Homokinetic universal joint

A homokinetic joint comprising:

• a first joint half, having a first axis of rotation and a first spherical means;
• a second joint half, having a second axis of rotation and a second spherical means;
• the first spherical means nesting in the second spherical means to axially restrain the first joint half and the second joint half which allowing angular movement about a point in the first axis of rotation and in the second axis of rotation;
• a first set of two axially extending circumferentially opposed grooves formed in said first spherical means;
• a second set of two axially extending radially opposed grooves formed in said second spherical means;
• and
• an intermediate member positioned in the first set of circumferentially opposed grooves and in the second set of radially opposed grooves, occupying both sets simultaneously, to make a torque transmitting connection between said first joint half and said second joint half;
• the grooves of said first and second sets are each arranged in conjugate pairs so as to constrain said intermediate member independently of the other of said first and second sets.

A homokinetic universal joint comprising:

• a first joint half, having a first axis of rotation, a convex spherical surface, and a concave spherical surface spaced inwardly from the convex spherical surface and concentric therewith, to define an annular spherical wall with a center on the first axis of rotation, and a first set of two axially extending circumferentially opposed grooves formed in the spherical wall;
• a second joint half, having a second axis of rotation, a concave spherical surface, and a convex spherical surface spaced inwardly from the concave spherical surface and concentric therewith, to define an annular spherical cavity with a center on the second axis of rotation, an axially extending first groove formed in the concave spherical surface, an axially extending second groove formed in the convex spherical surface, the first groove being in opposed radial relation to the second groove, to define a second set of two axially extending radially opposed grooves;
• said annular spherical wall nesting in the annular spherical cavity for angular movement about a common point in the first and second axes of rotation;
• and
• a ball positioned in the first set of circumferentially opposed grooves and in the second set of radially opposed grooves, occupying both sets simultaneously to make a torque transmitting connection between the first joint half and the second joint half;
• the grooves of said first and second sets are each arranged in conjugate pairs so as to constrain said ball independently of the other of said first and second sets.

A homokinetic universal joint comprising:

• a first joint half, having a first axis of rotation, a convex spherical surface, and a concave spherical surface spaced inwardly from the convex spherical surface and concentric therewith, to define an annular spherical wall with a center on the first axis of rotation, and a first set of two axially extending circumferentially opposed grooves formed in the spherical wall;
• a second joint half, having a spindle defining a second axis of rotation, and having a convex spherical surface with its center on the second axis of rotation, an axially extending first groove formed in the convex spherical surface, and a flange with a periphery concentric with the second axis of rotation;
• a cap, having a concave spherical surface, a hole adjacent to and concentric with the concave spherical surface, an axially extending second groove formed in said concave spherical surface;
• the spindle and the cap in assembled position defining an annular spherical cavity with its center on the second axis of rotation, and further defining a second set of two axially extending radially opposed grooves;
• the said flange periphery and the said hole in the cap forming an axially and torsionally fixed interface;
• said annular spherical wall nesting in the annular spherical cavity for angular movement about a common point in the first and second axes of rotation;
• and
• a ball positioned in the first set of circumferentially opposed grooves and in the second set of radially opposed grooves, occupying both sets simultaneously to make a torque transmitting connection between the first joint half and the second joint half;
• the grooves of said first and second sets are each arranged in conjugate pairs so as to constrain said ball independently of the other of said first and second sets.

A homokinetic universal joint comprising:

• a driveshaft defining a first axis of rotation, and having a truncated ball-like end comprising a convex spherical surface, a concave spherical surface spaced inwardly from the convex spherical surface and concentric therewith to define an annular spherical wall with a center on the first axis of rotation, the wall having a concave conical end surface with its apex lying on the center of the annular spherical wall, two axially extending grooves cut into the spherical wall to a measured axial depth from the conical end surface forming a first groove end surface, and defining a first set of two axially extending circumferentially opposed grooves, a second like set of two axially extending circumferentially opposed grooves positioned diametrically opposite to the first set;
• a spindle defining a second axis of rotation, and having a ball-like end with a convex spherical surface with its center lying on the second axis of rotation, a flange with a periphery concentric with the second axis of rotation and connected to the ball-like end by a convex conical surface with its apex lying on the center of the convex spherical surface, a first axially extending groove cut into the convex spherical surface a measured axial length forming a second groove end surface adjacent to the flange and a third groove end surface remote from the flange, a like second axially extending groove positioned diametrically opposite to the first groove;
• a cap, having a concave spherical surface, a hole adjacent to and concentric with the concave spherical surface, a first axially extending groove cut into said concave spherical surface, a like second axially extending groove positioned diametrically opposite to the first groove;
• the spindle and the cap in assembled position defining an annular spherical cavity with its center on the second axis of rotation, and further defining a first set of two axially extending radially opposed grooves, and a second set of two axially extending radially opposed grooves diametrically opposite to the first set;
• the said flange periphery and the said hole in the cap forming an axially and torsionally fixed interface;
• said driveshaft annular spherical wall nesting in said annular spherical cavity for angular movement about a common point in the first and second axes of rotation, while axially restraining said driveshaft and spindle;
• a first ball positioned in said first set of circumferentially opposed grooves, the ball being simultaneously positioned in said first set of radially opposed grooves;
• a second ball positioned in said second set of circumferentially opposed grooves, the ball being simultaneously positioned in said second set of radially opposed grooves, said first and second balls making a torque transmitting connection between the driveshaft and spindle;
• said balls confined to limited angular travel by said spindle second and third end surfaces.