Claims
- 1. A method of fabricating a shaft assembly comprising:
selecting a composite shaft member having an end portion defining a cavity, the end portion having an inner surface and an outer surface; selecting a metallic inner sleeve having an exterior surface; selecting a metallic outer sleeve having an interior surface; disposing the inner sleeve within the cavity of the end portion of the shaft; disposing the outer sleeve around the end portion of the shaft; expanding the inner sleeve such that the exterior surface is adjacent the inner surface of the end portion of the shaft; and compressing the outer sleeve such that the interior surface of the outer sleeve is adjacent the outer surface of the end portion of the shaft.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner sleeve further comprises a first flange and the outer sleeve further comprises a second flange.
- 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising forming a joint between the first and second flanges.
- 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the forming a joint includes forming a weld joint.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of expanding the inner sleeve and compressing the outer sleeve are performed simultaneously.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of expanding the inner sleeve and compressing the outer sleeve are performed separately.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve further comprises at least one dimple positioned on the interior surface of the outer sleeve.
- 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the compressing the outer sleeve continues until an undulating interface is formed between the interior surface of the outer sleeve and the outer surface of the shaft.
- 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner sleeve further comprises at least one dimple positioned on the exterior surface of the inner sleeve.
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the expanding the inner sleeve continues until an undulating interface is formed between the exterior surface of the inner sleeve and the inner surface of the shaft.
- 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the composite shaft member is preformed and cured prior to the step of selecting the composite shaft.
- 12. A method of fabricating a shaft assembly having a hollow composite shaft, a metallic inner sleeve, and a metallic outer sleeve, the method comprising:
placing the inner sleeve within the composite shaft; placing the outer sleeve around the composite shaft; expanding the inner sleeve such that the inner sleeve engages the composite shaft; and compressing the outer sleeve such that the outer sleeve engages the composite shaft.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve each include a connection portion engaging the composite shaft and a flange portion extending from the composite shaft.
- 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of attaching the flange portions of the inner sleeve and outer sleeve together.
- 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of attaching the flange portions occurs prior to the expanding and compressing steps.
- 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the flange portions are attached by a weld.
- 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of forming connection features in the flange portions.
- 18. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the inner sleeve and outer sleeve includes an angled portion positioned between the connection portion and the flange portion.
- 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the flange portions of the inner and outer sleeves define a cavity therebetween, and further comprising the steps of:
attaching the flange portions of the inner sleeve and outer sleeve together; and placing the composite shaft within the cavity.
- 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the steps of expanding the inner sleeve and compressing the outer sleeve are performed simultaneously.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is a divisional of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/965,316, filed Sep. 27, 2001,
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09965316 |
Sep 2001 |
US |
Child |
10740327 |
Dec 2003 |
US |