Composite Drivelines, LLC

Kai-Peter Berndt

James Lee Dorman

Gregg Piper

Anthony D Stefanelli

A composite vehicle driveshaft is provided with a composite tube and a welded joint system(s) at one or both ends of the composite tube for connecting the composite vehicle driveshaft to driveline components. Each welded joint system may include a sleeve that is bonded to an end of the composite tube and a joint assembly that is welded to the sleeve.

Composite vehicle driveshaft with welded joint system

A composite vehicle driveshaft is provided with a crash collapse system that allows for a controlled longitudinal collapse of the driveshaft by facilitating telescopic movement of various components with respect to each other during a crash event. The crash collapse system may include a collapsible joint with a sleeve that is concentrically bonded in an end of a composite tube and a stub end assembly that is spline-engaged and interference fit within the sleeve, such as by way of a press-fit and/or a thermal shrink-fit procedure. This relationship may rotationally lock and axially fix the stub end assembly to the sleeve unless, during a crash event, the composite vehicle driveshaft experiences a compression or push-type force that exceeds a minimum breakaway or collapse force value that longitudinally and telescopically collapses the composite vehicle driveshaft.

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Oak Creek, WI, United States of America

Kai-Peter Berndt