Constant velocity universal joint
AssigneeGKN Lobro GmbH
InventorsPeter Schwärzler, Friedhelm John
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A constant velocity universal joint for transmitting torque, having an outer joint part with outer ball tracks, an inner joint part with inner ball tracks, torque transmitting balls guided by pairs of outer and inner ball tracks positioned in corresponding meridian planes, and a ball cage which receives the balls in circumferentially distributed windows and holds same in a common plane and guides same on to the angle-bisecting plane when the joint is ariculated, with the center lines of the outer and inner ball tracks being composed of at least two differently curved portions adjoining one another, with the center lines of the ball tracks of the outer joint part each comprising convexly curved inner portions and, towards the open end, concavely curved end portions.
Claims9
A constant velocity universal joint for transmitting torque comprising:
- an outer joint part (31) with outer ball tracks (38) the outer joint part having a base end (35) closed by a base and an open end (37) defined by an aperture;
- an inner joint part (32) with inner ball tracks (42);
- torque transmitting balls (33) guided by pairs of outer and inner ball tracks (38, 42) positioned in corresponding meridian planes;
- and
- a ball cage (34) which lodges the balls (33) in circumferentially distributed windows (43) and holds the balls in a common plane and guides the balls onto an angle-bisecting plane (W) when the joint is articulated, with the outer and inner ball tracks (38, 42) having center lines composed of at least two differently curved portions (Sa, Si) adjoining one another, with the center lines of the outer and inner ball tracks (38, 42) intersecting one another in the center of each ball and being symmetric relative to one another with reference to a central joint plane (E), wherein the center lines (Sa) of the ball tracks (38) of the outer joint part (31) each comprise convexly curved inner portions (S1) and, towards the open end (37), oppositely curved concave first end portions (S2) and that the center lines (Si) of the ball tracks (42) of the inner joint part (32) each comprise convexly curved outer portions and, towards the base end (35) of the outer joint part (31), oppositely curved, concave second end portions.
A constant velocity universal joint for transmitting torque comprising:
- an outer joint part (31) with outer ball tracks (38) the outer joint part having a base end (35) closed by a base and an open end (37) defined by an aperture;
- an inner joint part (32) with inner ball tracks (42);
- torque transmitting balls (33) guided by pairs of outer and inner ball tracks (38, 42) positioned in corresponding meridian planes;
- and
- a ball cage (34) which lodges the balls (33) in circumferentially distributed windows (43) and holds the balls in a common plane and guides the balls onto an angle-bisecting plane (W) when the joint is articulated, with the outer and inner ball tracks (38, 42) having center lines composed of at least two differently curved portions (Sa, Si) adjoining one another, with the center lines of the outer and inner ball tracks (38, 42) intersecting one another in the center of each ball and being symmetric relative to one another with reference to a central joint plane (E), wherein the center lines (Sa) of the ball tracks (38) of the outer joint part (31) each comprise curved inner portions (S1) and, towards the open end (37), oppositely curved first end portions (S2) and that the center lines (Si) of the ball tracks (42) of the inner joint part (32) each comprise curved outer portions and, towards the base end (35) of the outer joint part (31), oppositely curved, second end portions, wherein the inner portions (S1) and the outer portions each extend in a curved way around a center inside the outer joint part (31).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.