Telescoping propshaft
A propshaft with an universal joint, a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The universal joint has first and second yoke arms that are pivotally coupled to one another. The first tubular member is fixedly coupled to the first yoke arms and has a plurality of first teeth. The second tubular member slidably received over the first tubular member and includes a plurality of second teeth. The first and second teeth engage one another when the propshaft is in an extended condition. The second teeth engage the first yoke arms when the propshaft is in a retracted condition.
1. A propshaft comprising:
a first universal joint having a first yoke, a second yoke and a cross-shaft, the first yoke having a pair of first yoke arms, the second yoke having a pair of second yoke arms, the cross-shaft having a pair of first trunnions and a pair of second trunnions, each of the first trunnions being pivotally mounted to a corresponding one of the first yoke arms, each of the second trunnions being pivotally mounted to a corresponding one of the second yoke arms;
a first tubular member fixedly coupled to the first yoke, the first tubular member having an exterior surface with a plurality of first tooth sets, each first tooth set having one or more first teeth that extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first tubular member, each adjacent pair of the first tooth sets being spaced circumferentially apart from one another by a first spacing zone; and
a second tubular member having an interior surface with a plurality of second tooth sets, each second tooth set having one or more second teeth that are meshingly engaged with the one of more first teeth of an associated one of the first tooth sets when the propshaft is in an extended condition such that the second tubular member is non-rotatably but axially slidably engaged to the first tubular member, each adjacent pair of the second tooth sets being spaced apart from one another by a second spacing zone, the first and second spacing zones cooperating to define a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart void zones, each of the void zones being configured to receive a corresponding one of the first or second yoke arms when the second tubular member is slid over the first universal joint to receive at least a portion of the second yoke therein.
2. The propshaft of claim 1 , wherein the portions of the first tubular member that define the first spacing zones are centered concentrically about a base circle and wherein the one or more first teeth define a major diameter that is larger than a diameter of the base circle.
3. The propshaft of claim 1 , wherein portions of the second tubular member that define the second spacing zones are centered concentrically about a base circle and wherein the one or more second teeth define a minor diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the base circle.
4. The propshaft of claim 1 , further comprising a second universal joint coupled to the second tubular member for rotation therewith.
5. The propshaft of claim 4 , wherein the second tubular member is fixedly coupled to a first end of a third tubular member and wherein the second universal joint is mounted to a second, opposite end of the third tubular member.
6. The propshaft of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first teeth are disengaged from the one or more second teeth when the second yoke arms are received into an associated pair of the void spaces.
7. The propshaft of claim 1 , further comprising a seal mounted to the first and second tubular members.
8. The propshaft of claim 7 , wherein the first tubular member has a neck portion over which the at least one first teeth do not extend, wherein the first yoke is mounted to the neck portion and wherein the seal is mounted to the neck portion.
9. The propshaft of claim 7 , wherein the second tubular member has a necked down portion on which the seal is mounted.
10. The propshaft of claim 1 , wherein the at least one second teeth have a length that is shorter than the length of the at least one first teeth.
11. The propshaft of claim 10 , wherein the length of the at least one second teeth is about one-half of the length of the at least one first teeth.
12. A propshaft comprising:
a first universal joint having a first yoke, a second yoke and a cross-shaft, the first yoke having a pair of first yoke arms, the second yoke having a pair of second yoke arms, the cross-shaft having a pair of first trunnions and a pair of second trunnions, each of the first trunnions being pivotally mounted to a corresponding one of the first yoke arms, each of the second trunnions being pivotally mounted to a corresponding one of the second yoke arms;
a first tubular member fixedly coupled to the first yoke, the first tubular member having an exterior surface with a plurality of first teeth; and
a second tubular member slidably received over the first tubular member, the second tubular member having an interior surface with a plurality of second teeth;
wherein the first and second tubular members are positionable in an extended condition in which the propshaft has a first length and the first and second teeth are engaged to one another such that the first tubular member is rotatably coupled to the second tubular member; and
wherein the first and second tubular members are positionable in a retracted condition in which the propshaft has a second length that is shorter than the first length and the second teeth are engaged to the first yoke arms to rotatably couple the second tubular member to the first yoke.