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:
Sep. 26, 2017
Filed:
Apr. 22, 2016
GM Global Technology Operations Llc, Detroit, MI (US);
Paul A. Piorkowski, Milford, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An axle-shaft system for transmitting torque in a motor vehicle drive-train includes first and second two-stage stiffness axle-shafts. Each axle-shaft includes a hollow cylinder having first and second ends and a hollow cylinder stiffness. The axle-shaft also includes an inner shaft extending through the hollow cylinder, and having first and second ends and an inner shaft stiffness. The inner shaft's and the hollow cylinder's first ends are engaged via a rotational clearance fit. The inner shaft's and the hollow cylinder's second ends are rotationally fixed to permit the inner shaft's first end to twist relative to the inner shaft's second end. The inner shaft's stiffness defines the axle-shaft's first-stage stiffness, while the inner shaft's and the hollow cylinder's combined stiffness defines the axle-shaft's second-stage stiffness. At least one of the first-stage and second-stage stiffness of the first axle-shaft is dissimilar from the respective stiffness of the second axle-shaft.