Constant velocity stroking joint having recirculating spline balls

A constant velocity stroking joint assembly comprising:

• an inner race;
• an outer race;
• an intermediate race disposed between said inner race and said outer race in coaxial alignment with said outer race, said intermediate race supporting said inner race for angular pivotal movement relative to said outer race;
• and
• at least one recirculating ball spline track provided between said intermediate race and said outer race and a plurality of spline balls accommodated therein for recirculating rolling movement in an endless path along said track for supporting said intermediate race for axial stroking movement relative to said outer race, said intermediate race having an outer surface formed with a plurality of axially extending circumferentially spaced ball channels, and said outer race having an inner surface formed with a plurality of axially extending ball channels aligned with said ball channels of said intermediate race, said intermediate race having opposite axial ends and said axial ball channels opening to said opposite ends, and including channel extenders coupled to said intermediate race adjacent said opposite ends of said intermediate race having transverse grooves formed therein extending between and interconnecting adjacent pairs of said axial channels of said intermediate race to define said endless path for said spline balls.