Constant velocity universal ball joint with asymmetric cage

Abstract

A constant velocity universal ball joint has an outer joint part with first ball tracks in its inner recess and an inner joint part with second ball tracks on its outer surface. The first and second tracks are uniformly circumferentially distributed and arranged opposite one another in pairs and each pair receives a torque transmitting ball. A ball cage holds the balls in a common plane (E) and includes unevenly distributed windows, whose number corresponds to the number of balls, in which the balls are arranged so as to be circumferentially movable. The windows have radial center lines respectively bisecting their circumferential length. In the cross-section through the ball cage with reference to a radial axis (X.sub.A), which coincides with the radial center line (X.sub.1, X.sub.2) at least of one first window, and transverse axis (X.sub.Q) , which is positioned perpendicularly to the radial axis (X.sub.A) and extends through the cage center, the respective shortest angular distances of the radial center lines (X.sub.n) of the remaining windows from the radial axis (X.sub.A) are reduced compared to the angular distances of the radii (R.sub.T) of a pitch circle with an equal angular spacing, which pitch circle corresponds to the number of windows and starts from the radial axis (X.sub.A). Also, the respective shortest angular distances of the radial center lines (X.sub.n) of the remaining windows from the transverse axis (X.sub.Q) are increased compared to the angular distances of the radii (R.sub.T) of the pitch circle with an equal angular spacing, which pitch circle corresponds to the number of windows.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.