Patent ID: 7163462

Claim:
A propeller shaft assembly, comprising: at least one shock absorbing section, said shock absorbing section comprising an outer shaft, an inner shaft and a supporting member, said outer shaft having splined portion with a plurality of axially extending spline teeth in an inner peripheral surface of the outer shaft and said inner shaft having a splined portion with a plurality of axially extending spline teeth in an outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft, said splined portion of the outer shaft and said splined portion of the inner shaft are mutually spline-engaged such that the inner shaft and the outer shaft are retractable with impact loads, the supporting member is an annular collar, and a stop ring fitted to the end face of the inner shaft is engaged with a stepped portion, wherein the shock absorbing section is arranged and constructed such that the supporting member is press-fit into an inner diameter portion of the outer shaft, and an end face of the inner shaft is disposed in contact with the supporting member in a direction of retraction with respect to the outer shaft, wherein the supporting member structure is arranged and constructed to facilitate adjustment of the press fit strength and related displaceability of the supporting member.