American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

Neapco Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC

Robert J Wehner

Nick Dubiel

Dumitru Florin Patrascu

Salvatore N Grupido

Michael Hopson

Donald Joseph Kurecka

Thomas J Oldenburg

Arvind Srinivasan

Riki Patel

Victor S Sanchez

Niladri S Das

James B White

A propeller shaft assembly includes a propeller shaft extending along an axis between a first and second shaft end. A propeller shaft yoke is operably connected to one of the first or second shaft ends and includes a body presenting a mounting surface extending circumferentially about the axis. A tuned damper extends radially outwardly from the mounting surface and includes a first damper ring disposed in abutting and encircling relationship with the mounting surface and a second damper ring disposed in abutting and encircling relationship with the first damper ring. The tuned damper includes a retention lip extending radially downwardly from the second damper ring in axially spaced relationship with the mounting hub by an axial spacing distance D for protecting the tuned damper from axial impact forces and improving the robustness of the tuned damper mounted on the mounting surface.

Propeller shaft damper with retention lip

A seal and vent assembly for a constant velocity joint including a vent plate for being disposed in a compartment of the constant velocity joint. The vent plate defines a mounting aperture. A vent valve is received in the mounting aperture for sealing the compartment of the constant velocity joint. The vent valve has a body portion extending along an axis and received by the mounting aperture and a rim portion extending from the body portion into engagement with, and biased against the vent plate. The vent valve defines a chamber between the rim portion, the body portion and the vent plate. A venting channel fluidly connects the chamber of the vent valve and the compartment of the constant velocity joint. The vent plate defines the at least one venting channel.

Seal and vent assembly for a vehicle driveline

A constant velocity joint includes a shaft and an inner race coupled to the shaft. The inner race has a shaft groove formed thereon. A boot assembly engages the shaft and covers the inner race. A pair of grooves is axially formed in the boot assembly. The shaft groove provides communication between the pair of grooves.

Constant velocity joint with cooperating boot and shaft vent channels

A propeller shaft assembly comprises a first rotary component having a first splined portion and a first engaging surface arranged transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first rotary component and spaced from the first splined portion and a second rotary component having a second splined portion configured to engage the first splined portion. The second splined portion defines a second engaging surface arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first rotary component. A shear component is disposed between the first engaging surface of the first rotary component and the second engaging surface of the second rotary component. The shear component forms a crash feature of the propeller shaft assembly configured to shear at an edge of the second engaging surface when the first shear component is compressed between the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface.

Propeller shaft with crash feature

A tube yoke end fitting for coupling to a shaft tube of a drive shaft assembly includes a tubular first portion having a first end and a second end. The first end configured for coupling to the shaft tube. The tube yoke end fitting includes a second portion including a pair of ears extending outwardly from the second end of the first portion. The pair of ears is diametrically spaced from each other with respect to the first portion. Each of the pair of ears includes an aperture formed therethrough. A yoke length of the tube yoke end fitting measured from a center of each of the apertures to the first end of the first portion is greater than an ear span of the tube yoke end fitting measured between outer surfaces of the pair of ears.

Propeller shaft tube yoke having a welded joint

A seal for sealing between a trunnion and bearing cup of a joint member includes a main annular body. A plurality of annular lips extend radially inwardly from the main body. The lips are configured for engaging an outer bearing surface of the trunnion. A first one and a second one of the lips slope in a first direction with respect to the outer bearing surface of the trunnion and a third one of the lips slope in a second direction with respect to the outer bearing surface of the trunnion.

Cardan universal joint seal with radially extending lips

A universal joint includes a spider, first and second yokes drivingly interconnected by the spider, a plurality of bearing cups and a plurality of retaining members. The first yoke includes spaced apart arms with apertures extending through each arm. The apertures are coaxially aligned with one another and include a circumferential groove spaced apart from an edge of the arm. Each bearing cup is positioned within one of the apertures and in receipt of one of the trunnions. A portion of each bearing cup is positioned in communication with a corresponding groove. Each retaining member is operable to complement the size and shape of the corresponding groove, bearing cup and aperture such that each retaining member couples one of the bearing cups to its associated arm.

Method for assembling a universal joint

Shaft assembly with universal joint and method of assembling same

A power transmission device includes a housing, first and second shafts and a generally tubular boot. The housing has an aperture that at least the first shaft passes through. The first and second shafts are coupled together through a splined connection causing the shafts to rotate with one another while allowing axial translation between the shafts. The boot includes a first end engaged with the first shaft and a second end engaged with the second shaft. The first end of the boot includes a flange having an insert located therein. A portion of the first end biasedly engages the first shaft thereby eliminating the need for a clamp previously required.

Power transmission device with slip spline shaft assembly having boot integrated deflector

Universal joint

Propshaft boot with integrated bearing seal deflector

Universal joint with bearing retention device and method

A boot seal for a mechanical joint with a rotary joint member. The boot seal includes a flexible body portion and a flange end that is coupled to an end of the body portion. The flange end includes a flange seal portion, which is configured to seal against the joint member in an axial direction, and an annular lip that extends circumferentially about the seal portion and shields the flange seal portion from debris and moisture.

Propshaft boot with integrated bearing seal deflector and clampless retention

A universal joint includes a yoke with a leg having an aperture extending therethrough. The aperture includes an annular groove. The universal joint also includes a cruciform having a trunion, a bearing cup positioned in the aperture and mounted on the trunion and a retention member including an outer ring having a first surface and a second surface. The retention member further includes a spring tab axially extending beyond the first surface and disposed within the aperture such that the spring tab biasedly engages the bearing cup. The second surface of the retention member is at least partially disposed within the groove.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Robert J Wehner