Gkn Driveline North America, Inc.

Steven L Leffingwell

Samuel Oram

Brian Michael Valovick

Tony N Arden

Noel Sutton

Crittenden A Bittick

Ashfaq Saeed

Thomas C Walbridge

A shaft retaining bracket assembly () and a method () of assembling the same is disclosed. A bracket assembly () may include an isolator () that receives a shaft and absorbs vibrations transmitted therethrough, and an integrally formed bracket (). The bracket () may include a base portion () having at least one attachment hole () for securing the bracket () to a structural member, and a hoop () integrally formed with the base portion (). The hoop () receives the isolator () such that the isolator () and the shaft are generally concentric about an axis (A) of the hoop (). The bracket () further includes at least one retention flange () formed in the hoop, the retention flange () being configured to retain the isolator () within the hoop ().

Shaft retaining bracket assembly

A vehicle joint assembly is provided comprising an outer race having an outer surface and an inner surface. A pair of opposed slot tracks are formed in the inner cup surface and each comprise a track top wall and two track sidewalls. A barshaft is in communication with a bipod element comprised of a body portion and two opposed peg portions. Each of the two opposed peg portions comprises two opposed curved engagement surfaces engaging one of the track sidewalls. The bipod element is positioned within the outer race such that each of the opposed peg portions resides in one of the opposed slot tracks. The bipod element is capable of being positioned in a variety of angles within the slot tracks and is capable of plunging within the slot tracks.

Vehicle joint design utilizing bipode element

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White Lake, MI, United States of America

Steven L Leffingwell