joints and a slip joint are required. The universal joint accommodates a change in the drive angle. The slip joint accommodates a change in the length of the drive line.
In the conventional drive line shaft, the slip joint has outside splines on one shaft and matching internal splines on a mating hollow shaft. The splines cause the two shafts to rotate together and to permit the two to move endwise in relation to each other. This allows changes in the length of the propeller shaft as the rear axles move toward or away from the vehicle frame.
Some vehicles, such as busses, have the engine mounted at the rear. Due to the limited space available, short shafts and universal joints carry the engine power to the rear wheels. It would be desirable to provide the shortest transmission shaft possible without sacrificing the strength of the shaft to support bearing stresses.
In one aspect of the invention, a drive line apparatus is provided for connection between an output portion of a driving member and an input portion of a driven member wherein the output portion and input portion are each connectible to a universal joint, and the drive line apparatus includes an outer hollow shaft connectible to a universal joint and an inner hollow shaft connectible to another universal joint wherein the outer and inner hollow shafts are telescopically connected so that at least a portion of the inner hollow shaft is disposed within the outer shaft and at least a portion of the universal joint connectible to the inner shaft is disposable within the inner hollow shaft to minimize the total length of the drive line apparatus.
In another aspect of the invention, a drive line apparatus is provided for connection between an output portion of the driving member and an input portion on the driven member wherein the drive line apparatus includes an outer hollow shaft having at least one open end and an inner hollow shaft having at least one open end. The drive line apparatus further includes means for rotating the inner hollow shaft in unison with the outer hollow shaft. The drive line apparatus further includes means for connecting either the inner or outer hollow shaft to the output portion of the driving member and means for connecting the other of the inner or outer hollow shaft to the input portion of the driven member, wherein at least a portion of the connection means to the inner hollow shaft is disposed within the inner hollow member.
The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Referring now to
The first and second yoke supports 12, 24, and the first and second universal joints 14, 16 are conventional devices currently used in the industry. Although many configurations are available for these devices, the Figures show just one example of devices rigidly connected to the output shaft of a driving unit, such as an engine or transmission and devices rigidly connected to the input shaft of a driven unit, such as a generator, transmission, or transfer box.
The shaft coupling 18 includes an outer shaft member 20 and an inner shaft member 22. Each of the outer and inner shaft members 20, 22 respectively, have a hollow interior and at least one open end. The outer shaft member 20 has an interior dimension for receiving at least a portion of the inner shaft member therein so that the outer and inner shaft members are telescopically connected and can have a common longitudinally extending rotational axis. The inner shaft member 22 has an interior dimension for receiving at least a portion of one of the universal joints 14, 16 therein. The dimensions of the outer and inner shaft members 20, 22 respectively are further dependent on the load and axial movement required for the application. In general, the outer and inner shaft members 20, 22, respectively, have a larger inner radius or areas than conventional drive line shafts.
Each of the outer and inner shaft members 20, 22 respectively have means for rigid connection to one of the universal joints 14, 16. The means for rigid connection to one of the universal joints is positioned on each of the outer and inner shaft members 20, 22 to minimize the space between the first and second universal joints 14, 16 while allowing for relative axial movement between the outer and inner shaft members.
The first universal joint 14 is provided for connection to the first yoke support 12 and adjacent components. The first universal joint 14 connects the outer shaft member 20 to the driving member (
The second universal joint 16 can have the same configuration as the first universal joint 14. The second universal joint 16 connects the inner shaft member 22 to the driven member (
In the illustrated embodiment, simultaneous rotation of the inner and outer shaft members is provided by splined surfaces. As seen in
The splined inner surface of the outer shaft member 20 and the splined outer surface of the inner shaft member 22 causes the two shaft members to rotate together and also permits the two shafts 20, 22 to move axially or endwise in relation to each other. This configuration allows changes in the length of the shaft as the rear axles move toward or away from the vehicle frame, as used in one application. The shaft coupling 18 replaces the tubular slip shafts of the prior art and allows the pair of universal joints 14, 16 to be positioned closer to each other by having the connection to second universal joint 16 of inner shaft member 22 moved toward the connection to the first universal joint 14 of the outer shaft member 20. This invention provides an advantage over the tubular slip joints of the prior art in that at least a portion of the universal joints can be encompassed within the shaft coupling 18 to minimize space required for the drive line. As seen in
Although the shaft coupling 18 has been described and shown as a cylindrical and splined device, it is apparent that other configurations are available for the shaft coupling 18. For example, the outer and inner hollow members forming the shaft coupling can be other geometric configurations. The shaft may be any three, four, or other multi-sided shaft. The inner and outer hollow members forming the shaft will have complementary surfaces causing the inner and outer hollow members to rotate in unison.
Further, the connectors of the shaft coupling to the output of the driving member and to the input of the driven member can vary from the illustrated embodiment. Other types of universal joints, such as a simple universal joint or a two-yoke-and-spider universal joint, are conventional. The inner and outer hollow shaft members 22, 20 can also include portions of the universal joint integral with the shaft members 22, 20 for connection directly to the yokes 12, 24.
Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/814,541 filed Mar. 22, 2001, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,141 on Aug. 5, 2003, and which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/191,162 filed Mar. 22, 2000.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20030195048 A1 | Oct 2003 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60191162 | Mar 2000 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 09814541 | Mar 2001 | US |
Child | 10443712 | US |