The protection system (5) comprises a first tubular member (13) and a second tubular member (15) which can be slidably inserted into each other and a protection (8) at one end of the first tubular member (13). The protection comprises a protective boot (40) and a first annular element (21) fixed to the first tubular member (13). Further provided for is a second annular element (33) which can be torsionally coupled to the first annular element (21) and which can be decoupled therefrom by means of a mutual movement between the first annular element (21) and the second annular element (33) in a direction approximately parallel to the axis (A-A) of the first tubular member (13). The second annular element (33) is coupled to the protective boot (40) which is provided with members (49) for coupling to a stationary plate (51) which can be connected to a power take-off (9). A drive shaft provided with such a protection system is also described.

A constant velocity universal joint includes a body which encloses the constant velocity joint components and provides a smooth outer surface. A semi-rigid plastic boot has a spherical surface sized to generally match the outer surface of the body. The material of the boot is sufficiently elastic to allow the boot to fit over the body, yet sufficiently resilient to snap the open end closed after the boot is placed over the body to provide a substantial seal preventing entry of debris under the seal. A retaining ring is positioned on the boot near the truncated end, the ring establishing the location of an elastic seal that contacts the outer surface of the body.

A drive shaft (1) includes a telescopic shaft (3) having an outer tubular shaft (9) and an inner tubular shaft (11) inserted slidable into the outer shaft (9). A lubrication system is further provided, including: a lubricant receiving chamber (39) housed in the inner shaft (11); a lubricant distribution block (41) housed in the inner shaft (11); lubricant supply ports (11.9) for supplying lubricant from the lubricant distribution block (41), through a tubular wall of the inner shaft (11), towards a gap between the inner shaft (11) and the outer shaft (9); at least a lubricant transferring duct (47.1; 47.2) from the receiving chamber (39) to the distribution block (41). wherein the supplying ports (11.9) are distributed in at least two positions offset in direction of the axis (A-A) of the telescopic shaft (3).

The drive shaft (1) comprises end universal joints (5, 7) with accident-preventing end protections (19). Each accident-preventing end protection comprises a lubricant reservoir, delimited radially inwardly by a sleeve (63) of an inner fork (23) of the respective universal joint (5; 7) and radially outwardly by a rigid annular structure of the accident-preventing end protection.

A constant velocity universal joint includes a body which encloses the constant velocity joint components and provides a smooth outer surface. A semi-rigid plastic boot has a spherical surface sized to generally match the outer surface of the body. The material of the boot is sufficiently elastic to allow the boot to fit over the body, yet sufficiently resilient to snap the open end closed after the boot is placed over the body to provide a substantial seal preventing entry of debris under the seal. A retaining ring is positioned on the boot near the truncated end, the ring establishing the location of an elastic seal that contacts the outer surface of the body.

A steering shaft according to an aspect of the present invention includes an upper shaft, a lower shaft, and a seal cap. The seal cap includes a seal which comes into close contact with an inner peripheral surface of the upper shaft and a closure which bulges upward with respect to the seal. The closure is plastically deformed downward, and thus, the seal cap is held in an upper end opening portion in a state where the seal is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the upper shaft.

The universal joint (5, 7) includes first and second forks (23, 25) each having a pair of arms (61) with seats (61.1) for respective trunnions (27.1) of a spider (27). The arms (61) extend from an outer edge (91.1) of a collar (91) provided to increase the stiffness of the arms and reduce bending deformations thereof under heavy load operating conditions.

A shield assembly for a shaft includes a first tubular section having a first end and a second end and a second tubular section having a first end and a second end. The first and second tubular sections are each hollow receiving the shaft. The first tubular section includes a first outer diameter and the second tubular section includes a second outer diameter, the first outer diameter being greater than the second outer diameter. The first tubular section and the second tubular section are telescopically coupled to one another where the second tubular section is movably disposed at least partially within the first tubular section.

A vehicle shaft assembly (500). The shaft assembly includes a coupling assembly having a first (506), a second (508) and a third (510) joint member. A substantially cylindrical body portion of the second joint member is drivingly connected to a first shaft (560) having an increased diameter portion. The increased diameter portion of the first shaft has a retaining member groove (604) circumferentially extending along at least a portion of an outer surface of the increased diameter portion. At least a portion of the increased diameter portion of the first shaft is drivingly connected to a crash collapse adapter (608) having a crash collapse feature circumferentially extending along an inner surface of the crash collapse adapter. A second shaft (640) is integrally connected to at least a portion of an outer surface of the crash collapse adapter (608). At least a portion of a retaining member is disposed within the retaining member groove and the crash collapse feature.

Disclosed is a protective cover structure of the drive shaft that provides power transmission in vehicles in the automotive sector. The protective cover structure is used in slip assemblies with a yoke shaft and a sliding sleeve and includes a protective cover tube in the form of a straight tube which is connected to a yoke shaft at one end and a sliding sleeve connected to the same with a yoke shaft. A double-lipped seal or a three-lipped seal or a flexible spring-energized seal is then connected to the end of the protective cover tube on the side of the sliding sleeve and provides sealing between the protective cover tube and the sliding sleeve, with a carrier body that connects the end of the protective cover tube to the double-lipped seal or three-lipped seal or the flexible spring-energized seal to the protective cover tube.