US 12,253,107 B2
Drive shafts with enhanced bending flexibility
Mark R. Gurvich, Middletown, CT (US); Georgios S. Zafiris, Glastonbury, CT (US); Joyel M. Schaefer, Earlville, NY (US); Brayton Reed, Rome, NY (US); and Michael King, Sauquoit, NY (US)
Assigned to Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Jan. 15, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/247,856.
Prior Publication US 2020/0224710 A1, Jul. 16, 2020
Int. Cl. F16C 1/02 (2006.01); F16C 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 1/02 (2013.01) [F16C 3/02 (2013.01); F16C 2240/60 (2013.01); F16C 2326/06 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A drive shaft comprising:
a tubular portion extending between axial ends and being hollow, and there being deformations on the tubular portion, said deformations extending for a circumferential extent that is less than 180° about a central axis of said tubular portion;
wherein there are plural lesser distance deformation portions in spaced axial locations between said axial ends of said tubular portion, with each having a plurality of deformations axially spaced by a first distance; and
wherein there is at least one greater distance deformation portion having deformations, and said at least one greater distance deformation portion axially between a pair of said greater deformation portions, wherein said first distance is less than a second axial distance between said deformations in said at least one greater distance deformation portion.