US 4,065,941 A · Universal joint

Abstract

A universal joint adapted for use in high impact wrenches is disclosed. The universal joint comprises a tubular housing having a first end and a second end. A first ball joint having an input shaft with a ball member disposed at one end thereof and an attaching head disposed at the other end thereof is coupled to the tubular housing adjacent the first end thereof. A second ball joint having an output shaft with a ball member disposed at one end thereof and a socket head disposed at the other end thereof is coupled to the tubular housing adjacent the second end thereof. An external spring is disposed about the output shaft and journaled between the socket head and the second end of the housing. The external spring is arranged and configured on the universal joint so as to increase the flexibility of the second ball joint and to cause the second ball joint to return to axial alignment with the tubular housing after each use. Finally, an internal spring may also be disposed in the tubular housing journaled between the ball member of the first ball joint and the ball member of the second ball joint. The internal spring is positioned in the tubular housing so as to increase the axial flexibility of universal joint. By the use of the universal joint of the present invention, an especially flexible universal joint having desirable characteristics for assembly line methods is achieved.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A universal joint adapted for use in in impact wrenches comprising:

a. Tubular housing having first and second ends;
b. A first ball joint having an imput shaft with the ball member disposed at one end thereof and an attaching head disposed at the other end thereof, said ball member of said first ball joint coupled to said tubular housing adjacent said first end thereof;
c. A second ball joint having an output shaft with a ball member disposed at one end thereof and a socket head disposed at the other end thereof, siad ball member of said second ball joint coupled to said tubular housing adjacent said second end thereof;
d. An external spring means disposed about said output shaft and journaled between said socket head and said second end of said housing, said external spring means for increasing the flexibility of said second ball joint;
e. On internal spring means within said tubular housing and journaled between said first and second ball members thereby increasing the longitudinal flexibility of said universal joint.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Universal joint

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Universal joint

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7