US3792598A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Internal biasing assembly axially retaining couplings
Assignee: Glaenzer Spicer SA
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Filing: 1973-01-19
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Granted: 1974-02-19
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Expires: 1993-01-19
Abstract
Abstract An assembly for internal biasing and axially retaining a constant velocity universal joint of the type having a cup-shaped member, a forked member, spindles received in rollers for rolling and sliding in races formed between the prongs of the forked member, the spindles being associated with a knoblike portion. The assembly assures a constant biasing force for maintaining the contact between the knoblike portion and the closed inner end wall of the forked member. The biasing force is exerted by a coil spring arranged between the knoblike portion and a retaining clip adapted to be secured onto the prongs of the forked member for effectively joining the cup-shaped member to the forked member. A push member is provided having a spherical cavity for contact with the knoblike portion at one end and a portion with an enlarged polygonal cross-section at its other end which extends through a corresponding hole in the retaining clip when the arms are being secured to the prongs and retracted when the other end portion is in alignment with the hole in the clip for guiding thereon. The apices of the portion having the polygonal crosssection latch the push member relative to the clip, and may be released by pivoting the forked member relative to the cup-shaped member which causes cam surfaces on the push member to rotate the push member into or out of alignment with the corresponding hole in the clip. In addition or alternatively fingers with latching teeth may be provided with an equal number of corresponding holes in the clip.
Inventors
- 👤 M Orain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:18
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D3/00; F16D3/16; F16D3/20; F16D3/202; F16D3/207; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S464/00; Y10S464/904; Y10S464/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
348 words
An internal biasing assembly with automatic triggering for axially retaining a constant velocity universal joint of the type having a forked member adapted to be fixed to a first shaft and having three prongs with linear roller races therebetween, rollers adapted to roll in said roller races mounted to slide and rotate on spindles arranged in a star pattern about a knoblike central portion having two spherical surfaces, said spindles being mounted in the cup-shaped member, comprising a push member with a spherical cavity formed at one end defined between three radial cut-outs with V-shaped edges, said cavity being complementary to one of said spherical surfaces on the knoblike central portion, a three arm star-shaped retaining clip, the arms of which being adapted to be secured to the prongs of the forked member, the other end of the push member remote from the cavity being adapted to be guided in a corresponding opening in the retaining clip, the cross-section of said other end portion being the same as the configuration of said corresponding opening, resilient means interposed between a shoulder disposed under the cavity in the push member and the portion of the retaining clip surrounding the opening, said resilient means producing a biasing force for maintaining the other spherical surface on the knoblike central portion in contact with a closed inner end wall of the forked member, said other portion of the push member being provided with at least one latching tooth for holding the push member and maintaining the resilient means compressed when the teeth are angularly offset relative to the opening in the clip, said resilient means being capable of exerting its force against the push member for maintaining the cavity on the push member in contact with said one of the spherical surfaces when the push member is slightly rotated about its longitudinal axis in order to move the other end portion on the push member into alignment with the opening in clip, said resilient means axially retaining the joint when said other end portion is in alignment with the opening in the clip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
348 words
An internal biasing assembly with automatic triggering for axially retaining a constant velocity universal joint of the type having a forked member adapted to be fixed to a first shaft and having three prongs with linear roller races therebetween, rollers adapted to roll in said roller races mounted to slide and rotate on spindles arranged in a star pattern about a knoblike central portion having two spherical surfaces, said spindles being mounted in the cup-shaped member, comprising a push member with a spherical cavity formed at one end defined between three radial cut-outs with V-shaped edges, said cavity being complementary to one of said spherical surfaces on the knoblike central portion, a three arm star-shaped retaining clip, the arms of which being adapted to be secured to the prongs of the forked member, the other end of the push member remote from the cavity being adapted to be guided in a corresponding opening in the retaining clip, the cross-section of said other end portion being the same as the configuration of said corresponding opening, resilient means interposed between a shoulder disposed under the cavity in the push member and the portion of the retaining clip surrounding the opening, said resilient means producing a biasing force for maintaining the other spherical surface on the knoblike central portion in contact with a closed inner end wall of the forked member, said other portion of the push member being provided with at least one latching tooth for holding the push member and maintaining the resilient means compressed when the teeth are angularly offset relative to the opening in the clip, said resilient means being capable of exerting its force against the push member for maintaining the cavity on the push member in contact with said one of the spherical surfaces when the push member is slightly rotated about its longitudinal axis in order to move the other end portion on the push member into alignment with the opening in clip, said resilient means axially retaining the joint when said other end portion is in alignment with the opening in the clip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of the push member for freeing it from its latched position is effected by pivoting the first shaft relative to the second shaft so that a portion fixed for movement cup-shaped member bEars against one of the V-shaped edges of the cut-outs the surfaces of the edges acting as camming surfaces during the pivoting thereby rotating the push member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the other end of the push member effecting the automatic internal loading thereof has an enlarged polygonal cross-section adapted to be retained by and released from the retaining clip; before the loading of push member, the other end being adapted to extend beyond the retaining clip to bear against the cup-shaped member aiding the securing of the arms to the prongs of the forked member, after the loading of the push member, the other end portion being retracted to avoid any risk of contact with the cup-shaped member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the other end of the push member has a triangular cross-section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the end of the push member has a toothed circular cross-section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein a friction element is disposed on the closed inner end wall of the forked member for effectively bringing the other spherical surface on the knoblike portion in contact with said end wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the prongs are provided with slots for receiving lugs on the end of the arms of the retaining clip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An assembly according to claim 1, further comprising three fingers provided on the push member and having latching teeth for latching onto portions defining additional openings in the clip member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the push member is provided with a central portion on which the resilient means is arranged and with three fingers having latching teeth adapted to be latched onto the clip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
245 words
An internal biasing and retaining assembly for constant velocity universal joints of the tyep comprising a cup-shaped member, a forked member with three angularly spaced-apart prongs forming linear roller races therebetween, rollers adapted to roll in said roller races and mounted to slide and rotate on spindles arranged in a star pattern about a knoblike central portion having two spherical surfaces, said spindles being mounted in the cup-shaped member, and a star-shaped retaining clip with flexible arms adapted to be secured to the prongs of the forked member, comprising a push member having a spherical cavity formed in one end complementary to one of said spherical surfaces on the knoblike central portion and latching teeth remote from the cavity adapted to extend through at least one hole in said star-shaped member for latching engagement therewith, and resilient means arranged between said one end of the push member and the star-shaped member, said push member having a first position in which the latching teeth are latched on the star-shaped member and the spring is held in compression while the arms of the star-shaped member are being secured to the prongs of the forked member, and a second position in which the latching teeth are out of engagement with the star-shaped member and the resilient means urges the cavity on the push member into contact with said one of the spherical surfaces and the other the spherical surfaces into contact with the forked member for normal operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
245 words
An internal biasing and retaining assembly for constant velocity universal joints of the tyep comprising a cup-shaped member, a forked member with three angularly spaced-apart prongs forming linear roller races therebetween, rollers adapted to roll in said roller races and mounted to slide and rotate on spindles arranged in a star pattern about a knoblike central portion having two spherical surfaces, said spindles being mounted in the cup-shaped member, and a star-shaped retaining clip with flexible arms adapted to be secured to the prongs of the forked member, comprising a push member having a spherical cavity formed in one end complementary to one of said spherical surfaces on the knoblike central portion and latching teeth remote from the cavity adapted to extend through at least one hole in said star-shaped member for latching engagement therewith, and resilient means arranged between said one end of the push member and the star-shaped member, said push member having a first position in which the latching teeth are latched on the star-shaped member and the spring is held in compression while the arms of the star-shaped member are being secured to the prongs of the forked member, and a second position in which the latching teeth are out of engagement with the star-shaped member and the resilient means urges the cavity on the push member into contact with said one of the spherical surfaces and the other the spherical surfaces into contact with the forked member for normal operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said latching teeth comprise apices of a closed geometrical figure forming the cross-section of the other end of the push member, and wherein the hole in the star-shaped retaining clip has the same configuration as said geometrical figure so that the other end may be guided in and pass through the hole when it is aligned therewith and latched thereon when the push member is angularly displaced relative to the hole in said retaining clip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said latching teeth are disposed at the free ends of fingers extending from said one end of the push member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
An assembly according to claim 10, wherein, when the push member is in its first position, thE pivoting of the forked member relative to the cup-shaped member automatical rotates the push member about its longitudinal axis to release the latching teeth from engagement with the hole in the retaining clip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assembly according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of fingers with latching teeth adapted to extend through an equal plurality of holes in the retaining clip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly according to claim 11, wherein said resilient means is a coil spring, and wherein a portion of the push member intermediate its end portions acts as a guide for the coil spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-18 | 1977-08-20 | 1978-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-18 | 1981-08-20 | 1982-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-18 | 1985-08-20 | 1986-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |