Abstract:
A composite vehicle drive shaft assembly (10) includes a composite tube (40) and a bondable end component (12, 14) that is bonded to one of the ends of the tube (40). The bondable end component (12, 14) may include a flex plate end yoke, a slip joint, or a stub shaft that may provide a modular support to which other end or joint components can mount. The modular end component (12, 14) may include an inner sleeve (56) that is concentrically received in the end of the tube (40). The sleeve (56) has an outer peripheral surface (60) that faces the inner peripheral surface (58) of the tube (40) with a cavity (70) formed therebetween. An adhesive injection passage (74) is formed in the end component (12, 14) and extends at an acute angle from an inlet that is formed in an axial surface of the flex plate end yoke to an outlet that is formed in the outer peripheral surface (58) of the sleeve (56) and that opens into the cavity (70). Also disclosed is a method of bonding an end component (12, 14) of such a driveshaft assembly (10) to a composite tube (40).
Abstract:
A constant velocity joint for downhole power transmission has a first insert mounted in a radially extending drive shaft arm. The first insert engages a second insert mounted along a slot formed in a tubular housing disposed to receive the arm. The material for the two inserts may be different, having different galling properties. An insert may be shaped to have at least a flat surface, a cylindrical surface intersecting the flat surface, and a conical surface intersecting the cylindrical surface. The inserts may extend beyond the cavities in which they are mounted. Opposing cavity walls adjacent the cavity opening may be angled away from one another to permit the insert to flex under a load. The back wall of a cavity and back surface of an insert may be arcuate to permit rotational movement of the insert under a load.