Patent ID: 8057313

Claim:
A drive shaft assembly comprising a shaft for use in an automobile having all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive and configured to be coupled to a first additional shaft having a journal with a plug-in tooth system at a first side, and a second additional shaft having a journal with a plug-in tooth system at a second side, the drive shaft assembly comprising: (a) a first side articulation comprising a first ball joint, said first side articulation having a first inner hub, a first outer hub at least partly surrounding said first inner hub, a first plurality of balls, and a first cage for guiding said first plurality of balls, said first inner hub and said first outer hub having respective first ball raceways wherein said first plurality of balls is guided in said respective first ball raceways for transmitting a first torque between said first inner hub and said first outer hub; (b) a second side articulation comprising a second ball joint, said second side articulation having a second inner hub, a second outer hub at least partly surrounding said second inner hub and a second cage for guiding a second plurality of balls, said second inner hub and said second outer hub having respective second ball raceways wherein said second plurality of balls is guided in said respective second ball raceways for transmitting a second torque between said second inner hub and said second outer hub; wherein said first ball joint is configured to be coupled to a plug-in system; wherein said second ball joint is configured to be coupled to a plug-in system; and wherein each of said first joint and said second joint has a respective central bore provided with said respective plug-in connection to connect the shaft assembly for integral rotation and to center the shaft assembly on said journals of the first and second additional shafts, respectively; and wherein one of said first side articulation and said second side articulation is a sliding articulation and wherein said sliding articulation has an assembly displacement path, which corresponds to at least half of a length, with which the first additional shaft or the second additional shaft projects into said first joint or said second joint.