Spline Driveshaft Bellows Mounting for Shorter Slip Stub Length

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driveshaft designs require a significant space for the bellow connection, leading to longer bellow and slip stub lengths, which can be inefficient and prone to damage from axial stresses and radial vibrations.

Innovation Solution

A driveshaft design featuring an elongated rotary slip stub with a tube sleeve, a bearing assembly mounted with a roller, and a bellow secured to the adjacent tube sleeve, along with a retaining part that secures the bellow directly to the bearing assembly, eliminating the need for additional connection space and incorporating a cover with an S-shaped cross-section for enhanced structural strength and protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a bellow is mounted on the sliding shaft with a reserved connection space, then the bellow can be connected to protect the splined connection, but the bellow and slip stub length increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of splined connectionVSAvoidbellow and slip stub length

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining part combines multiple functions: it secures the bellow to the bearing assembly, provides a mounting surface for the bellow, and eliminates the need for a separate reserved connection space on the sliding shaft. This merging of functions reduces the overall length of the bellow and slip stub assembly while maintaining protective capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection function is extracted from the sliding shaft and relocated to the bearing assembly via the retaining part. By removing the requirement for a reserved connection space on the sliding shaft, the design shortens the slip stub length while the bellow remains securely mounted to perform its protective function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If the bellow and slip stub are made longer to accommodate connection space, then connection is possible, but resistance to axial stresses and radial vibrations decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection capabilityVSAvoidresistance to axial stresses and radial vibrations

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining part is pre-configured on the bearing assembly with a groove and sleeve structure that is ready to receive and secure the bellow. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for additional connection features on the sliding shaft, allowing for a shorter, stronger slip stub that better resists axial stresses and radial vibrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If additional connection parts are reserved on the shaft, then the bellow can be secured, but the shaft complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebellow mountingVSAvoidshaft structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing assembly is given a multi-functional role: it not only supports the sliding shaft but also serves as the mounting point for the bellow through the retaining part. This eliminates the need for separate connection features on the shaft, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining ease of bellow mounting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11976695B2Driveshaft with a bellow in spline assembly

Publication Date: 2024.05.07 TIRSAN KARDAN SAN & TIC AS

AI summary

A driveshaft has an elongated rotary slip sub, a tube sleeve telescopically engaged with the slip sub, a bearing assembly mounted on the slip sub by a roller, a retaining part positioned on the bearing assembly, and a cover extending radially outwardly of the slip sub. The roller is adjacent a movable end of the tube sleeve. A bellows is secured to an adjacent tube sleeve. The retaining part holds the bellows on the bearing assembly. The cover covers the roller.