Abstract A tripod or three arm constant velocity universal joint of the type joining a driving shaft and a driven shaft and comprising a tripod member with three laterally extending arms with rollers mounted thereon and a socket member including grooves adapted to receive the rollers for relative displacement therein. An annular member is provided for urging the rollers towards or away from the axis of the shaft on which the tripod member is mounted. The annular may be provided on one side or both of the axes of the rollers along the longitudinal axis of the shaft on which the tripod member is mounted. The annular member preferably engages the lateral surface of each of the rollers perpendicular to the axis thereof and facing the shaft, that is, nearest to the shaft. The annular member is not fixed to the tripod member nor to a retaining member which may be provided and which is fixed relative to the tripod member.
In a universal joint adapted to transfer movement between a driving shaft and a driven shaft, said universal joint comprising three trunnions connected to one of said shafts and extending substantially radially with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof and angularly spaced by 120* from one another, a socket member connected to the other of said shafts and having three grooves each having two lateral walls extending in a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of said other shaft, said grooves being also angularly spaced at 120* from one another, and a roller mounted for free rotation on each of said trunnions and for axial movement in a respective one of said grooves for rolling movement on said walls thereof, said rollers having a surface facing the axis of said one shaft, and a device for positioning said rollers on the respective trunnions, said device including a resilient annular member in contact with said surface of each of said rollers for exerting an outwardly directed force on said rollers, and a retaining member for said annular member attached to said one shaft independent of said annular member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
In a universal joint adapted to transfer movement between a driving shaft and a driven shaft, said universal joint comprising three trunnions connected to one of said shafts and extending substantially radially with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof and angularly spaced by 120* from one another, a socket member connected to the other of said shafts and having three grooves each having two lateral walls extending in a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of said other shaft, said grooves being also angularly spaced at 120* from one another, and a roller mounted for free rotation on each of said trunnions and for axial movement in a respective one of said grooves for rolling movement on said walls thereof, said rollers having a surface facing the axis of said one shaft, and a device for positioning said rollers on the respective trunnions, said device including a resilient annular member in contact with said surface of each of said rollers for exerting an outwardly directed force on said rollers, and a retaining member for said annular member attached to said one shaft independent of said annular member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said annular member is a circular ring having a circular cross section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the annular member is in centering engagement with the retaining member.