US1586990A - Spline shaft - Google Patents

Description

' June 1 1926. 1,586,990

H. P. HARRISON SPLINE SHAFT Filed Apri'l 22, 1924 3 I N VEN TOR.

' -2 BY '%%/w A TTORNEY-S Patented June 1, 1926.

UNITED HENRY 1?. HARRISON, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

SPLINE SHAFT.

Application filed April 22, 1924. Serial No. 708,281.

' embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a large cross sectional view of such spline shaft.

In forn'iing' spline shafts for mechanism in which extreme accuracy is required so as to avoid looseness between the spline shaft and the wheel, gear, clutch section, etc., mounted on the spline shaft, such as spline shafts used in the transmission gears, rear axles of automobiles, etc., the shafts have been cut with the splines thereon and the sides of the splines relieved with a suitable tool as a hob and thereafter the shafts ground. The grinding of the splines, in order to accurately fit the bore of the wheel or hub is a comparatively expensive precision operation. In this spline shaft and by this method, the grinding operation is dispensed with and the splines accurately formed and hence the liability of developing inaccuracy by unskilled or lack of extreme attention during the grinding operation is avoided.

In the drawings, 1 designates the spline shaft which is shown as formed with a plui'ality of splines 2 which are cut from the shaft in the usual manner. The shaft is formed with a groove 3 at the corner of each side 4- of the spline and the bottom 5 of the space between the splines. this groove extending diagonally inwardlyat the corner of each side 4 and bottom 5, that is, at the base of the spline and inwardly toward the central plane of the spline. The groove is usually rectangular in cross section, and the sides thereof are arranged at an inclined angle to the sides 4. of the splines and the bottom 5 of the space between the splines, although the groove is not necessarily rectan" gular.

Usually the median plane of the groove in the direction of its depth substantially other side of the groove opens through the bottom of the space between the splines, al though it is not necessary that the groove open through the bottom of the space between. the splines, in order to relieve the side of the splines.

l-leretofore, the splines have been relieved by a bobbing operation which cuts the splines and the bottom of the space between the splines, as indicated by the dotted lines 6, Fi 2, and thereafter the'splines are accriately ground by a grinding; wheel.

This spline shaft construction, as described, requires no grinding, the cost of production is considerably less than the spline shafts which are ground. and accuracy is obtained without grinding and the liability of developing inaccuracy is avoided during the grinding operation due to variations developing in the grinder and variations due to unskilled grinding or lapses on the part of the workman.

What- I claim is:

1. A splined shaft formed with grooves at the corners of the sides of the spline and the bottom of the space between the splines of such groove.

2. A splined shaft formed with an inwardly and laterally extending groove along the base of each side of the spline.

3. A splined shaft formed with laterally and obliquely extending grooves at the bases of the splines, such grooves openingthrough the sides of the splines and the bottom of the space between the splines.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 16th day of January 19%.

HENRY P. HARRISON.

Images