A device for positioning a number of function elements, each having a recess for a shaft, in a predetermined angle position on the shaft, may include a plurality of support balconies arranged one above the other, each being destined for a function element. A movable guide carriage may be configured to enable the shaft to be push the shaft from above through the recesses of the function elements. The support balconies may each include at least one gripper respectively fixing one function element. The at least one gripper may be arranged on an associated gripper carriage and may be adjustable in an x-direction and a y-direction relative to the associated gripper carriage and the support balcony. The associated gripper carriage may be mounted on the support balcony so as to be rotatable about a z-axis.

A method for laser-hardening a shaft for a vehicle includes applying laser light energy in a repeating pattern to a journal surface. The method further includes, responsive to the repeating pattern being applied completely around the shaft, applying laser light energy to the surface in a pattern different than the repeating pattern to form an overlap surface pattern that defines a tapered ramp having a corresponding hardness less than a hardness corresponding to the repeating pattern alone.

The present invention provides a camshaft capable of suppressing an increase in the number of parts and the number of places to be processed, preventing scratching on a sliding surface that is a part of an outer peripheral surface of an outer shaft and on which an inner cam is rotated, and preventing occurrence of deformation in the entire camshaft after final assembly. A camshaft includes an inner cam that is attached from a radial direction of an outer shaft and that is fixed to an inner shaft with a pin inserted into the inner cam from the radial direction of the outer shaft in a cam surface of the inner cam.

A method of laser hardening of a surface area of a workpiece, such as a surface of a journal of a crankshaft, including the steps of generating a relative movement between the surface of the workpiece and a laser source to allow a laser spot to subsequently be projected onto different portions of the surface area, and during the relative movement, repetitively scanning the laser beam so as to produce a two-dimensional equivalent effective laser spot on the surface area. The energy distribution of the effective laser spot is adapted so that it is different in a more heat sensitive subarea, such as in an area adjacent to an oil lubrication opening, than in a less heat sensitive subarea, so as to prevent overheating of the more heat sensitive subarea.

Method of laser hardening of a surface area of a workpiece, such as a surface of a journal of a crankshaft, comprising: generating a relative movement between the surface of the workpiece and a laser source to allow a laser spot to subsequently be projected onto different portions of said surface area, and during said relative movement, repetitively scanning the laser beam (2) so as to produce a two-dimensional equivalent effective laser spot (5) on said surface area. The energy distribution of the effective laser spot is adapted so that it is different in a more heat sensitive subarea, such as in an area adjacent to an oil lubrication opening, than in a less heat sensitive subarea, so as to prevent overheating of said more heat sensitive subarea.

The present invention provides a camshaft capable of suppressing an increase in the number of parts and the number of places to be processed, preventing scratching on a sliding surface that is a part of an outer peripheral surface of an outer shaft and on which an inner cam is rotated, and preventing occurrence of deformation in the entire camshaft after final assembly. A camshaft includes an inner cam that is attached from a radial direction of an outer shaft and that is fixed to an inner shaft with a pin inserted into the inner cam from the radial direction of the outer shaft in a cam surface of the inner cam.

A method and a system of balancing a shaft for an axle assembly. The method may include using an electrical resistance welder to weld a balance weight to a shaft proximate an imbalance location using an insert or brazing material. The insert material may have a lower liquidus temperature than a liquidus temperatures of the shaft and balancing weight.

A gear box having a carburized shaft and steel bearing assembly. The bearing includes an inner-race and an outer-race. The shaft includes a distal end surface extending perpendicularly from a shaft faying surface and a shaft annular beveled edge. The shaft faying surface is in intimate contact with the inner-race. The inner-race second annular face is coplanar with the distal end surface. The shaft annular beveled edge cooperates with the inner-race faying surface to define a half-V shaped groove. An annular weld joint is formed in the half-V shaped groove thereby joining the shaft to the inner-race. The outer-race includes a first width (W1) and the inner-race includes a second width (W2). W2 is wider than W1 by greater than 0 millimeters (mm) to about 10 mm.

A propshaft assembly that includes a propshaft tube and a weld yoke. The propshaft tube has a wall member. The weld yoke has a yoke body with an annular outer surface and an annular inner surface. The propshaft tube is welded to the yoke body such that a portion of the propshaft tube is disposed radially between the annular outer and inner surfaces and embedded into an axial end of the yoke body.

A shifting gate arrangement, and a method of production thereof, having shifting gates, which are adjustable in a spatial direction, for actuating connecting rod adjustment provisions, which are integrated in connecting rods, for the purpose of changing the length of the respective connecting rod. A sheet metal support frame is mounted so as to be displaceable to and fro in the one spatial direction. The shifting gates are fixedly connected to the support frame and are designed as a cast part or sintered part.