Patent ID: 7815511
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: F16C,F16D

Abstract:
1. An automotive shock absorbing propeller shaft apparatus comprising: a first yoke stub provided in an end portion of a first propeller shaft and a second yoke stub provided in an end portion of a second propeller shaft, being coupled to each other by a cross pin so as to be bendable with each other, the first and second propeller shafts being coupled; at least one of the first and second propeller shafts being supported to an inner ring of a rubber-like elastic member via a bearing, the rubber-like elastic member being supported to a bracket in a vehicle body side; and the first propeller shaft compressing the second propeller shaft in an axial direction so as to be capable of rupturing a shock absorbing portion when the first and second propeller shafts are contracted by being exposed to an impact force, the first yoke stub being provided with a fork-shaped protruding portion protruding in an axial direction from both sides of a first base portion and receiving one pin forming a cross shape of the cross pin, the second yoke stub being provided with a fork-shaped protruding portion protruding in an axial direction from both sides of a second base portion and receiving the other pin forming the cross shape of the cross pin, such that when the first and second yoke stubs are bent to a fixed maximum bending angle with each other via the cross pin, bending angle control portions coming into collision with each other are provided in shoulder surfaces of the fork-shaped protruding portions opposing to each other in the axial direction, wherein each of the first and second yoke stubs is structured such that a base end side rising up from the base portion is set to a wide portion, and a leading end side along an upper half periphery of the pin hole is set to a narrow portion, in each of the fork-shaped protruding portions in both sides of the base portion, and a step-like shoulder surface is provided in a portion forming a boundary between the wide portion and the narrow portion in both sides approximately sandwiching a center of the pin hole.