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 groove of which having a skewed groove shape with a skew angle (δ1) other than zero and alternately arranged in opposite directions relative to an axis of rotation of outer joint member, and a second group of grooves, each groove of which having a continuously curved groove shape;
• 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 groove of which having a skewed groove shape with the skew angle (δ1) other than zero and alternately arranged in opposite directions relative to an axis of rotation of inner joint member, and a second group of grooves, each groove of which having a continuously curved groove shape, 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 groove faces of outer and inner joint member;
• and
• a cage having circumferentially displaced windows to accommodate the balls therein,
• wherein the continuously curved groove shape of the second group of grooves of the outer and inner joint members has a skew angle (δ2) other than zero at the center of the groove, said skew angle (δ2) being the same as or less than said skew angle (δ1) of the first group of grooves of the outer and inner joint members.