Patent ID: 7533756
Filing Date: 2009-05-19
Classification: B60G,B60K,F16C,F16F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. In a motor vehicle having a powertrain, a driveline comprising: an axle assembly having a differential driving a pair of wheels; and a propshaft assembly for transferring rotary power from the powertrain to said differential, said propshaft assembly including a hollow shaft defining an elongated cavity and an insert member disposed within said cavity, wherein driven rotation of said propshaft assembly causes said shaft to vibrate at a first frequency to generate a first shell mode anti-node and at a second frequency to generate a second shell mode anti-node, wherein said insert member is located within said cavity and extends between portions of said shaft corresponding to said first and second shell mode anti-nodes, and wherein said insert member has a compressive strength capable of resisting deformation of said shaft at said first and second shell mode anti-nodes; wherein said insert member is made from a plurality of closed cells that are axially aligned with a longitudinal axis of said shaft; and wherein said closed cells are shaped as hexagonal prisms.