Patent · US Expired

Driveshaft with additional masses

US5346432A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
13References
6Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 28, 1991
Grant dateSep 13, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 28, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16C2326/06
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention has a driveshaft (6, 8a, 8b and 10), especially used in the drive line of a motor vehicle (1), with a tubular shaft which has a central tube region (R.sub.m) and end pieces (11 and 12) formed on both ends. For optimizing the torsional characteristics of the driveshaft (6, 8a, 8b and 10), it includes at least one mass element (13) which is formed by reducing the inner diameter (D.sub.i) and/or increasing the outer diameter (D.sub.a) of the shaft wall. These additional mass elements (13) may be arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically in the axial direction of the driveshaft (6, 8a, 8b and 10). If the additional mass elements are arranged asymmetrically, the center of gravity is displaced, thereby optimizing the driveshaft 6, 8a, 8b and 10) of certain vehicle types with respect of its natural frequencies.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.