Abstract: A driveshaft assembly includes a yoke including a body portion, a pair of opposed yoke arms that extends generally in a first axial direction from the body portion, and a neck portion that extends generally in a second axial direction from the body portion. A driveshaft tube is secured to the neck portion of the yoke, such as by magnetic pulse welding. A ring is secured to the body portion of the yoke, such as by press fitting, and a balance weight is secured to the ring, such as by welding.

Abstract: A journal cross includes a trunnion having a lubricant passageways formed therethrough. A retainer is disposed in the lubricant passageway and includes a body portion and a lip portion. The body portion of the retainer is retained within the lubricant passageway in a press fit relationship, and the lip portion of the retainer extends inwardly into the lubricant passageway. The bearing cup includes a thrust washer that is retained therein by needle bearings and a seal assembly. The thrust washer includes a projection that extends radially inwardly within the lubricant passageway and has one or more fingers provided thereon. When the bearing cup is installed on the trunnion, the fingers of the thrust washer cooperate with the lip portion of the retainer to retain the bearing cup on the trunnion, such as during shipment from one manufacturing location to another.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing a hydroforming process cause either or both of the opposed end portions of the workpiece to be deformed to achieve desired shapes therein. Initially, a workpiece having a pair of end portions is disposed within a die cavity defined by first and second die sections have cooperating recesses. A pair of end feed assemblies engage the end portions of the workpiece and deform such end portions to a desired shape. Pressurized fluid is provided within the workpiece either before, during, or after the deformation of the end portions of the workpiece to deform the central portion thereof it into a desired shape as defined by the die cavity.

Abstract: A method for statistically analyzing the operation of a machine for balancing articles for rotation so as to reduce measurement errors and thereby enhance productivity and quality including the steps of collecting raw data during production balancing of articles for rotation, and statistically analyzing the data to determine appropriate process control limits for prompting investigative or corrective action if a process control limit is exceeded.

Abstract: A noise and vibration damper for use with a rotatable structure, such as a driveshaft assembly for a vehicular drive train system, includes an inner member, an elastomeric member that extends about the inner member, and an outer member that extends about the elastomeric member. The inner member is formed from a sheet of material that has been deformed to a desired shape, while the outer member is formed from a tube of material having a length that is selected to provide the desired dampening frequency. The natural resonant frequency of the noise and vibration damper can be adjusted by varying either or both of the shape of the inner member or the axial length of the outer member of the noise and vibration damper. In both instances, the weight distribution of the components of the noise and vibration damper is altered.

Abstract: A cross for use in a universal joint includes a lubrication system for positively causing lubricant to flow into the region of the bearings contained within a bearing cup mounted on the trunnion. The lubrication system includes a pump that is disposed in the lubrication passageway formed in the trunnion of the cross. In a first embodiment, the pump is embodied as a reciprocating piston pump, including a hollow cylindrical housing having a piston slidably supported therein. When the cross is rotated during use, the piston is moved radially outwardly relative to the housing, thereby injecting a quantity of lubricant from the lubricant passageway into the region of the bearings. When the cross is ceased to be rotated, the piston is moved radially outwardly relative to the housing under the urging of a spring. In a second embodiment, the pump is embodied as a rotatable auger pump.

Abstract: A centering device for a double Cardan universal joint is comprised of a disc-shaped body having a first and second annular face and an annular rim extending about a central axis. A first hollowed protrusion is centrally located on the first annular face, and a second hollowed protrusion is centrally located on the second annular face. A plurality of bearings are built into the disc-shaped body, extending circumferentially about the central axis. The bearings may be contained within two races, with one race located on each annular face, or the bearings may be contained within holes or slots built into the disc-shaped body.

Abstract: A vehicular axle assembly includes an electrical generator for generating electricity to supply power to one or more electrical components therein during operation. The axle assembly includes a hollow housing that rotatably supports a differential mechanism therein. An input shaft is rotatably supported in the axle housing and terminates in a pinion gear. The pinion gear meshes with the differential mechanism that, in turn, rotatably drives a pair of output shafts that extend to respective driven wheels of the vehicle. A stator is supported within the axle housing about the input shaft, while a rotor is supported on the input shaft. When the input shaft is rotated, the rotor generates electrical power that may be used to operate the electrical component, such as a piezo-based device supported on a driveshaft assembly connected to the input shaft.

Abstract: To manufacture an axially collapsible driveshaft assembly, first and second tubular members are disposed in an axially overlapping relationship. Central portions of the concentric tubular members are then deformed into conformance with a die cavity having a non-circular cross sectional shape. The deformed first and second tubular members are then cut to provide two pairs of outer and inner tubular sections. Next, the outer tubular sections are removed from the associated inner tubular sections, and the inner tubular sections are oriented such that the deformed portions thereof are aligned with the deformed portions of the outer tubular sections. Lastly, the deformed portions of the inner tubular sections are inserted within the deformed portions of the outer tubular sections to form a pair of axially collapsible driveshaft assemblies.

Abstract: A motor vehicle axle assembly includes a hollow cylindrical, internally-splined input shaft that is adapted to be connected to an externally-splined shaft of an end fitting of a driveshaft assembly. By using the mass centerline or center of balance of the end fitting shaft as a common center of balance for a balanced driveshaft assembly and further as a locating centerline for the connection between the input shaft of the axle assembly and the shaft of the rear end fitting of the driveshaft assembly, eccentricities in the connection between the input shaft and the end fitting are minimized to reduce noise and vibration. This also provides an adequate seal between the input shaft and the carrier of the axle assembly to retain lubricant in the carrier.

Abstract: An elastomeric coupling for a rotating shaft includes a driving yoke, a driven yoke, and a substantially circular elastomeric body having a circumferential face and first and second sets of bushings within the elastomeric body. The bushings have threaded openings exposed at the circumferential face. A plurality of fasteners secures the driving yoke to the first set of bushings and secures the driven yoke to the second set of bushings. A plurality of tensile members are located within the elastomeric body, with the tensile members connecting the first set of bushings to the second set of bushings.

Abstract: A slip joint, such as for use in a vehicular driveshaft assembly, includes a first member having a plurality of male splines provided thereon and a second member having a plurality of female splines provided thereon. The male splines cooperate with the female splines so as to connect the first and second members together for concurrent rotational movement and for relative axial movement. A wedge member is disposed between portions of the first and second members to take up looseness therebetween and to adjustably control the amount of force that is required to be exerted in order to effect relative axial movement. The wedge member includes a body portion having a plurality of leg portions extending therefrom. The wedge member is positioned such that the leg portions are received within an annular space between the first and second members.