Tapered Face Connecting Assembly for Driveline Torque Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connecting assemblies in motor vehicle drivelines face challenges in minimizing deformation and reducing mass while maintaining strength, and they often require complex and costly assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A connecting assembly featuring tapered faces on drive elements that form a support connection and a fixed connection, allowing for radially centered alignment and reduced deformation, with the fixed connection being any mechanical or bonding type, such as welding, and a method of producing this assembly involving a single fixed connection that creates a form-fitting support connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional connecting assemblies are used to transmit rotary movement in drivelines, then the connection strength is maintained, but deformation of the connected parts increases and mass is higher
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies tapered (conical) faces instead of traditional flat or cylindrical connection surfaces. The first drive element has a first tapered face and the second drive element has a second tapered face that contact each other at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis. This conical geometry creates a self-centering effect that reduces radial deformation and improves load distribution, directly addressing the contradiction between maintaining connection strength and reducing deformation of connected parts.
2Strength
If traditional connecting assemblies are used, then connection strength is maintained, but the mass of the assembly is higher
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered faces create a more efficient load-bearing structure that allows for reduced material cross-section while maintaining connection strength. The conical geometry distributes stresses more effectively, enabling the use of lighter materials or smaller cross-sections without compromising the strength requirement, thus resolving the contradiction between connection strength and mass reduction.
3Reliability
If complex assembly processes are used to ensure proper alignment and support, then connection reliability is improved, but production complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The self-centering effect of the tapered faces automatically ensures proper radial alignment of the drive elements during assembly, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures or specialized tooling. The geometry itself provides the alignment function, simplifying the assembly process while maintaining high connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered face design enables the connection assembly to self-align and self-center during the assembly process without requiring external alignment devices or complex procedures. The acute angle between the tapered faces and the longitudinal axis creates a mechanical self-centering effect that ensures proper positioning automatically, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
The invention refers to a connecting assembly (2) for transmitting torque in a driveline, comprising: a first drive element (3) having a first connecting portion (20) and a first tapered face (12); a second drive element (4) having second connecting portion (21) and a second tapered face (16); wherein the first connecting portion (20) and the second connecting portion (21) are connected to each other by a fixed connection (22); wherein the first tapered face (12) and the second tapered face (16) are axially supported against each other thereby forming a support connection (23), wherein the first drive element (3) and the second drive element (4) are radially centered relative to each other by the first tapered face (12) and the second tapered face (16). The invention further relates to a method of producing such a connecting assembly (2).