Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Christopher Peter Nicholas

Scott L Wilson

David Michael Pariseau

Jonathan Gretsky

Duane Allan Lewis

Anthony Paskus

Brian John Brown

Edward Steven Lanivich

A drivetrain assembly includes a transmission and a driveshaft that are joined together by a transmission flange and a driveshaft flange that has a plurality of pre-assembled bolts. The driveshaft flange defines a plurality of holes and countersink recesses and the bolts are secured to the driveshaft flange by a bolt retainer disposed in each of the countersink recesses between the transmission flange and the driveshaft flange. A method is disclosed for assembling a transmission flange and a driveshaft flange that defines a plurality of holes and countersink recesses. A bolt is assembled into each of the holes and countersink recesses and a bolt retainer is attached to each of the bolts and nested inside the countersink recesses to retain the bolts on the driveshaft flange. The bolts on the driveshaft flange are then installed into the threaded holes of the transmission flange.

Method and apparatus for assembling a driveshaft flange to a transmission flange

A transmission includes an output shaft. The output shaft is configured to transmit torque from the transmission through an output shaft flange to a driveshaft. The transmission further includes an adapter having a first threaded portion, a second threaded portion, and a journal. The first threaded portion is received by the output shaft. The journal extends from the second threaded portion and is configured to align the driveshaft with the output shaft.

Output shaft adapter

A constant velocity joint includes a body, a cup, an annular array of bolts, and an annular gasket. The body has a first planar surface. The cup has a second planar surface positioned adjacent the first planar surface. The annular array of bolts interconnects the cup and body. The annular gasket is interposed between the planar surfaces of the cup and the body. The gasket has a plurality of notches defined on an outer perimeter of the gasket sized to receive the array of bolts. The notches are spaced adjacent to a corresponding bolt and define an open space between the planar surfaces around a bolt periphery. The open space enables thread-locking fluid to escape without causing displacement of the gasket or separation of the planar surfaces. A method of transmitting torque through a CV joint is also contemplated.

CV joint gasket

A constant velocity (CV) joint includes a conical shield to protect a J-boot from damage due to projectiles such as stones. In order to facilitate vehicle assembly, the conical shield is divided into a number of leaves which each flex radially to permit installation of bolts. When the CV joint is shipped to the vehicle assembly plant, a band is installed to hold the leaves in a stowed position. Once the bolts have been installed to attach the CV joint to a driveline component, the band is removed and the leaves flex to a deployed position in which they protect the J-boot.

Universal joint with protective shield

A constant velocity (CV) joint includes a shield to protect a J-boot from damage due to projectiles such as stones and to prevent ballooning. A rigid portion of the shield is fixed to a ring, which is adapted for fixation to a powertrain component such as a transmission. A flexible portion of the shield prevents projectiles from entering through the opening created by non-coincident axes of the shaft and ring. The flexible portion has a number of truncated conical panels with alternating orientation that accommodate the variable size opening by flexing in an accordion-like fashion.

Growing community of inventors

Milford, MI, United States of America

Christopher Peter Nicholas