US 12,146,526 B2
Ballspline shaft with no ball retainer
Jeffrey P. Courville, Frankenmuth, MI (US); Eduardo R. Mondragon-Parra, Freeland, MI (US); Brian J. Kleinfeld, Saginaw, MI (US); and James M. Petrowski, Saginaw, MI (US)
Assigned to Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Saginaw, MI (US)
Filed by Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Saginaw, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/526,624.
Prior Publication US 2023/0151843 A1, May 18, 2023
Int. Cl. F16C 3/035 (2006.01); F16D 3/06 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 3/035 (2013.01) [F16D 3/065 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shaft assembly for transmitting a torque, the shaft assembly comprising:
an outer shaft member extending along an axis and including an interior surface defining a bore and a plurality of outer grooves at least partially delimiting the bore;
an inner shaft member extending along the axis including an outer surface defining at least one of a plurality of inner pockets or a plurality of inner grooves aligned with the outer grooves;
at least one rolling element located between the outer grooves and the inner pockets or the outer grooves and the inner grooves;
wherein at least one of the outer surface of the inner shaft or the inner surface of the outer shaft is configured to axially retain the at least one rolling element and the shaft assembly does not include a cage; and
wherein at least one of the inner surface of the outer shaft member defines a plurality of outer fluid grooves between the plurality of outer grooves or the outer surface of the inner shaft member defines a plurality of inner fluid grooves between the plurality of inner pockets or the plurality of inner grooves.