Patent ID: 6379255
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: F16C,F16D

Abstract:
A drive assembly for transmitting torque, having a propeller shaft (1) and an intermediate bearing (2), with the propeller shaft (1) having a first shaft portion (3) comprising a first joint (8) at one end, a second shaft portion (4) comprising a second shaft tube (19) and a second joint (21) at one end, as well as a third joint (5) which connects the first shaft portion (3) and the second shaft portion (4), said third joint (5) being a constant velocity fixed joint which comprises an outer joint part (25) which is open at both ends and which is connected to the second shaft tube (19), an inner joint part (18) which is connected to a journal (9) associated with the first shaft portion (3), and a cage (30) and balls (31) which are held by the cage (30) and are guided in running grooves of the outer joint part (25) and of the inner joint part (18),wherein the intermediate bearing (2), which adjoins the third joint (5) and is associated with the first shaft portion (3), comprises at least one rolling contact bearing (15) with an outer diameter (DL) and a damping member (33), and wherein, furthermore, a smallest inner diameter (dGA) of the outer joint part (25) and a smallest inner diameter (dw2) of the second shaft tube (19) are greater than an outer diameter (Dcx) of the unit consisting of the inner joint part (18) and the cage (30) and also greater than a greatest outer diameter (Dwn) of the first shaft portion (3) and also greater than an outer diameter (DL) of the rolling contact bearing (15), such that said first shaft portion (3), inner joint part (18), cage (30) and balls (31) are telescopically collapsible into said second shaft tube (19).