Abstract: An improved telescoping torque transmitting connection and a method for making tubes used in the formation of this connection are disclosed. The tubes are formed with inwardly extending lobes and the lobes are formed so that the wall thickness of the tube in their vicinity is at least as great as it is in the remainder of the tube, whereby the strength of the tube is not reduced by formation of the lobes. The lobes are formed with substantially flat flanks for interaction with the lobes of the mating tube, whereby the contact between the two tubes is made at a plurality of planar surfaces rather than along a plurality of lines so that the end loading developed when the tubes are telescoped with respect to one another under load is not excessive.

Abstract: An improved telescoping torque transmitting connection and a method for making tubes used in the formation of this connection are disclosed. The tubes are formed with inwardly extending lobes and the lobes are formed so that the wall thickness of the tube in their vicinity is at least as great as it is in the remainder of the tube, whereby the strength of the tube is not reduced by formation of the lobes. The lobes are formed with substantially flat flanks for interaction with the lobes of the mating tube, whereby the contact between the two tubes is made at a plurality of planar surfaces rather than along a plurality of lines so that the end loading developed when the tubes are telescoped with respect to one another under load is not excessive.

Abstract: An improved guard for an articulated torque transmitting shaft such as the power transmission shaft connecting a tractor with an agricultural implement is disclosed. The guard according to the invention comprises bellows members for fitting over U-joints at either end and telescoping tubes connecting the bellows. The telescoping tubes are locked to the respective bellows by L-shaped keys which extend through slots formed through the tube and through the bellows and which have circumferentially extending tabs which ride in grooves formed in the universal joints, to locate the juncture of the tube and bellows with respect to the joint. In the preferred embodiment, the entire assembly is constructed of plastic.