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:
Mar. 03, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1996
Earl Brazle, Whitleyville, TN (US);
Dana Corporation, Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
A fixture for press fitting an end yoke onto the end of a vehicle drive shaft tube includes a base having a plurality of tube supports secured thereto for supporting the tube thereon in a predetermined axial orientation. An end fitting is supported on a vertically-oriented, support pin assembly. The support pin assembly includes an upstanding pin having slot formed through the center of the upper end thereof. The slot has a lower edge which extends at an angle relative to the pin. A tab is retained within the slot and guided for sliding movement between a first extended position and a second retracted position. In the extended position, the tab defines a first width for the support pin assembly. In the retracted position, the tab defines a second width for the support pin assembly which is less than the first width. The end yoke is initially supported on the pin by aligning the openings formed through the yoke arms with the pin, then moving the end yoke downwardly such that the pin is received within the aligned yoke arm openings. The openings formed through the yoke arms define an inner diameter which is approximately equal to the first width defined by the support pin assembly when the tab is in the extended position. Thus, the support pin fits snugly within the openings of the yoke arms to insure proper alignment and phasing of the end yoke. At the completion of the press fitting operation, the end yoke is removed from the support pin assembly by raising it upwardly therefrom. When the end yoke is moved upwardly relative to the support pin assembly, the tab will be moved upwardly therewith. As a result, the effective width of the support pin assembly decreases from the first width to the second width, allowing free removal of the end yoke from the fixture.