Claims
- 1. A method of forming a one-piece shaft and yoke member comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a tube including a first portion, a second portion extending from said first portion, and a third portion extending from said second portion, said tube having a generally circular cross sectional shape and defining a first outer diameter;
- (b) subsequent to step (a), subjecting said second and third portions of said tube to a diameter reducing process such that said second and third portions of said tube define a second outer diameter that is smaller than said first outer diameter;
- (c) subsequent to step (b), subjecting said second portion of said tube to a diameter reducing process such that said second portion of said tube defines a third outer diameter that is smaller than said second outer diameter;
- (d) subsequent to step (c), forming a yoke on said first portion of said tube and a splined surface on said third portion of said tube to form said one-piece shaft and yoke member.
- 2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said step (b) is performed such that a tapered transition section is provided between said first and second portions of said tube.
- 3. The method defined in claim 2 wherein said step (c) is performed such that a tapered transition section is provided between said second and third portions of said tube.
- 4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said step (d) is performed such that said splined surface is formed on an outer surface of said third portion of said tube.
- 5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said step (d) is performed such that said portions of said first portion of said tube are removed to formed said yoke.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 08/366,269 filed Dec. 29, 1994, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 612 649 |
Aug 1994 |
EPX |
2 679 860 |
Feb 1993 |
FRX |
33 35 912 A1 |
Apr 1985 |
DEX |
37 42 869 A1 |
Jun 1988 |
DEX |
61-166769 |
Jul 1986 |
JPX |
2 091 141 |
Jul 1982 |
GBX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
366269 |
Dec 1994 |
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