Universal joint and cross therefor

A universal joint including a cross operably connected therein, said cross comprising a body having four trunnions extending therefrom along two mutually perpendicular lines, a lubrication network in said body and said trunnions to provide lubrication to the cylindrical outer bearing surface of said trunnions, said network including a plurality of branches in communication with each other and terminating in a counterbore provided internally in each of said trunnions, each said counterbore having a cylindrical inner surface coaxial with said cylindrical outer bearing surface of said trunnions, said counterbore being open at its end opposite said branches, a flow metering member having at least one metering orifice therethrough fixedly disposed within each of said counterbores to meter lubricant flowing through each of said branches downstream into said counterbore and to the bearing means in bearing engagement with the cylindrical outer bearing surface of said trunnions, said filtering means being a screen provided upstream of each of said metering orifices to filter particulate matter from said lubricant to avoid clogging of said metering orifice and to ensure the free flow of said lubricant through said orifice, there being a radially extending surface at the junction of each branch and said counterbore, said metering orifice member being a substantially rigid member and is held fixedly in place within said counterbore near said radially extending shoulder by interference fit between its outer surface and said inner cylindrical surface of said counterbore.