Automotive drivetrain having deflection compensation

Abstract

A deflection compensation system for automobile drivetrain components is provided, wherein a shaft is able to continue in driving relationship to another shaft or coupler in driven relationship when their respective axes of rotation are misaligned. At least one of the shaft and the coupler is preferably supported independently of the other and provided with crown involute splines, whereby one of the shaft and coupler when out of relative alignment, continues to drive the other without the necessity of adding additional moving parts to the drivetrain component.

1 . In an automobile having a drivetrain, the drivetrain including an engine, at least one shaft operatively coupled to the engine and having a first axis of rotation, and a member having a second axis of rotation rotatably coupled with said shaft, the improvement comprising:
 a plurality of splines on said shaft, said splines having a first end, a second end and a center portion longitudinally intermediate said first and said second end;   a plurality of splines on said member intercalated with the splines on said shaft in driven relationship, said splines on said member having one end and another end and a middle portion longitudinally intermediate said one end and the another end, whereby said splines on said shaft are external splines and said splines on said member are internal splines, and   wherein at least said external splines or said internal splines are cut with a crowned involute configuration.   
   
   
       2 . An automobile as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said shaft is an input shaft for a gearbox and said member is a clutch disc hub. 
   
   
       3 . An automobile as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said shaft is an axle and said member is a bevel wheel of a differential.