TH59129A - Methods of manufacturing axially flattened drive shaft assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (26/06/46) To produce an axially collapsible drive shaft assembly, the first and second tubular assemblies are positioned in an axially overlapping relationship. The central portions of the concentric tubular assemblies are then deformed to fit into the cavity of a non-circular cross-sectional mold. These deformed first and second tubular assemblies are then cut to provide two pairs of outer and inner tubular sections. Next, the outer tubular sections are removed from the interconnected inner tubular sections, and these inner tubular sections are oriented in such a way that the deformed inner tubular sections are aligned with the deformed outer tubular sections. Finally, these deformed inner tubular sections are inserted into the deformed outer tubular sections to form a pair of axially collapsible drive shaft assemblies. The first and second components are positioned in an axially overlapping relationship, and the central portions of the concentric tubular components are deformed to fit into the cavity of a non-circular cross-sectional mold. These deformed first and second tubular components are then cut to produce two pairs of outer and inner tube sections. The outer tube sections are then removed from the interconnected inner tube sections, and these inner tube sections are oriented so that their deformed sections align with the deformed sections of the outer tube sections. Finally, these deformed inner tube sections are inserted within the deformed outer tube sections to form a pair of axially collapsible drive shaft assemblies.

Claims (7)

1. The method of fabricating a pair of working assemblies consists of the steps of (a) arranging the first and second assemblies; (b) orienting parts of the first and second assemblies into an axial overlap relationship; (c) deforming the axial overlap region of the first and second assemblies; (d) removing the first and second assemblies from the axial overlap relationship; and (e) orienting the deformed region of the first and second assemblies into the axial overlap relationship to produce a pair of working assemblies. 2. The procedure set forth in Claim 1, in which such procedure (a) shall be carried out by providing the first and second tubular components. 3. The methods set forth in Claim 1, where such procedure (c) shall be performed by one of the methods of mechanical deformation, electromagnetic pulse forming and water forming. 4. The method set forth in claim 1, in which step (c) is performed by transforming the axially overlapping regions of the first and second components into a non-circular cross-section. 5. The method set forth in claim 1, in which step (c) is performed by transforming the axially overlapping regions of the first and second components into perpendicularly wavy cross-sectional shapes. 6. The method established in Reputation 1, where step (b) is initially performed by dividing the first and second components into first and second pairs of pipe sections, and then removing the first pair of pipe sections from the axial overlap relationship, and where step (e) is performed by orienting the deformed region of the first pair of pipe sections into the axial overlap relationship to provide the first pair of the working component. 7. The method established in claim 6, where step (d) is further performed by removing the second pair of this pipe section from the axial overlap relationship, and where step (e) is performed by orienting the deformed region of the second pair of this pipe section into the axial overlap relationship to provide for the second pair of this working assembly.