Double cardan constant velocity adjustable joint

A double cardan constant velocity joint, comprising:

• a housing having an annular wall extending between a housing first end and an opposite housing second end about a central axis, said annular wall having an inner surface bounding a cavity;
• a first yoke pivotably coupled to said housing first end by a first spider, said first yoke extending between a first end having a socket and a second end configured for attachment to a first shaft;
• a second yoke pivotably coupled to said housing second end by a second spider, said second yoke extending between a first end having a ball stud and a second end configured for attachment to a second shaft;
• and
• a ball disposed for pivotal, translating movement in said socket, said ball having a recessed pocket sized for receipt of said ball stud therein,
• wherein pivotal movement of one of said first yoke and said second yoke causes concurrent pivotal movement of the other of said first yoke and said second yoke via said engagement of said ball stud with said ball, and further causes said ball to pivot and translate in said socket.

A method of increasing a maximum pivot angle of a double cardan constant velocity joint, comprising:

• providing a housing having an annular wall extending between a housing first end and an opposite housing second end about a central axis, the annular wall having an inner surface bounding a cavity;
• providing a first yoke extending along a first yoke central axis between a first end having a socket and a second end configured for attachment to a first shaft;
• providing a second yoke extending along a second yoke central axis between a first end having a ball stud and a second end configured for attachment to a second shaft;
• disposing a ball, having a recessed pocket, in the socket;
• disposing the ball stud in the recessed pocket;
• coupling the first yoke to the housing first end by a first spider;
• coupling the second yoke to the housing second end by a second spider,
• wherein pivotal movement of one of the first yoke and the second yoke causes concurrent pivotal movement of the other of the first yoke and the second yoke via engagement of the ball stud with the ball, and further causes the ball to pivot and translate in the socket.