Constant velocity joint
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorSteven Mark Thomas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A constant velocity joint includes a first joint member having a plurality of guide rails that are parallel to one another and to a central axis of the first joint member. A second joint member includes a spider encaged by the guide rails and carrying slide couplings which are captured by but slideable axially on the guide rails and spider as well as being pivotal relative to the spider to facilitate angulation of the joint as well as axial translation during the transmission of torque between two rotatable shafts coupled to the respective first and second joint members.
Claims15
A constant velocity joint assembly for transmitting torque between two rotatable shafts, said joint assembly comprising:
- a first joint member secured to a first of said shafts and having an associated first axis;
- a second joint member secured to a second of said shafts and having an associated second axis;
- and
- a torque-transmitting connection between said joint members including a plurality of guide rails carried by said first joint member disposed in parallel relationship to one another and to said first axis and presenting outer guide surfaces, and a plurality of slide couplings carried by said second joint member and disposed about said outer guide surface of said guide rails to support said second joint member against rotation relative to said first joint member such that rotation of one of said joint members imparts rotation to the other of said joint members through said slide couplings, said slide couplings being slideable with said second joint member axially along said outer guide surfaces of said guide rails to provide relative axial translation of said joint members, said slide couplings being further slideable on said second joint member transversely of said second axis and pivotable relative to said second joint member to accommodate relative angulation of said joint members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.