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Patent US3789626A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3789626A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Constant velocity universal joint
Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
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Filing: 1972-03-21
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1992-03-21
Abstract
Abstract A constant velocity universal joint comprises an annular outer joint element having grooves on its inner surface parallel with the axis of the joint. An inner joint element is positioned within the outer joint element and is provided with grooves on its outer surface to form pairs of opposed grooves with the grooves on the outer joint element. A ball is positioned in every pair of opposed grooves and a cage disposed between the two joint elements retains the balls in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cage. The cage is guided within the outer joint element by a spherical surface on the outer face of the cage and is guided with respect to the inner joint element by a spherical surface on the inner face of the cage. The centers of the inner and outer spherical surfaces of the cage are equidistant on opposite sides of the plane passing through the centers of the balls. A control device as a separate element or elements is mounted on the inner joint element and is provided with a spherical or cylindrical surface for coaction with the inner spherical surface of the cage.
Inventors
- 👤 S Girguis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:31
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D3/00; F16D3/16; F16D3/20; F16D3/22; F16D3/223; F16D3/226; F16D3/2265; F16D3/227; F16D2003/22303; F16D2003/22313; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S464/00; Y10S464/904; Y10S464/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
In a constant velocity universal joint, the combination of an outer joint element having an axial bore therethrough and a plurality of grooves on the surface of said bore, said grooves being substantially parallel to the axis of the outer element, an inner joint element within said axial bore and having a plurality of grooves on its outer surface opposite from said outer element grooves to define pairs of opposed grooves, a plurality of balls between said joint elements to dispose said balls in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cage, said cage having a first spherical surface on its outer face and a second spherical surface on its inner face, means on the inner surface of said outer joint element coacting with said first spherical surface for guiding the cage with respect to said outer joint element, the centers of said first and second spherical surface being equidistant on opposite sides of the plane passing through the centers of the balls in said cage, and control element means positioned on the outer face of said inner joint element and having spherical surface means coacting with said cage second spherical surface for guiding said cage with respect to said inner joint element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a constant velocity universal joint, the combination of an outer joint element having an axial bore therethrough and a plurality of grooves on the surface of said bore, said grooves being substantially parallel to the axis of the outer element, an inner joint element within said axial bore and having a plurality of grooves on its outer surface opposite from said outer element grooves to define pairs of opposed grooves, a plurality of balls between said joint elements to dispose said balls in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cage, said cage having a first spherical surface on its outer face and a second spherical surface on its inner face, means on the inner surface of said outer joint element coacting with said first spherical surface for guiding the cage with respect to said outer joint element, the centers of said first and second spherical surface being equidistant on opposite sides of the plane passing through the centers of the balls in said cage, and control element means positioned on the outer face of said inner joint element and having spherical surface means coacting with said cage second spherical surface for guiding said cage with respect to said inner joint element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein a shaft is connected to said inner joint element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grooves are parallel to the axis of their respective joint elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the inner joint element is cylindrical.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control device means is fixed on said inner joint element against axial displacement so that the universal joint functions as a fixed joint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 5 wherein the coregistering outer surface of said inner joint element and the inner surface of the control device means are conical.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control device means is axially displaceAble on said inner joint element so that the universal joint functions as a sliding joint.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for guiding the cage with respect to said outer joint element comprises a spherical surface on the inner face of said outer element bore coacting with said first spherical surface on said cage, and said control device means is axially displaceable on said inner joint element and is fixed against axial displacement with respect to said outer joint element so that the universal joint functions as a fixed joint.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for guiding the cage with respect to said outer joint element comprises a cylindrical surface on the inner face of said outer element bore coating with said first spherical surface on said cage, and the control device means is fixed on said inner joint element against axial displacement thereon so that the universal joint functions as a sliding joint.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the joint element having the shorter axial grooves of the inner and outer joint elements has stop means thereon for limiting the axial displacement of the cage with respect to that said joint element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control device means comprises a plurality of control elements each disposed on a ridge between adjacent grooves on the inner joint element and between said balls, the outer surface of each control elements having a radius of curvature equal to said second spherical surface on said cage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 11 wherein the outer surface of each control element defines a portion of a cylinder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 12 wherein the edges of a cylindrical portion are chamfered.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 11 wherein each of said ridges has an indented surface configuration, the inner surfaces of said control elements conforming to said ridge surfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 11 wherein the inner faces of said control elements are flat and tangential to the cylindrical outer surface of the inner joint element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 11 and comprising guide elements on an end of a control element to straddle the ridge on which the control element is positioned so as to guide the control element with respect to the grooves on the inner joint element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 11 and comprising annular means inter-connecting said control elements to define a single annular member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 17 wherein said annular member has a plurality of recesses elongated in the direction of the inner joint element grooves, each recess having a spherical portion therein for receiving a ball, a portion of said annular member occupying the space between the second spherical surface of the cage and the outer surface of the inner joint element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 17 wherein said annular member has a polygonal shape with flattened portions in the areas of the balls, there being axially extending elongated portions at the corners of said polygon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are chamfers on the end edges of the inner surfaces of the outer joint element or cage, said chamfers correspond to the maximum bending angle of the joint to define stop surfaces for the inner joint element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 9 wherein there are chambers on the end edges of the outer surface of the cage corresponding to the maximum bending angle of the joint to define stop surfaces for the outer joint element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a cOnstant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control device means comprises a ring having an outer spherical surface coacting with said cage second spherical surface and an inner spherical surface on said inner joint element, said ring being disposed axially outwardly of said balls.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 22 wherein the center of said ring spherical surface is midway of the end surfaces of said ring.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 22 wherein said cage comprises a cylindrical sleeve, said cage second spherical surface being at one end of said sleeve, a second ring on the outer surface of said cylindrical sleeve at the other end thereof and fixed against axial displacement, the outer face of said second ring having a spherical surface coating with a spherical surface on the inner face of said outer joint element.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 24 wherein said first and second rings are identical.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 22 wherein said ring is slotted.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means on the inner surface of said outer joint element comprises a cylindrical surface through at least a portion of the axial length of said outer joint element.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 27 wherein said cylindrical surface extends at both ends into spherical surfaces and the diameter of each spherical surface is equal to the diameter of said cylindrical surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 27 wherein said cylindrical surface extends at both ends into obtuse conical portions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 28 wherein at least one of said spherical surfaces has a bore coaxial with said outer joint element, said bore having a diameter less than that of said spherical surface but greater than the outer diameter of said inner joint element.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 and comprising stop means within said outer joint element bore for limiting the axial movement of the cage therein.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 and comprising a ring attached to said outer joint element and engagable by said balls to limit the axial movement of the cage therein.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner joint element has lateral spherical surfaces on both sides of the plane passing through said balls, the diameter of said inner joint element spherical surfaces corresponding to the diameter of the spherical surface of said control device means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 33 wherein the centers of the radii of curvature of said control device means spherical surface and the lateral spherical surfaces of said inner joint element are the same so as to define a fixed universal joint.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
48 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 33 wherein the center of the radius of curvature of one lateral spherical surface is shifted along the axis of the inner joint element in the direction toward the other spherical surface to define a sliding universal joint.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 33 wherein the inner diameter of the cage laterally to at least one side of the cage second spherical surface is equal to the outer diameter of the inner joint element.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
39 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 33 wherein the inner diameter of the cage laterally to one side of the cage second spherical surface is less than the outer diameter of the inner joint element.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 36 wherein there is an annular groove in the inner surface of said cage, the edge of the groove toward the adjacent end of the cage having a conicaL surface or a spherical surface whose generatrix is approximately parallel to the generatrix of the second spherical surface of the cage, a resilient ring within said annular groove, the inner diameter of said ring in its assembled position being less than the outer diameter of the inner joint element, the distance between said two generatrices is equal to the thickness of said ring.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
64 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 33 wherein there is an annular recess in said inner joint element in the vicinity of the end of the second spherical surface of said cage, a resilient ring within said recess, the outer peripheral surface of said resilient ring is spherical to coact with said cage second spherical surface and conforms closely thereto.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 33 wherein there is an annular groove within said inner joint element adjacent a lateral spherical surface thereof, a resilient ring within said annular groove, the outer peripheral surface of said resilient ring is spherical to coact with said cage second spherical surface and conforms closely thereto.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 33 and comprising means between said ring and the inner joint element for preventing inward radial movement of the ring.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 35 wherein said control device means is reduced in length by a distance corresponding to the axial shifting of the centers of the radii of curvature.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cage has a plurality of openings therein with each ball being in one of said cage openings, a radial inward projection on each cage opening surface disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cage and adjacent the center of the cage first spherical surface, said projection extending over at least a portion of the circumferential length of said cage opening.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
35 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 43 wherein adjacent projections define recesses therebetween and said recessar are so shaped to accommodate relative movement between the inner joint element and said cage.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axial bore of the outer joint element has a cylindrical shape and the spherical outer surface of said cage is guided in said cylindrical bore.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a constant velocity universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axial bore of the outer joint element has a spherical shape, and the outer spherical surface of said cage is guided in such concave surface of the outer joint element.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |