Driveshaft assembly

摘要

A drive shaft assembly is formed from two concentrically arranged driveshafts fastened together near to one end of the driveshaft assembly so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween and connectable together near to an opposite end via a torque sensitive drivable connection. The torsional stiffness of the driveshaft assembly is primarily dependent upon whether one or both driveshafts are arranged to transmit torque. The drivable connection may be a mechanical lost motion connection which is operable to either connect the two driveshafts together or not based upon the magnitude of torque applied to the driveshaft assembly. Therefore, the driveshaft assembly provides more than one torsional stiffness allowing it to be better optimized to meet differing operational requirements.

主权项

1. A driveshaft assembly comprising:
first and second coaxially arranged driveshafts connected together at a first end of the assembly to prevent relative rotation therebetween, the second drive shaft including a drive member; a C-shaped ring fastened to the first driveshaft, the C-shaped ring having a first end stop and a second end stop; wherein the interaction between the first and second end stops and the drive member forms a drivable connection at a second end of the assembly permitting a limited relative rotation of the driveshafts, providing at least two different torsional stiffness values for the assembly in response to a magnitude of driving torque applied to the assembly at the first end.