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:
May. 27, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 04, 1995
Gerald L Myers, Maumee, OH (US);
Dana Corporation, Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
An end fitting for use in a vehicular drive shaft assembly includes a body having a cylindrical sleeve portion extending therefrom. The sleeve portion of the end fitting has a plurality of recessed areas formed therein which extend longitudinally from a first end of the sleeve portion to a second end thereof. The recessed areas may be defined by planar surfaces which intersect the sleeve portion of the end fitting at a slight angle relative to the axis of rotation thereof. Each of the recessed areas has a cross sectional shape defined by a radial depth and a chordal width. The cross sectional shapes of the recessed areas vary along the lengths thereof. Preferably, the radial depths and the chordal widths are at minimum values adjacent the first end of the sleeve portion of the end fitting and are at maximum values adjacent the second end of the sleeve portion. To assemble the drive shaft assembly, adhesive is applied either to the outer chordal surface of the sleeve or to the inner cylindrical surface of a drive shaft tube. Then, the sleeve portion of the end fitting is inserted within the drive shaft tube such that the outer surface of the sleeve portion engages the inner cylindrical surface of the drive shaft tube in a light press relationship. As the leading edge of the end fitting is inserted within the drive shaft tube, the adhesive is urged to flow into the recessed areas. The adhesive material is subsequently cured to form an adhesive bond between the end fitting and the inner cylindrical surface of the drive shaft tube.