IP Library Granted Patent US 12,270,448
Granted Patent B2
US 12,270,448 · App. 17/840,693 · Granted Apr 8, 2025

Propeller shaft damper with retention lip

Inventors: Niladri S. Das (Northville, MI); Robert J. Wehner (Livonia, MI); James B. White (Windsor, CA)
Assignee: Neapco Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC
F16F15/1442F16C3/02F16C2326/06F16D2300/22F16F15/322
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,270,448
App. No.
17/840,693
Granted
Apr 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A propeller shaft assembly includes a propeller shaft extending along an axis between a first and second shaft end. A propeller shaft yoke is operably connected to one of the first or second shaft ends and includes a body presenting a mounting surface extending circumferentially about the axis. A tuned damper extends radially outwardly from the mounting surface and includes a first damper ring disposed in abutting and encircling relationship with the mounting surface and a second damper ring disposed in abutting and encircling relationship with the first damper ring. The tuned damper includes a retention lip extending radially downwardly from the second damper ring in axially spaced relationship with the mounting hub by an axial spacing distance D for protecting the tuned damper from axial impact forces and improving the robustness of the tuned damper mounted on the mounting surface.

Claims (32)

1. A propeller shaft yoke comprising:

a body extending along an axis A from a first yoke end for coupling with a propeller shaft and a second yoke end for coupling with a vehicle driveline component;

said body presenting a mounting surface extending circumferentially about said axis A;

a tuned damper extending radially outwardly from said mounting surface to define a first damper side disposed adjacent said first yoke end and a second damper side disposed adjacent said second yoke end;

said tuned damper including a first damper ring disposed in abutting and encircling relationship with said mounting surface and a second damper ring disposed in abutting and encircling relationship with said first damper ring; and

one of said first or second damper sides of said tuned damper including a retention lip extending radially downwardly from said second damper ring and past said first damper ring to a retention lip end disposed in adjacent and axially spaced relationship with said said mounting hub to define an axial spacing distance D between said retention lip and said mounting hub.

2. The propeller shaft yoke as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said retention lip defines a plurality of apertures disposed in circumferentially spaced relationship with one another for establishing an escape path for contaminant build-up in said axial spacing distance D disposed between said retention lip and said mounting hub.

3. The propeller shaft yoke as set forth in claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of apertures extend radially upwardly from said retention lip end.

4. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said retention lip is integrally formed with said second damper ring.

5. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said retention lip extends circumferentially about said first damper side of said tuned damper.

6. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said retention lip extends circumferentially about said second damper side of said tuned damper.

7. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said propeller shaft yoke is comprised of a flange yoke.

8. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said propeller shaft yoke is comprised of a slip yoke.

9. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said propeller shaft yoke is comprised of a stud yoke.

10. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first damper ring is comprised of a flexible material and said second damper ring is comprised of a steel or iron material.

11. A propeller shaft assembly for connection to a vehicle driveline component, the propeller shaft assembly comprising:

a propeller shaft extending along an axis A between a first shaft end and a second shaft end;

a propeller shaft yoke operably connected to one of said first or second shaft ends of said propeller shaft;

said propeller shaft yoke including a body extending from a first yoke end disposed adjacent said respective first or second shaft end to a second yoke end for coupling with the vehicle driveline component;

said body presenting a mounting surface extending circumferentially about said axis;

a tuned damper extending radially outwardly from said mounting surface to define a first damper side disposed adjacent said first yoke end and a second damper side disposed adjacent said second yoke end;

said tuned damper including a first damper ring disposed in abutting and encircling relationship with said mounting surface and a second damper ring disposed in abutting and encircling relationship with said first damper ring; and

one of said first or second damper sides of said tuned damper including a retention lip extending radially downwardly from said second damper ring and past said first damper ring to a retention lip end disposed in adjacent and axially spaced relationship with said mounting hub to define an axial spacing distance D between said retention lip and said mounting hub for protecting said tuned damper from axial impact forces.

12. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said retention lip defines a plurality of apertures disposed in circumferentially spaced relationship with one another for establishing an escape path for contaminant build-up in said axial spacing distance D between said retention lip and said mounting hub.

13. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of apertures extend radially upwardly from said retention lip end.

14. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said retention lip is integrally formed with said second damper ring.

15. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said retention lip extends circumferentially about said first damper side of said tuned damper.

16. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said retention lip extends circumferentially about said second damper side of said tuned damper.

17. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said propeller shaft yoke is comprised of a flange yoke.

18. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said propeller shaft yoke is comprised of a slip yoke.

19. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said propeller shaft yoke is comprised of a stud yoke.

20. The propeller shaft assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said first damper ring is comprised of a flexible material and said second damper ring is comprised of a steel or iron material.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2022
From: NEAPCO HOLDINGS, LLC; NEAPCO COMPONENTS, LLC; NEAPCO DRIVELINES, LLC; NEAPCO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDINGS, LLC; NEAPCO REAL ESTATE, LLC; ELECTRIC PROPULSION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; VISIONTECH INVESTMENTS, LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062089/0644 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2022
From: DAS, NILADRI S.; WEHNER, ROBERT J.; WHITE, JAMES B.
To: NEAPCO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 060205/0784 →