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. 18, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 04, 2000
Mark Shuster, Toledo, OH (US);
Dana Corporation, Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
A structure and method of manufacturing an outer surface of a shaft avoids the creation of a preferential lead and thereby minimizes leakage through an annular seal assembly when such shaft is rotated or otherwise moved relative thereto during use. The outer circumferential surface of the shaft is formed having a plurality of relatively small irregularities that are evenly distributed thereabout. Such irregularities may be defined by relatively higher portions and relatively lower portions that are formed in an intersecting, cross hatched pattern or in a circumferentially extending undulating or oscillating pattern. To form the cross hatched pattern, an apparatus can be operated to engage the outer circumferential surface of the shaft in two sequential passes in opposite axial directions while the shaft is being rotated. To form the undulating pattern, an apparatus can be operated to engage the outer circumferential surface of the shaft in an axially reciprocating manner while the shaft is being rotated. By varying the feed rate of the apparatus, the rotational speed of the shaft, and the magnitude of the force applied by the apparatus against the outer circumferential surface of the shaft, the size, shape, and depth of the surface irregularities can be varied as desired.