US 11,732,746 B2
Drive shaft with an integrated flange
Rupert Pfaller, Riemerling (DE); and Moritz Buesing, Augsburg (DE)
Assigned to AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, Donauworth (DE)
Filed by AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, Donauworth (DE)
Filed on Aug. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/445,321.
Claims priority of application No. 20400020 (EP), filed on Nov. 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0154762 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. F16C 3/02 (2006.01); B64C 27/12 (2006.01); F16D 3/78 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 3/026 (2013.01) [B64C 27/12 (2013.01); F16D 3/78 (2013.01); F16C 2208/02 (2013.01); F16C 2208/04 (2013.01); F16C 2326/43 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A drive shaft, comprising:
a hollow body with an associated rotation axis, wherein the hollow body is adapted to rotating around the rotation axis and is made of a first composite material; and
a flange that is made of a second composite material and arranged at an axial end of the hollow body, wherein the flange is integrally formed with the hollow body and comprises:
at least two separate plates that branch out from the hollow body at the axial end and extend at least partially with a predetermined angle relative to the rotation axis, wherein the at least two separate plates form at least a first and a second plate assembly, wherein the first plate assembly branches out from the hollow body in a first direction that is perpendicular to the rotation axis, and wherein the second plate assembly branches out from the hollow body in a second direction that is perpendicular to the rotation axis and different than the first direction, and
a mounting section that is configured to be mounted to an external component and comprises a plurality of holes that is adapted to accommodate coupling means, wherein at least one hole of the plurality of holes traverses the at least two separate plates.