Universal joint coupling

Abstract

A slip joint assembly provides radial clearance compensation between a slip joint yoke and a receiving member. The slip joint yoke has a plurality of male splines formed externally thereon. The receiving member receives the splined yoke therein and has female splines which mate with the male splines of the yoke. The receiving member also has a plurality of circumferentially distributed, longitudinally extending, axis-parallel openings formed therein. The slip joint assembly further includes an elongated member having a C-shaped cross-section. The elongated member is compressibly received within each of the plurality of longitudinally extending openings and engages the splined shaft for providing a radial force between the splined shaft and the receiving member. This elongated member is preferably formed of a spring material to allow it to be compressible.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A splined connection assembly for use with a universal joint, said splined connection assembly comprising: 
 an externally splined shaft;    a housing having a mating internally splined bore; and    a plurality of radially compressible, elongate members having a C-shaped cross-section, each elongate member received within a corresponding longitudinally extending, opening disposed in said housing and engaging the externally splined shaft and internally splined bore for providing a radial force for compensating clearance deviations between said externally splined shaft and internally splined bore.    
     
     
         2 . The splined connection assembly of    claim 1    wherein each elongate member is formed of a spring steel material.  
     
     
         3 . The splined connection assembly of    claim 1    wherein said elongate members are disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said splined shaft and each of said longitudinal extending openings is radially distributed 120° apart from each other around said axis.  
     
     
         4 . A universal joint connection assembly comprising: 
 a slip joint coupling having a splined shaft with a plurality of male splines formed thereon;    a receiving member for receiving the splined shaft therein and having a plurality of female splines for mating with the plurality of male splines of the splined shaft, the receiving member further having a plurality of circumferentially distributed, longitudinally extending, axis-parallel openings; and    an elongate member having a C-shaped cross-section received within an each of the plurality of longitudinally extending openings and engaging the splined shaft for providing a radial force between the splined shaft and the receiving member.    
     
     
         5 . The slip joint connection assembly of    claim 4    wherein the elongate member is formed of a spring steel material.  
     
     
         6 . A receiver assembly for receiving a splined shaft having an externally splined yoke, the receiver assembly comprising: 
 a receiving member having a housing and an internally splined cylindrical opening for receiving and mating with the externally splined yoke, the receiving member further having a plurality of circumferentially distributed, longitudinally extending, axis-parallel openings; and    an elongate tubular member having a C-shaped cross-section received within an each of the plurality of axially extending semi-circular openings and engaging the shaft for providing a radial force between the splined shaft coupling and the receiving member.    
     
     
         7 . The receiver assembly of    claim 6    wherein each of the axis-parallel openings of the receiving member are radially distributed 120° apart from each other.  
     
     
         8 . The receiver assembly of    claim 6    wherein the elongate member is formed of a spring steel material.  
     
     
         9 . A slip joint and receiver assembly comprising: 
 a slip joint having a splined yoke with a plurality of male splines formed thereon;    a receiving member having an inner surface defining an opening for receiving the splined yoke of the slip joint, the opening having a plurality of female splines for mating with plurality of the male splines of the splined yoke, the receiving member further having three circumferentially distributed, longitudinally extending, axis-parallel, C-shaped recesses, each recess oriented between an adjacent pair of the plurality of female splines; and    an elongate member having a C-shaped cross-section received within an each of the plurality of axially extending C-shaped recesses and engaging the splined yoke for providing a radial force between the slip joint and the receiving member.    
     
     
         10 . The slip joint and receiver assembly of    claim 9    wherein each of the axis-parallel, C-shaped recesses of the receiving member are radially distributed 120° apart from each other.  
     
     
         11 . The slip joint and receiver assembly of    claim 9    wherein the elongate member is formed of a spring steel material.  
     
     
         12 . The slip joint and receiver assembly of    claim 9    wherein the opening of the receiving member has an inner surface and each of the C-shaped recesses is disposed adjacent the inner wall of the transfer case so that the opening and each of the C-shaped recesses form a continuous cavity.  
     
     
         13 . A propeller shaft and transfer case assembly comprising: 
 at least one propeller shaft having a first end;    a shaft coupling mounted to the first end of the at least one propeller shaft and having a splined shaft attached thereto;    a transfer case having an axially extending opening for receiving the splined shaft, the opening having an inner surface with a plurality of female splines formed thereon for operably engaging the splined shaft for transmitting torque to the at least one propeller shaft, the transfer case further having a housing with a plurality of radially equispaced, longitudinally extending, axis-parallel recesses formed therein; and    a clearance compensating member having a semi-circular cross-section and received within an each of the plurality of axis-parallel openings and engaging the splined shaft for providing a radial force between the shaft coupling and the transfer case.    
     
     
         14 . The propeller shaft and transfer case assembly of    claim 13    wherein the semi-circular cross-section of the clearance compensating member is a C-shaped cross-section.