OK chaps I think I've got the hang of it now.....we should all be drivingly interconnected by a plurality of ballsh*t. by next week..:nut:
A propeller shaft assembly includes a substantially cylindrical hollow propeller shaft, a stub shaft and a constant velocity joint having inner race and an outer race drivingly interconnected by a plurality of balls. The stub shaft has a first end fixed to the propeller shaft and a second end drivingly coupled to the inner race. The second end includes a portion positioned adjacent to the inner race that defines an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter defined by the interface between the inner race and the plurality of balls.
The bending stiffness of a propeller shaft assembly is greatly influenced by the minimum diameter of the shaft and the length that the relatively small diameter extends from the loading points. Accordingly, the known forged stub shaft having a small diameter body may compromise the overall bending stiffness of the propeller shaft and, the longer the reduced body diameter extends, the lower the bending stiffness. It has been shown that the lower the bending stiffness, the more likely undesirable noise, vibration and harshness will be produced. Furthermore, existing propeller shaft assemblies may include a greater mass than necessary for transmitting rotary loads. Accordingly, it is desirable to reduce noise, vibration and harshness and reduce the weight of the propeller shaft assembly. Therefore, a need exists for an improved propeller shaft assembly having an increased bending stiffness and reduced mass.
Read more: http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090176587#ixzz0wWBOAuZO