Abstract: A joint assembly for use in a motor vehicle. The joint assembly includes a first joint member that is drivingly connected to a second joint member via one or more third joint members. At least a portion of the first joint member is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a first shaft and at least a portion of the second joint member is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a second shaft. One or more first joint member tool grooves circumferentially extends along the outer surface of the first joint member. The joint assembly further includes a nut that drivingly connects at least a portion of a third shaft to at least a portion of the second shaft. The nut includes one or more nut tool grooves circumferentially extending along the outer surface of the nut.

Abstract: A joint assembly and method of utilizing the same. The joint assembly includes a first joint member drivingly connected to a second joint member by using one or more third joint members. At least a portion of a cage member is interposed between the first and second joint members. When the first joint member is plunged in a first direction, at least a portion of one or more first engagement portions of the first joint member are in direct contact with at least a portion of one or more first engagement portions of the cage member. When the first joint member is plunged in a second direction, opposite the first direction, at least a portion of one or more second engagement portions of the first joint member are in direct contact with at least a portion of one or more second engagement portions of the cage member.

Abstract: A joint assembly and clutch assembly for use in a vehicle. The joint assembly includes a first joint member that is drivingly connected to a second joint member by using one or more third joint members. A first shaft is drivingly connected to the first joint member. The clutch assembly includes a first clutch member, a second clutch member, and an actuation assembly that is operably configures to selectively drive the second clutch member into engagement with the first clutch member of the clutch assembly. The actuation assembly utilizes an amount of rotational force that is transmitted from the first shaft in order to transition the second clutch member into engagement with the first clutch member. At least a portion of a second shaft is drivingly connected to the second clutch member.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint assembly with a crash collapse feature. The constant velocity joint assembly includes an inner race, an outer race, a cage and one or more torque transfer elements. The inner race is drivingly connected to a first shaft and the outer race is connected to a second shaft. Circumferentially extending along at least a portion of an inner surface of the outer race is one or more outer race torque transfer element grooves. One or more crash collapse features circumferentially extend radially inward from at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer race and are disposed directly adjacent to the one or more outer race torque transfer element grooves in the outer race. The one or more crash collapse features are disposed entirely between the one or more outer race torque transfer element grooves and do not extend axially beyond the grooves.

Abstract: A joint assembly (200) comprising a first joint member (232) that is drivingly connected to a second joint member (272) by one or more torque transfer elements (290). Drivingly connected to at least a portion of the second joint member (312) is a stub shaft (292). An end of the stub shaft, opposite the second joint member, is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a second shaft. At least a portion of a second end portion of a first shaft (202) is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a first end portion of the first joint member (232) and at least a portion of a first end portion of the first shaft has a gear member (210) with a plurality of gear teeth thereon.

Abstract: A propeller shaft including a first shaft, a first constant velocity joint drivingly connected with the first shaft, a second shaft, a second constant velocity joint drivingly connected with the second shaft, a connecting shaft drivingly connecting the first constant velocity joint and the second constant velocity joint and a grease cover disposed about an axial end of the second constant velocity joint. The second constant velocity joint is provided with a spring mechanism including a spring, wherein a spring seat of the spring mechanism is positioned on one axial end of the spring and mates with the second shaft, and wherein another axial end of the spring mates with an additional spring seat that is formed in the grease cover of the second constant velocity joint.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint assembly with a crash collapse feature. The constant velocity joint assembly includes an inner race, an outer race, a cage and one or more torque transfer elements. The inner race is drivingly connected to a first shaft and the outer race is connected to a second shaft. Circumferentially extending along at least a portion of an inner surface of the outer race is one or more outer race torque transfer element grooves. One or more crash collapse features circumferentially extend radially inward from at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer race and are disposed directly adjacent to the one or more outer race torque transfer element grooves in the outer race. The one or more crash collapse features are disposed entirely between the one or more outer race torque transfer element grooves and do not extend axially beyond the grooves.

Abstract: A joint assembly for a vehicle. The joint assembly incudes an outer race having a stepped portion with a chamfer portion circumferentially extending along an outer surface of an axially outermost end of a second end portion of the outer race. A first end portion of a flexible boot is connected to an outer surface of the outer race. Integrally connected to an inner surface of the boot is an adapter. Circumferentially extending from a first side of the adapter is an outer race mating portion having a size and shape complementary to the stepped and chamfer portions of the outer race. Extending radially inboard from the outer race mating portion is a substantially disc-shaped portion. A first side of the disc-shaped portion is in contact with the axially outermost end of the outer race and a second side is in contact with the inner surface of the boot.

Abstract: A joint assembly for a motor vehicle. The joint includes an inner race, an outer race, a plurality of balls and a cage. The inner race is drivingly connected to a sleeve having an axially inboard portion, an intermediate portion and an axially outboard portion. Circumferentially extending from the intermediate portion of the sleeve is an abutment portion. At least a portion of the abutment portion is in direct contact with an end of the inner race. Axially outboard from the abutment portion is a stepped portion. A shaft is drivingly connected to an inner surface of a hollow interior portion of the axially outboard portion of the sleeve. A first end portion of a boot is connected to an outer surface of the outer race and a second end portion of the boot is connected to an outer surface of the axially outboard portion of the sleeve.

Abstract: A joint assembly for use in a motor vehicle. The joint assembly includes a first joint member that is drivingly connected to a second joint member via one or more third joint members. At least a portion of the first joint member is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a first shaft and at least a portion of the second joint member is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a second shaft. One or more first joint member tool grooves circumferentially extends along the outer surface of the first joint member. The joint assembly further includes a nut that drivingly connects at least a portion of a third shaft to at least a portion of the second shaft. The nut includes one or more nut tool grooves circumferentially extending along the outer surface of the nut.

Abstract: A joint assembly and method of utilizing the same. The joint assembly includes a first joint member drivingly connected to a second joint member by using one or more third joint members. At least a portion of a cage member is interposed between the first and second joint members. When the first joint member is plunged in a first direction, at least a portion of one or more first engagement portions of the first joint member are in direct contact with at least a portion of one or more first engagement portions of the cage member. When the first joint member is plunged in a second direction, opposite the first direction, at least a portion of one or more second engagement portions of the first joint member are in direct contact with at least a portion of one or more second engagement portions of the cage member.

Abstract: A joint assembly (200) comprising a first joint member (232) that is drivingly connected to a second joint member (272) by one or more torque transfer elements (290). Drivingly connected to at least a portion of the second joint member (312) is a stub shaft (292). An end of the stub shaft, opposite the second joint member, is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a second shaft. At least a portion of a second end portion of a first shaft (202) is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a first end portion of the first joint member (232) and at least a portion of a first end portion of the first shaft has a gear member (210) with a plurality of gear teeth thereon.

Abstract: An air venting system for a constant velocity joint (20) having an inner race (24), an outer race (22), a cage (26), a plurality of torque transferring elements (28), a drive sleeve, a drive nut and a boot assembly. The outer race has a wall portion (90) having a vent hole (88, 242) with a first and a second axially extending channel (224, 264). A radially extending wall integrally connects the second axially extending channel to the first axially extending channel. A valve (256) having a stopper portion (264), a disk portion (258) and a breather portion (260) is at least partially located within the vent hole. The breather portion (260) further includes an axially extending ring (292) that terminates in a radially extending wall. At least a portion (300) of an edge portion of the radially extending wall of the breather portion of the valve is in direct contact with at least a portion (250) of an outer surface of the wall portion of the outer race.

Abstract: A joint assembly and clutch assembly for use in a vehicle. The joint assembly includes a first joint member that is drivingly connected to a second joint member by using one or more third joint members. A first shaft is drivingly connected to the first joint member. The clutch assembly includes a first clutch member, a second clutch member, and an actuation assembly that is operably configures to selectively drive the second clutch member into engagement with the first clutch member of the clutch assembly. The actuation assembly utilizes an amount of rotational force that is transmitted from the first shaft in order to transition the second clutch member into engagement with the first clutch member. At least a portion of a second shaft is drivingly connected to the second clutch member.

Abstract: A joint assembly for a vehicle. The joint assembly incudes an outer race having a stepped portion with a chamfer portion circumferentially extending along an outer surface of an axially outermost end of a second end portion of the outer race. A first end portion of a flexible boot is connected to an outer surface of the outer race. Integrally connected to an inner surface of the boot is an adapter. Circumferentially extending from a first side of the adapter is an outer race mating portion having a size and shape complementary to the stepped and chamfer portions of the outer race. Extending radially inboard from the outer race mating portion is a substantially disc-shaped portion. A first side of the disc-shaped portion is in contact with the axially outermost end of the outer race and a second side is in contact with the inner surface of the boot.

Abstract: A propeller shaft including a first shaft, a first constant velocity joint drivingly connected with the first shaft, a second shaft, a second constant velocity joint drivingly connected with the second shaft, a connecting shaft drivingly connecting the first constant velocity joint and the second constant velocity joint and a grease cover disposed about an axial end of the second constant velocity joint. The first and second constant velocity joints include a boot disposed about the outer race and a cage positioned between the outer race and inner race having a plurality of windows formed therein configured to accommodate the plurality balls therein. The windows have sidewalls walls with a diameter larger than the diameter of the balls and a length of the windows is larger than the diameter of the ball.

Abstract: A joint assembly for a motor vehicle. The joint includes an inner race, an outer race, a plurality of balls and a cage. The inner race is drivingly connected to a sleeve having an axially inboard portion, an intermediate portion and an axially outboard portion. Circumferentially extending from the intermediate portion of the sleeve is an abutment portion. At least a portion of the abutment portion is in direct contact with an end of the inner race. Axially outboard from the abutment portion is a stepped portion. A shaft is drivingly connected to an inner surface of a hollow interior portion of the axially outboard portion of the sleeve. A first end portion of a boot is connected to an outer surface of the outer race and a second end portion of the boot is connected to an outer surface of the axially outboard portion of the sleeve.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint assembly (20) includes an outer race (22) having a plurality of outer tracks (42) formed in an inner surface thereof and an inner race having a plurality of inner tracks (54) formed in an outer surface thereof. A cage (26) is disposed between the inner race and the outer race. A plurality of torque transferring elements (28) are disposed in the cage. Each torque transferring element contacts one of the outer tracks of the plurality of outer tracks and one of the inner tracks of the plurality of inner tracks. A drive sleeve (30) is separated from the plurality of torque transferring elements by the inner race. Also, the drive sleeve is in driving engagement with the inner race. A stopper portion (74) is attached to the drive sleeve. The stopper portion comprising a portion that reduces in thickness toward an outer end thereof.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint boot assembly with a boot can having a first end portion connected to an outer race and a second end portion cantilevered from the outer race. The second end portion has a planar portion extending from the first end portion at an angle. A radially outward extending end extends from the planar portion. A boot has a first end and a second end. The first end has an inner surface that is directly connected to an inner surface of the planar portion of the boot can. A sleeve has one end portion connected to an inner surface of an inner race and a second end portion extending axially away from the inner race. The boot has a lower portion engaged with the sleeve.

Abstract: An air venting system for a constant velocity joint (20) having an inner race (24), an outer race (22), a cage (26), a plurality of torque transferring elements (28), a drive sleeve, a drive nut and a boot assembly. The outer race has a wall portion (90) having a vent hole (88, 242) with a first and a second axially extending channel (224, 264). A radially extending wall integrally connects the second axially extending channel to the first axially extending channel. A valve (256) having a stopper portion (264), a disk portion (258) and a breather portion (260) is at least partially located within the vent hole. The breather portion (260) further includes an axially extending ring (292) that terminates in a radially extending wall. At least a portion (300) of an edge portion of the radially extending wall of the breather portion of the valve is in direct contact with at least a portion (250) of an outer surface of the wall portion of the outer race.