Constant velocity universal joint having high stress resistance

A constant velocity universal joint for use between a driven shaft and driving shaft for transmission of power from said driving shaft to said driven shaft, said constant velocity universal joint comprising:

• an inner joint member having a first planar end, a second planar end spaced from said first planar end and an exterior spherical surface between said first and second planar ends, said inner joint member further having an axis of symmetry normally disposed to said first and second planar ends, and an aperture located about said axis of symmetry;
• a drive means integral with one of said driven and driving shaft and said aperture to rotate said inner joint member;
• a first plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced ball races formed in said spherical surface of said inner joint member;
• an annular outer joint member surrounding said inner joint member, said annular outer joint member having one end, an opposite end, a hub abutment face, an outer cylindrical surface, an interior spherical surface, a first chamfered surface at the junction of said one end and said interior spherical surface, said interior spherical surface extending completely between said first chamfered surface and said hub abutment face and a central aperture defined by said interior spherical surface and said first chamfered surface, said outer joint member further having a centrally positioned axis therethrough;
• a second plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced ball races formed in said interior spherical surface of said annular outer joint member, each ball race of said second plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced ball races of said annular outer joint member being aligned with an associated one of said first plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced ball races of said inner joint member;
• a plurality of spherical balls disposed in said first plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced ball races of said inner joint member, each one of said plurality of spherical balls further extending into a respective one of said second plurality of longitudinal extending circumferentially spaced ball races of said annular outer joint member to provide a driving engagement between said inner and said annular joint members;
• cage means interposed said inner joint member and said annular outer joint member, said cage means having an outer spherical surface in intimate contact with said interior spherical surface of said annular outer joint member;
• an inner spherical surface in intimate contact with said exterior spherical surface of said inner joint member;
• and a plurality of apertures, equal in number to said first and second plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced ball races, interposed between said outer spherical surface and said inner spherical surface for receiving each of said plurality of spherical balls;
• said second plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced ball races of said annular outer joint member defining a converging contoured part-spherical part-cylindrical surface, said part-cylindrical surface being adjacent said hub abutment face of said annular outer joint member and said part-spherical surface being at said one end of said annular outer joint member such that the wall thickness between said second plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced ball races and said cylindrical surface is greater at said one end of said annular outer joint member than at said hub abutment face and such that as each of said plurality of spherical balls move along said second plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced ball races from said opposite end of said annular outer joint member towards said one end of said annular outer joint member, said plurality of spherical balls traverse along said part-cylindrical surface of said second plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced ball races to said converging part-spherical surface of said second plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced ball races;
• and
• a hub abutting said hub abutment face and attached to said opposite end of said annular outer joint member, said hub having a centrally positioned cavity mating with said part-cylindrical surface of said second plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced ball races of said annular outer joint member.