Abstract: A central support structure for a vehicle propeller shaft. The support structure includes a support bracket, an annular support, and a deflector. The deflector is disposed relatively above the propeller shaft and forward of the support bracket. In the event of a front-end collision, the deflector is adapted to direct or guide the propeller shaft through the support bracket and thereby enhance the crash stroke of the vehicle.

Abstract: A transfer shaft for an automatic transmission, provided between a transfer idle gear for outputting driving power from the automatic transmission and a differential driven gear for transmitting the driving power to a drive axle thereby transmitting an output of the transmission to the drive axle, comprising a first shock absorbing means which interconnects a transfer driven gear meshed with the transfer idle gear with one side of the transfer shaft, and absorbs shocks transmitted between the transmission and the drive axle, and a second shock absorbing means which interconnects an opposite side of the transfer shaft, in which said first shock absorbing means is disposed, with a differential drive gear for transmitting the driving power to a differential, and absorbs the shocks transmitted between the transmission and the drive axle.

Abstract: An apparatus has a mass suspended between two mounting plates by a separate springs to form a resonant structure that absorbs vibration in a structural member to which the mounting plates are attached. Permanent magnets are fixed to opposite sides of the mass. A sensor produces a signal indicating the frequency of the vibration. A feedback circuit receives the signal from the sensor and produces an output signal having first component frequency which corresponds to a harmonic of the frequency of the vibration. The output signal is applied to a separate voice coil adjacent to each permanent magnet. The magnetic fields produced by the output signal flowing through the voice coils interact with the magnetic fields from the permanent magnets to generate forces that act on the mass in a manner that increases the impedance of the absorber to the vibration in the structural member.

Abstract: A double-mass type dynamic damper mounted on a rod-shaped oscillating member, which includes a first damper system and a second damper system that are tuned to two different frequency ranges. Each of the damper systems includes a cylindrical mass member disposed radially outwardly of the oscillating member, and an elastic support member for elastically supporting the mass member with respect to the oscillating member. The elastic support members of the two damper systems are disposed in series and connected to each other in the axial direction. The dynamic damper further includes an elastic connector formed by adjacent parts of the two elastic support members, for elastically connecting axially opposed faces of the two mass members.

Abstract: An axle case, housing therein axles and a transmission for driving the axle, provided with a mount boss for being mounted to case mounting portions provided on a body frame of a vehicle and having insertion bores for mounting bolts, and including vibration isolating members which are each fixedly positioned on each mount boss and are provided with a portion positioned thereon and a portion extending into the insertion bore, so that, when the mount boss is coupled with the case mounting portion, the portion of the vibration isolating member positioned on the mount boss contacts with the case mounting portion. Thus, the axle case and body frame can be simply coupled with each other by using the vibration isolating members. The axle case is preferably divided vertically into an upper and a lower portion through a horizontal joint surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning a driveline in a motor vehicle, including supporting a transmission and a rear axle with the body of the motor vehicle. A driveshaft is supported at a first end with the transmission and supported at a second end with the rear axle. A center bearing is positioned to the body of the motor vehicle to further support the driveshaft. The position of the driveline is then measured and a shim thickness is calculated for installation between the center bearing and the body.

Abstract: A test weight for use with a counterbalanced motor for a compressor assembly, for example, including a body having an opening formed in it and sized to engage the outer diameter of an external eccentrically positioned ball bearing of the counterbalanced motor. A plurality of cantilevered spring fingers are integrally formed with the body along the opening in the test weight for spring gripping the external ball bearing. A plurality of centering pads formed on the fingers hold the center of mass of the test weight close to the center of mass of the ball bearing. In the preferred embodiment, stop tabs project from the centering pads to provide a positive stop upon contact with the outer race of the ball bearing. A method of testing a motor employs the test weight which is attached to the ball bearing to reproduce the application load requirements for the motor, and permits testing of the motor independently of the application.

Abstract: A drive system for a motor vehicle of the type having a front engine/transmission power unit mounted through engine mounts on a sprung mass portion of the vehicle, a rear drive axle resiliently connected to the sprung mass portion, and a torque beam for reacting drive torque and brake torque from the drive axle to the power unit. The drive system includes a front propeller shaft, a rear propeller shaft, a first universal joint between the power unit and the front propeller shaft, a second universal joint between the drive axle and the rear propeller shaft, a third universal joint between the front and the rear propeller shafts, and a shaft support rotatably connected to one of the front and the rear propeller shafts and rigidly attached to the torque beam. Vibratory forces developed in the front and rear propeller shafts are attenuated by a flexible isolator in the shaft support and by the engine mounts and the resilient connection of the drive axle to the sprung mass portion.

Abstract: A north-south transaxle includes a case having a first passageway extending longitudinally and a second passageway spaced from the first passageway and being generally parallel to the first passageway and extending longitudinally. The transaxle also includes a transmission assembly disposed in the first passageway and having a first shaft portion extending through the first passageway at one end thereof and a transfer assembly disposed in the second passageway and having a second shaft portion extending through the second passageway at one end thereof. The transaxle includes first and second sprocket wheels disposed about the first and second shaft portions, respectively, a chain disposed about the first and second sprocket wheels and a snubber located on tension side of the chain for a dampening vibrations or excursions in the chain.

Abstract: In an arrangement of a steerable rigid axle on a chassis of a tractor of modular construction, the rigid axle is spring-mounted with respect to the tractor chassis and is supported on its rear side via a propeller shaft tube swingable in a support bearing block on the side of the chassis, the arrangement includes an oil sump provided with a tunnel-like recess a support bearing block partially made in one piece with the oil sump.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vibration damper 15 for a driveshaft 9 having a tubular or solid shaft and bearing means connected to the vehicle 1 via a rubber coupling. The object of the vibration damper 15 is to reduce the bending vibrations and, at the same time, to eliminate balancing problems of the known damper masses. To achieve the objective it is proposed that the vibration damper 15 should be freely vibratingly connected to a non-rotating part of the bearing means. In this way, the vibration damper 15 is not subjected to any rotation and ensures that the bending vibrations of the driveshaft 9 are reduced.

Abstract: A drive assembly for motor vehicles comprises a front power unit which is elastically supported at the vehicle body and which is rigidly connected with a rear drive unit by means of a center tube through which a drive shaft extends. The front area of the center tube has a low bending stress and is connected to the power unit. This front area of the center tube has at least one longitudinal slot which is axially limited in its length and which is arranged in a vertical longitudinal center plane of the center tube. The slot causes a reduction of the torsional rigidity while, at the same time, the bending rigidity of the center tube is maintained. As a result, the torsional natural frequency of the assembly is reduced so that torsional resonance and vibrations at the transmission line are avoided during the driving operation.

Abstract: A power train system for a vehicle includes a power unit which is positioned in the front of the vehicle body, a differential which is positioned in the rear of the vehicle body, a propeller shaft which connects the power unit and the differential to transmit the engine output power to the rear wheels, and a power plant frame which rigidly connects the rear portion of the power unit and the front portion of the differential. The differential is resiliently connected to a chassis side member by a cylindrical rubber bushing member which has an outer tubular member fixed to the differential, a shaft member which is fixed to the chassis side member and extends horizontally in the transverse direction of the vehicle body, and a rubber member which is interposed between the outer tubular member and the shaft member.

Abstract: A system for reducing vibration and noise generated from a propeller shaft assembly of an automotive vehicle comprises a center bearing which is variable in position relative to the vehicle body under the control of a controller.

Abstract: A vibration damper for the hollow drive shaft of an automotive vehicle has a liner press fitted into the bore of the drive shaft and a resilient, deformable, elastic, highly frictional retaining strip which forcibly bears against the surface of the bore and fixes the liner in place within the shaft.

Abstract: An assembly for dampening shaft vibration and noise. An annular torsional damper is fixedly mounted to a cylindrical flange of a mounting adapter. The opposite ends of the adapter are cylindrically shaped and extend into the adjacent ends of a pair of shafts which are affixed thereto.

Abstract: A drive shaft has a noise absorber consisting of a rubber cup-shaped element inserted in the drive shaft and a plastic insert that presses the cup-shaped element against the interior wall against the drive shaft.