Cross groove type constant velocity joint with composite groove patterns

A constant velocity joint for a drive system comprising:

• an outer joint member having a plurality of inwardly facing outer ball grooves, the outer ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves, each having a skewed and linear groove shape with a skew angle other than zero, and said first group of grooves arranged alternately in opposite directions relative to an axis of rotation of outer joint member, and a second group of grooves, each having a composite groove shape formed with two or more linear groove segments having different skew angles relative to an axis of rotation of outer joint member, said first group of grooves arranged alternately between said second group of grooves;
• an inner joint member disposed inside the outer joint member and having a plurality of outwardly facing inner ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves, each having a skewed and linear groove shape with a skew angle other than zero, and said first group of grooves arranged alternately in opposite directions relative to an axis of rotation of inner joint member, and a second group of grooves, each having a composite groove shape formed with two or more linear groove segments having different skew angles relative to an axis of rotation of inner joint member, said first group of grooves arranged alternately between said second group of grooves, each inner ball groove of the inner joint member being coupled with a corresponding outer ball groove of the outer joint member generally in crossed pair;
• a plurality of torque transfer balls which are guided by the ball grooves of the outer and inner joint members;
• and
• a cage having circumferentially displaced windows to accommodate the balls therein,
• wherein each groove of the second group of grooves of the outer and inner joint members is formed with three linear groove segments composed of a first linear groove segment with a straight groove segment having no skew angle, which is formed adjacent to the center of the groove, a second linear groove segment with a skewed groove segment having a skew angle other than zero, which is formed adjacent to one end of the groove, and a third linear groove segment with a skewed groove segment having a skew angle other than zero, which is formed adjacent to the other end of the groove and in direction opposite to the second segment,
• wherein the skew angle of the first group of grooves of the outer and inner joint members have a same skew angle (δ1), and the skew angle of the second and third linear groove segments of the second group of grooves of the outer and inner joint members have a same skew angle (δ2), and wherein the skew angle (δ1) of the first group of grooves of the outer and inner joint members is the same or larger than the skew angle (δ2) of the second and third linear groove segments of the second group of grooves of the outer and inner joint members.