Telescopic tripot universal joint with bearing rollers

A telescopic tripot universal joint comprising:

• a first drive member having a first longitudinal axis and three radial drive channels equally spaced at substantially 120 degrees from each other, each radial drive channel including two radially extending, planar surfaces which are parallel to each other and parallel to the first longitudinal axis of the first drive member,
• a second drive member having a second longitudinal axis and three radial trunnions equally spaced at substantially 120 degrees from each other, said radial trunnions having radially fixed spherical bearing surfaces and being disposed in the respective radial drive channels with their spherical bearing surfaces in confronting relation with the planar surfaces of the respective radial drive channels;
• and
• three drive assemblies which are pivotally mounted in fixed radial positions on the spherical bearing surfaces of the respective radial trunnions and which have rollers which engage the planar surfaces of the respective radial drive channels so that the drive assemblies are free to tilt and move radially in the radial drive channels, each drive assembly comprising:
• an intermediate drive block having an imaginary radial centerline;
• a continuous roller track which circumscribes the radial centerline and which includes surfaces which are spaced from each other and the radial centerline and which are disposed facing the planar surfaces of the radial drive channel in which the intermediate driving block is disposed;
• and a spherical socket which fits onto the spherical bearing surfaces of the radial trunnion whereby the intermediate drive block is pivotally mounted on the radial trunnion disposed in the radial drive channel in which the intermediate drive block is disposed,
• the rollers associated with the drive assembly being disposed on the continuous roller track so that a number of said rollers are disposed between the surfaces of the intermediate drive block and the planar surfaces of the radial drive channel in which the intermediate drive block is disposed, and
• roller cage means carried by the intermediate drive block for retaining the rollers associated with the drive assembly for rotation about axes which are substantially parallel to the radial centerline of the intermediate drive block and engagement with the planar surfaces of the radial drive channel to transfer torque via the intermediate drive block,
• said roller cage means being fixedly mounted on the intermediate drive block so that the rollers roll along the continuous roller track in the manner of a recirculating roller bearing as the intermediate drive block is displaced relative to the radial drive channel during operation of the telescopic tripot universal joint.

A telescopic tripot universal joint comprising:

• a first drive member having a first longitudinal axis and three radial drive channels equally spaced at substantially 120 degrees from each other, each radial drive channel including two radially extending, planar surfaces which are parallel to each other and parallel to the first longitudinal axis of the first drive member,
• a second drive member having a second longitudinal axis and three radial trunnions equally spaced at substantially 120 degrees from each other, said radial trunnions having radially fixed spherical bearing surfaces and being disposed in the respective radial drive channels with their spherical bearing surfaces in confronting relation with the planar surfaces of the respective radial drive channels;
• and
• three drive assemblies which are pivotally mounted in fixed radial positions on the spherical bearing surfaces of the respective radial trunnions and which have rollers which engage the planar surfaces of the respective radial drive channels so that the drive assemblies are free to tilt and move radially in the radial drive channels, each drive assembly comprising:
• an intermediate drive block having an imaginary radial centerline;
• a continuous roller track which circumscribes the radial centerline and which includes planar surfaces which are spaced from each other and the radial centerline and which are disposed facing the planar surfaces of the radial drive channel in which the intermediate drive block is disposed;
• and a spherical socket which fits onto the spherical bearing surfaces of the radial trunnion whereby the intermediate drive block is pivotally mounted on the radial trunnion disposed in the radial drive channel in which the intermediate drive block is disposed,
• a full complement of said rollers being disposed on the continuous roller track so that a number of said rollers are disposed between the planar surfaces of the intermediate drive block and the planar surfaces of the radial drive channel in which the intermediate drive block is disposed, and
• roller cage means carried by the intermediate drive block for retaining the full complement of rollers for rotation about axes which are substantially parallel to the radial centerline of the intermediate drive block and engagement with the planar surfaces of the radial drive channel to transfer torque via the intermediate drive block,
• said roller cage means being fixedly mounted on the intermediate drive block so that the rollers roll along the continuous roller track in the manner of a recirculating roller bearing as the intermediate drive block is displaced relative to the radial drive channel during operation of the telescopic tripot universal joint.

A telescopic tripot universal joint comprising:

• a first drive member having three circumferentially spaced radial drive channels which include two radially extending, planar surfaces which are parallel to each other,
• a second drive member having three circumferentially spaced radial trunnions which have radially fixed spherical bearing surfaces, and
• three drive assemblies having intermediate drive blocks which have spaced surfaces facing the planar surfaces of the respective radial drive channels and which have spherical sockets which fit onto the spherical bearing surfaces of the respective radial trunnions,
• said drive assemblies including rollers disposed adjacent the spaced surfaces of the intermediate drive blocks and engaging the planar surfaces of the radial drive channels and roller cage means carried by the intermediate drive blocks for retaining the rollers which are fixedly mounted on the intermediate drive blocks to move in unison with the intermediate drive block during operation of the tripot universal joint,
• said radially extending, planar surfaces of the radial drive channels being configured to permit tilting and radial movement of the drive assemblies in the radial drive channels during operation of the tripot universal joint at an angle.

A telescopic tripot unversal joint comprising:

• a first drive member having three circumferentially spaced radial drive channels which include two radially extending, planar surfaces which are parallel to each other,
• a second drive member having three circumferentially spaced radial trunnions which have radially fixed spherical bearing surfaces, and
• three drive assemblies having intermediate drive blocks which have continuous roller tracks disposed between the planar surfaces of the respective radial drive channels and which have spherical sockets which fit onto the spherical bearing surfaces of the respective radial trunnions,
• said drive assemblies including pluralities of bearing rollers disposed on the respective continuous roller tracks for engaging the planar surfaces of the respective radial drive channels and roller cage means carried by the intermediate drive blocks for retaining the bearing rollers which are fixedly mounted on the intermediate drive blocks to move in unison with the intermediate drive blocks during operation of the tripot universal joint,
• said radially extending, planar surfaces of the radial drive channels being configured to permit tilting and radial movement of the drive assemblies in the radial drive channels during operation of the tripot universal joint at an angle.