GB2223204A

GB2223204A - Propeller shaft guard

Info

Publication number: GB2223204A
Application number: GB8822783A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stewart Dudley Beck
Original assignee: Vauxhall Motors Ltd
Current assignee: Vauxhall Motors Ltd
Priority date: 1988-09-28
Filing date: 1988-09-28
Publication date: 1990-04-04
Also published as: GB8822783D0

Abstract

A propeller shaft guard (20) for a propeller shaft (10) of a motor vehicle may comprise a cross member (21) securable at each end (27, 28) to the motor vehicle on either side of the propeller shaft, and a second member (22) integral with or securable to the cross member, the loop member either by itself or in association with the cross member being capable of completely surrounding the propeller shaft. Alternatively, two cross members (61), (62), Fig. 5, with semi-circular loop portions (63), (64) may be provided. The arrangement prevents damage to the motor vehicle should the propeller shaft break or become detached at one end. <IMAGE>

Description

PROPELLER SHAFT GUARD This invention relates to a propeller shaft guard for a motor vehicle.

In a motor vehicle which has a propeller shaft for providing the drive between the engine and the wheels, there is always the risk that the propeller shaft may break or become detached at one end and as a consequence fall to ground or, due to a whiplash effect caused by the rotational speed of the propeller shaft and/or bounced off the ground, penetrate the floor of the vehicle. Either consequences can cause further damage to the motor vehicle. It has been found that a propeller shaft normally breaks close to the engine end of the propeller shaft. As a consequence it is the longer, remaining, part of the propeller shaft which normally causes the damage.

It is an object of this present invention to provide a propeller shaft guard which substantially prevents the propeller shaft from striking the floor of the motor vehicle, or from dropping to the ground, should the propeller shaft break or become detached at one end.

To this end, a propeller shaft guard in accordance with the present invention, comprises a cross member securable at each end to the motor vehicle on either side of the propeller shaft, and a loop member integral with or securable to the cross member, the loop member either by itself or in association with the cross member being capable of completely surrounding the propeller shaft.

In use, the propeller shaft guard of the present invention is preferably positioned between one third and one half of the length of the propeller shaft from the engine end of the propeller shaft.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away and exploded, of a first embodiment of propeller shaft guard in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternative saddle for use with the cross member of Figure 1; and Figures 3 to 9 are perspective views, partially cut away and exploded, of alternative embodiments of propeller shaft guard in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a propeller shaft 10 and two parts 11,12 of the chassis of a motor vehicle are shown. The propeller shaft 10 and chassis parts 11,12 have longitudinal axes which are substantially parallel. A first embodiment of propeller shaft guard 20 in accordance with the present invention comprises a cross member 21 and a saddle 22 (which defines a loop member). The cross member 21 and saddle 22 are preferably made from steel rod. A portion 23 of the cross member 21 is bent into a substantially semi-circular shape. The saddle 22 has a portion 24 which is also substantially semi-circular in shape and which corresponds to that of the shaped portion 23 of the cross member 21. The free ends 25 of the saddle 22 are bent away from the shaped portion 24 and are secured to the cross member 21 by bolts 26.

The free ends 27,28 of the cross member 21 are threaded and pass through apertures 29,30 in the chassis parts 11,12. Nuts 31,32 are screw threaded to the free ends 27,28 of the cross member 21 to secure the propeller shaft guard 20 to the motor vehicle.

Stops 33,34 on the cross member 21 ensure secure fastening of the cross member 21. In use, the shaped portions 23,24 completely surround the propeller shaft 10, but provide adequate running clearance from the propeller shaft. Should the propeller shaft 10 break, or become detached at one of its ends, the propeller shaft guard 20 prevents the propeller shaft moving upwards to strike and possibly penetrate the vehicle floor (not shown), or to fall to ground.

Whilst threaded fastenings have been shown for securing the cross member 21 to the chassis parts 11,12 and for securing the saddle 22 to the cross member, any form of securing means may be used, such as welding, riveting, etc.

A series of apertures 29,30 spaced from one another in a substantially vertical direction may be formed in the chassis parts 11,12 to allow correct positioning of the propeller shaft guard 20 relative to the propeller shaft 10 in the vertical direction.

The free ends 27,28 of the cross member 21 may be bent to allow fastening of the cross member on the inside of the chassis part (as shown for part 11), or on the outside (as shown for part 12).

An alternative form of saddle 22' is shown in Figure 2 and comprises a substantially flat steel strip which is bent to form a portion 35 having a semi-circular shape, and which is also bent at its free ends 36 to pass around the cross member 21.

Bolts or rivets (not shown) are used to secure the saddle 22' to the cross member 21 by way of apertures 37 in the free ends 36.

In another embodiment of propeller shaft guard 40 shown in Figure 3, a portion 41 of a cross member 42 is bent in a spiral such that in use it completely surrounds the propeller shaft 10. In this case, the portion 41 defines the loop member, and the loop member and the cross member 42 are integral.

Other features of the propeller shaft guard 40 are similar to the propeller shaft guard 20 shown in Figure 1, and will not be described in detail. An alternative arrangement for fastening the cross member 42 to the chassis part 11 is shown in which the free end 43 of the cross member passes through an aperture in a lower wall 44 of the chassis part 11.

In a further embodiment of propeller shaft guard 50 as shown in Figure 4, the cross member is defined by a further part 51 of the chassis of the vehicle, which extends between the chassis parts 11,12 which are parallel to the propeller shaft 10. A loop member 52, which is preferably made of steel rod, is substantially Y-shaped with the bottom limb 53 of the Y having a loop 54 formed therein which completely surrounds the propeller shaft 10. The free ends 55 of the arms 56 of the Y are threaded and secured to the further part 51 of the chassis by nuts 57, to secure the loop member 52 to the further part 51. Other means of fastening could be used. The plane of the loop 54 is preferably normal to the plane defined by the arms 56.

A further embodiment of propeller shaft guard 60 in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figure 5. In this arrangement, the cross member is defined by two rods 61,62 which are substantially parallel, spaced apart, and which extend between the chassis parts 11,12. One of the rods 61 has a substantially semi-circular loop portion 63 which passes above the propeller shaft 10, and the other rod has a substantially semi-circular loop portion 64 which passes below the propeller shaft 10. The semi-circular loop portions 63,64 in combination completely surround the propeller shaft 10 and define the loop member of the propeller shaft guard 60. The free ends 65 of each rod 61,62 are threaded and secured to the chassis parts 11,12 by nuts 66.

The various embodiments shown in Figures 6 to 9 are very similar to one another. In Figure 6, the propeller shaft guard 70 comprises a cross member 71 in the form of a flat strip which passes below the propeller shaft 10, and a loop member 72 in the form of a U-bolt which is bolted to the cross member with the propeller shaft passing between the arms 73 of the U-bolt. The combination of U-bolt and cross member 71 therefore completely surround the propeller shaft 10. In this arrangement, the cross member 71 is attached to the chassis parts 11,12 by rivets 74, although any other suitable fastening means could be used.

The arrangement shown in Figure 7 is a straight reversal of the arrangement shown in Figure 6, and corresponding parts have be given the same reference number, but with a prime (').

In Figures 8 and 9, the cross members 81,81' of the propeller shaft guards 80,80' are again formed from flat strip, however in this case, the strip is bent to form a U-shape, with the free ends 85,85' of the arms 86,86' of the U bent outwards for attachment by rivets 84,84' to the chassis parts 11,12. The loop member 82,82' is again defined by a U-bolt.

All of the above designs have the advantage of being cheap and easy to manufacture, and can easily be assembled to the motor vehicle. Further the embodiments described with reference to Figures 1,2, and 5 to 9 can be attached to the motor vehicle after the propeller shaft is in position.

Claims

Claims:

1. A propeller shaft guard for a propeller shaft of a motor vehicle comprising a cross member securable at each end to the motor vehicle on either side of the propeller shaft, and a loop member integral with or securable to the cross member, the loop member either by itself or in association with the cross member being capable of completely surrounding the propeller shaft.

2. A propeller shaft guard as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cross member comprises a portion having a substantially semi-circular shape which can pass around one side of the propeller shaft, and the loop member comprises a saddle having a portion having a corresponding substantially semi-circular shape which can pass around the other side of the propeller shaft, the arrangement being such that on securing the loop member to the cross member, the semi-circular shaped portions completely surround the propeller shaft.

3. A propeller shaft guard as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cross member and the loop member are integral and formed from a single piece of material, the cross member having a portion bent in a spiral to define the loop member.

4. A propeller shaft guard as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cross member comprises two members which are substantially parallel and spaced apart, one member having a substantially semi-circular loop portion which can pass above the propeller shaft, and the other member having a substantially semi-circular loop portion which can pass below the propeller shaft, the semi-circular loop portions in combination defining the loop member and completely surrounding the propeller shaft.

5. A propeller shaft guard as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the cross member and the loop member are formed from steel rod.

6. A propeller shaft guard as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cross member is defined by a portion of the chassis of the motor vehicle positioned above the propeller shaft, and substantially normal thereto, and the loop member comprises a rod having a substantially Y-shape with the arms of the Y attachable to the cross member and the bottom limb of the Y having a loop integrally formed thereon for completely surrounding the propeller shaft.

7. A propeller shaft guard as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cross member comprises a flat strip, and the loop member comprises a U-bolt, the U-bolt being boltable to the flat strip with the propeller shaft passing between the arms of the U-bolt.

8. A propeller shaft guard as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the flat strip is bent to form a U-shape, with the free ends of the arms of the U being bent outwards.

9. A propeller shaft guard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, any one of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.