US3887024A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motor vehicle drive lines
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1972-05-16
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1992-05-16
Abstract
Abstract An improvement is incorporated in a final drive unit of a motor vehicle drive line with a view to reducing or at least minimizing the unpleasant noises transferred to the vehicle cabin from an axle housing of the motor vehicle. The final drive is thus provided with an inertial mass means which is adapted to provide an additional mass moment of inertia so as to reduce the resonance frequency of the final drive unit to a range within which the torsional vibrations of the final drive unit, particularly the pinion drive shaft, are practically isolated from the vehicle cabin. The inertial mass means may be mounted on any one or even more of a companion flange or a spacer forming part of the final drive unit or a yoke of a rear universal joint.
Inventors
- 👤 Koichi Takahashi
- 👤 Eiichi Abe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:35
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F15/00; F16F15/10; F16D; F16D3/00; F16D3/16; F16D3/26; F16D3/38; F16D3/382; F16D3/387; F16D2300/00; F16D2300/22; F16H; F16H48/00; F16H48/38; F16H48/42; F16H2048/423
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A driven vehicle comprising a vehicle body, a propeller shaft and a final drive unit, the final drive unit comprising a pinion drive shaft rotatable supported by pinion bearings in an axle housing, a spacer provided on a portion of the pinion drive shaft spacing the bearings from each other, a pinion driving flange provided on the pinion drive shaft and rotatable therewith, and a rear yoke of a rear universal joint fixedly connected to and rotatable with the pinion driving flange, and an inertial mass of a predetermined weight coaxially coupled with and rotatable with the pinion drive shaft, said inertial mass having a circular wall section interposed between said rear yoke said pinion driving flange and secured thereto said mass being positioned with its center of gravity aligned with the axis of said pinion drive shaft adjacent a forward end portion thereof, so as to increase the predetermined magnitude of the moment of inertia of the pinion drive shaft to cause a reduction in the otherwise occurring resonance frequency of the pinion drive shaft and in the vibrations produced in the final drive unit and therefrom transmitted to the vehicle body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A driven vehicle comprising a vehicle body, a propeller shaft and a final drive unit, the final drive unit comprising a pinion drive shaft rotatable supported by pinion bearings in an axle housing, a spacer provided on a portion of the pinion drive shaft spacing the bearings from each other, a pinion driving flange provided on the pinion drive shaft and rotatable therewith, and a rear yoke of a rear universal joint fixedly connected to and rotatable with the pinion driving flange, and an inertial mass of a predetermined weight coaxially coupled with and rotatable with the pinion drive shaft, said inertial mass having a circular wall section interposed between said rear yoke said pinion driving flange and secured thereto said mass being positioned with its center of gravity aligned with the axis of said pinion drive shaft adjacent a forward end portion thereof, so as to increase the predetermined magnitude of the moment of inertia of the pinion drive shaft to cause a reduction in the otherwise occurring resonance frequency of the pinion drive shaft and in the vibrations produced in the final drive unit and therefrom transmitted to the vehicle body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
193 words
A driven vehicle comprising a vehicle body, a propeller shaft and a final drive unit, the final drive unit comprising a pinion drive shaft rotatable supported by pinion bearings in an axle housing, a spacer provided on a portion of the pinion drive shaft spacing the bearings from each other, a pinion driving flange provided on the pinion drive shaft and rotatable therewith, and a rear yoke of a rear universal joint fixedly connected to and rotatable with the pinion driving flange, and an inertial mass of a predetermined weight coaxially coupled with and rotatable with the pinion drive shaft, said inertial mass having a circular wall section interposed between said rear yoke said pinion driving flange and secured thereto said mass being positioned with its center of gravity aligned with the axis of said pinion drive shaft adjacent a forward end portion thereof, so as to increase the predetermined magnitude of the moment of inertia of the pinion drive shaft to cause a reduction in the otherwise occurring resonance frequency of the pinion drive shaft and in the vibrations produced in the final drive unit and therefrom transmitted to the vehicle body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
193 words
A driven vehicle comprising a vehicle body, a propeller shaft and a final drive unit, the final drive unit comprising a pinion drive shaft rotatable supported by pinion bearings in an axle housing, a spacer provided on a portion of the pinion drive shaft spacing the bearings from each other, a pinion driving flange provided on the pinion drive shaft and rotatable therewith, and a rear yoke of a rear universal joint fixedly connected to and rotatable with the pinion driving flange, and an inertial mass of a predetermined weight coaxially coupled with and rotatable with the pinion drive shaft, said inertial mass having a circular wall section interposed between said rear yoke said pinion driving flange and secured thereto said mass being positioned with its center of gravity aligned with the axis of said pinion drive shaft adjacent a forward end portion thereof, so as to increase the predetermined magnitude of the moment of inertia of the pinion drive shaft to cause a reduction in the otherwise occurring resonance frequency of the pinion drive shaft and in the vibrations produced in the final drive unit and therefrom transmitted to the vehicle body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inertial mass comprises a wheel formed separately from any component part of the final drive unit and held stationary relative to the pinion drive shaft by fastening means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inertial mass comprises a unitary member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle as claimed in claim 3 wherein the unitary member is constructed of a rigid member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |