DRIVE SHAFT MADE OF FIBER-REINFORCED COMPOSITE MATERIAL AND MANUFACTURE THEREOF

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To match a shape of a yoke part with that of mating part in such a state that target performance is ensured when a yoke part and a shaft body are integrally formed by means of a fiber-reinforced composite material and when size of a mating part for mounting is small. SOLUTION: A propeller shaft 1 is formed in such a manner that a cylindrical shaft body 2 and yoke parts 3 protruded from the two end parts thereof are integrally formed by means of a fiber-reinforced composite material. Each yoke part 3 has a pair of arms 3a and a hole is formed in each arm 3a. The hole is formed in such a manner that the axis thereof crosses the axis of a shaft body 2 at right angles and a bush 5 made of a metal is securely fitted in the hole. Fibers of which the propeller shaft 1 is formed are arranged in a folded-back state at the yoke part 3. The maximum inside diameter D of the shaft body 2 is set to a value higher than a distance A between the arms of the yoke parts 3.