The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 27, 1993
Filed:
Dec. 19, 1991
Joseph Simon, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI (US);
Other;
Abstract
A method for forming a lightweight flanged axle shaft particularly for use within automotive vehicles for transmitting power from a power source, such as the differential, to a driven wheel. The method includes extruding a tubular blank through a die throat by pushing the blank through the die throat and causing the blank to collapse inwardly around a mandrel-like member located within the die throat to thereby form an elongated, thin wall, hollow tube. A flange member is separately forged out of metal with a disk-like flange and central cup-shaped hub whose free edge is of approximately the same size and thickness as the end of the shaft. The flange hub and the shaft end are welded together, face to face, by engaging the two and rapidly spinning one relative to the other to generate sufficient heat and to butt the adjacent faces to fuse them together upon discontinuance of the rotation. This produces a long, hollow, thin wall, lightweight shaft having one end closed by the flange extending laterally thereof. The flange hub and shaft end are integrated to form a one piece unit. The opposite end of the shaft is configured, such as with spline teeth, for fastening one end of the shaft to a drive or driven member while the flange at the opposite end of the shaft is secured to the opposite drive or driven member.