US4087593A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drive shaft assembly and method
Assignee: Dana Inc
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Filing: 1977-02-14
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Granted: 1978-05-02
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Expires: 1997-02-14
Abstract
Abstract An improved drive shaft assembly of uniform high strength, and a method for producing the assembly. The method includes welding a tubular shaft of an alloy steel to an end fitting such as the yoke of a universal joint or a coupling. The welded assembly is then heat treated by bringing the assembly to the austenite phase, uniform throughout the assembly, quenching the assembly in a vertical position, and thereafter tempering the assembly at a temperature uniform throughout to the desired hardness. In this manner, the non-uniform structures in the heat affected weld zone are made homogeneous, thereby producing favorable distribution of strength characteristics and residual stresses throughout the entire assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Orville F. Phelps
- 👤 Innis J. MacRitchie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:15
CPC Classifications
C; C21; C21D; C21D9/00; C21D9/50; B; B60; B60K; B60K17/00; B60K17/22; C21D9/0068; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12771; Y10T428/12861; Y10T428/12951; Y10T428/12958; Y10T428/12965
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for producing a light weight drive shaft assembly of substantially uniform high strength, comprising: welding an end fitting to the end of a tubular shaft of low or medium alloy steel containing 0.25-0.45 percent carbon; heat treating the welded assembly by heating the assembly in a neutral atmosphere to a temperature in the austenitizing region of from 1475° F. to 1800° F., for a time sufficient to bring all areas of the assembly to substantially uniform temperature; quenching the assembly to form a uniform martensitic grain structure by symmetrical immersion of the assembly into a quenching medium; and tempering the assembly by heating the assembly to a temperature of 800° F. to 1200° F., for a time sufficient to bring all areas of the assembly to substantially uniform temperature.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for producing a light weight drive shaft assembly of substantially uniform high strength, comprising: welding an end fitting to the end of a tubular shaft of low or medium alloy steel containing 0.25-0.45 percent carbon; heat treating the welded assembly by heating the assembly in a neutral atmosphere to a temperature in the austenitizing region of from 1475° F. to 1800° F., for a time sufficient to bring all areas of the assembly to substantially uniform temperature; quenching the assembly to form a uniform martensitic grain structure by symmetrical immersion of the assembly into a quenching medium; and tempering the assembly by heating the assembly to a temperature of 800° F. to 1200° F., for a time sufficient to bring all areas of the assembly to substantially uniform temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the heat treating step comprises heating the welded assembly to a temperature of about 1550° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the tempering step comprises heating the assembly to a temperature of about 1050° F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the quenching step comprises immersing the assembly in vertical orientation into the quenching medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the quenching step comprises immersing the assembly, in vertical orientation, into an agitated medium which transmits heat more slowly than water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A drive shaft assembly of substantially uniform high strength produced according to the method of claim 1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A drive shaft assembly of substantially uniform high strength, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said alloy steel contains less than 1.5 percent chromium, less than 0.3 percent molybdenum, and no elements from the group consisting of cobalt, tungsten, nickel, and copper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A drive shaft assembly of substantially uniform strength, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said tubular shaft is of S.A.E. 4130 steel.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for producing a light weight, high strength drive shaft assembly, comprising: welding an end fitting to the end of the tubular shaft of low or medium alloy steel containing 0.25-0.45 percent carbon; heat treating the welded assembly by heating the assembly in a neutral atmosphere to a temperature in the austenitizing region of from 1525° F. to 1575° F., for a time sufficient to bring all areas of the assembly to substantially uniform temperature, such time being equal to approximately one hour per inch thickness of the thickest section of the assembly; quenching the assembly to form a uniform martensitic grain structure by immersing the assembly in vertical orientation into a quenching medium which transmits heat more slowly than water; and tempering the assembly by heating the assembly to a temperature of 800° F. to 1200° F., for a time sufficient to bring all areas of the assembly to substantially uniform temperature.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for producing a light weight, high strength drive shaft assembly, comprising: welding an end fitting to the end of the tubular shaft of low or medium alloy steel containing 0.25-0.45 percent carbon; heat treating the welded assembly by heating the assembly in a neutral atmosphere to a temperature in the austenitizing region of from 1525° F. to 1575° F., for a time sufficient to bring all areas of the assembly to substantially uniform temperature, such time being equal to approximately one hour per inch thickness of the thickest section of the assembly; quenching the assembly to form a uniform martensitic grain structure by immersing the assembly in vertical orientation into a quenching medium which transmits heat more slowly than water; and tempering the assembly by heating the assembly to a temperature of 800° F. to 1200° F., for a time sufficient to bring all areas of the assembly to substantially uniform temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A vehicular drive shaft assembly produced according to the method of claim 9.
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) | 1981-05-01 | 1981-10-31 | 1982-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-01 | 1985-10-31 | 1986-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-01 | 1989-10-31 | 1990-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |