Constant velocity joint in the form of a counter track joint

A constant velocity joint, comprising:

• an outer joint part with first outer ball tracks and second outer ball tracks having shapes that differ from one another,
• an inner joint part with first inner ball tracks and second inner ball tracks having shapes that differ from one another;
• wherein the first outer ball tracks and the first inner ball tracks form first pairs of tracks, wherein a first ball is disposed in each of said first pairs of tracks;
• wherein the second outer ball tracks and the second inner ball tracks form second pairs of tracks, wherein a second ball is disposed in each of said second pairs of tracks;
• wherein the outer joint part and the inner joint part are angularly movable relative to one another, wherein between a longitudinal axis of the outer joint part and a longitudinal axis of the inner joint part an articulation angle is defined, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the outer joint part and the longitudinal axis of the inner joint part form a joint articulation plane when the inner joint part is articulated relative to the outer joint part by an articulation angle which deviates from zero degrees;
• a ball cage which comprises circumferentially distributed cage windows in which the first balls and second balls are received;
• wherein the first balls and the second balls are held by the ball cage on a joint central plane when the longitudinal axis of the outer joint part and the longitudinal axis of the inner joint part are aligned coaxially, wherein a small articulation angle range is defined around the joint central plane which comprises at least the joint central plane and articulation angles which amount to a maximum of two degrees, wherein a large articulation angle range is defined which comprises articulation angles which are larger than a maximum articulation angle of the small articulation angle range;
• wherein in each angular position of the constant velocity joint, if viewed at a first pair of tracks in the joint articulation plane, a first opening angle is formed between a first outer tangent to the first outer ball track and a first inner tangent to the first inner ball track, wherein said first outer tangent extends through a first outer contact point between the first ball and the first outer ball track, and wherein the first inner tangent extends through a first inner contact point between the first ball and the first inner ball track, wherein the first opening angle has a variable size as a function of the articulation angle;
• wherein in each angular position of the constant velocity joint, if viewed at a second pair of tracks in the joint articulation plane, a second opening angle is formed between a second outer tangent to the second outer ball track and a second inner tangent to the second inner ball track, wherein said second outer tangent extends through a second outer contact point between the second ball and the second outer ball track, and wherein the second inner tangent extends through a second inner contact point between the second ball and the second inner ball track, wherein the second opening angle has a variable size as a function of the articulation angle,
• wherein, for at least one of the first pairs of tracks:
• for at least one articulation angle within the small articulation angle range, a first outer tangent extends parallel to a first inner tangent, and
• for at least one articulation angle within the large articulation angle range, an aperture-side first opening angle of a first ball moving in the joint articulation plane in a first outer ball track towards the aperture side of the outer joint part and an attachment-side first opening angle of a first ball moving at the same articulation angle in the joint articulation plane in a first outer ball track towards the attachment side of the outer joint part are unequal to zero;
• wherein for at least one of the second pairs of tracks:
• for at least one articulation angle within the small articulation angle range, a second outer tangent extends parallel to a second inner tangent, and
• for at least one articulation angle within the large articulation angle range, an aperture-side second opening angle of a second ball moving in the joint articulation plane in a second outer ball track towards the aperture side of the outer joint part and an attachment-side second opening angle of a second ball moving at the same articulation angle in the joint articulation plane in a second outer ball track towards the attachment side of the outer joint part are unequal to zero,
• wherein the aperture-side first opening angle of the at least one first pair of tracks and the aperture-side second opening angle of the at least one second pair of tracks widen in opposite axial directions, and
• wherein the attachment-side first opening angle of the at least one first pair of tracks and the attachment-side second opening angle of the at least one second pair of tracks widen in opposite axial directions.