Patent US3877251A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3877251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Universal joint system
Assignee: Wahlmark Systems Inc
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Filing: 1973-06-15
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1993-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A constant velocity universal joint of the three-roller type employing a trunnion member carrying three drive rollers at a controlled torque arm distance from the axis of the member and drivingly disposed in respective drive tracks formed in a track member. The drive rollers are rotatably and axially shiftably carried on respective trunnions of the trunnion member by means of improved two-way antifriction bearings, and the torque arm distance of the drive rollers is controlled by the configuration of the drive tracks. In one embodiment employing relative axial travel between the trunnion member and the track member the drive tracks are formed as arcs of a circle having a radius larger than the torque arm distance of the drive rollers, with the radius and torque arm having an optimum ratio range for most efficient joint operation. In another embodiment relative axial travel between the members is positively prevented by a centering device carried by the track member and operatively engaging the drive rollers carried by the trunnion member without interfering with the relative weaving of the axes of the members as the members rotate in driving relation with their axes angularly disposed.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunnar A Wahlmark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:35
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: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
In a constant velocity universal joint of the three-roller type including a trunnion member having three trunnions each carrying an axially shiftable drive roller and also including a track member having three drive tracks confining and controlling the axial positions of the drive rollers on the respective trunnions, with the rollers disposed in driving engagement with drive surfaces in the respective drive tracks, the improvement comprising two-way antifriction bearing means rotatably and axially shiftably mounting said rollers on the respective trunnions, whereby said antifriction bearing means provide totally antifriction support for said rollers as they rotate and shift axially on said trunnions to accommodate relative weaving of the axes of said members when the joint is rotated with the axes of the members angularly disposed, each of said bearing means including: a. inner and outer annular bearing races formed on the respective roller and trunnion, and b. a plurality of spherical antifriction members annularly disposed in rolling preloaded bearing fashion between said inner and outer races and arranged to accommodate both rotation and axial shifting of said roller on said trunnion by rolling of said spherical antifriction members between said races.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a constant velocity universal joint of the three-roller type including a trunnion member having three trunnions each carrying an axially shiftable drive roller and also including a track member having three drive tracks confining and controlling the axial positions of the drive rollers on the respective trunnions, with the rollers disposed in driving engagement with drive surfaces in the respective drive tracks, the improvement comprising two-way antifriction bearing means rotatably and axially shiftably mounting said rollers on the respective trunnions, whereby said antifriction bearing means provide totally antifriction support for said rollers as they rotate and shift axially on said trunnions to accommodate relative weaving of the axes of said members when the joint is rotated with the axes of the members angularly disposed, each of said bearing means including: a. inner and outer annular bearing races formed on the respective roller and trunnion, and b. a plurality of spherical antifriction members annularly disposed in rolling preloaded bearing fashion between said inner and outer races and arranged to accommodate both rotation and axial shifting of said roller on said trunnion by rolling of said spherical antifriction members between said races.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1 in which said races of said bearing means are cylindrical and are annularly spaced by said spherical antifriction members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A constant velocity universal joint according to claim 2 in which said bearing means include: a. a removable stop ring secured to one of said races at on end thereof, b. whereby at least one of said spherical antifriction members is engageable with said stop ring to limit axial travel of the bearing means in one direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a constant velocity universal joint of the thre-roller type including a trunnion member having three trunnions each carrying a drive roller at an average torque arm distance from the axis of the trunnion member, the improvement comprising: a. a track member having three drive tracks confining and controlling the axial positions of the drive rollers on the respective trunnions, b. each of said tracks being formed on an arc having a radius such that the ratio of the average torque arm distance to the track radius lies in a range between 0.75 and 0.90.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a constant velocity universal joint of the thre-roller type including a trunnion member having three trunnions each carrying a drive roller at an average torque arm distance from the axis of the trunnion member, the improvement comprising: a. a track member having three drive tracks confining and controlling the axial positions of the drive rollers on the respective trunnions, b. each of said tracks being formed on an arc having a radius such that the ratio of the average torque arm distance to the track radius lies in a range between 0.75 and 0.90.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A constant velocity universal joint according to claim 4 in which each of said drive rollers is formed with a segmental generally sperical outer surface and each of said drive tracks is formed with segmental surfaces generated by a circle having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the spherical surfaces on said rollers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
192 words
In a constant velocity universal joint of the three-roller type including a trunnion member having three trunnions each carrying an axially shiftable drive roller and also including a track member having three drive tracks confining and controlling the axial positions of the drive rollers on the respective trunnions with each of said tracks being generated on an arc having a common center at the axis of the track member, the improvement comprising centering mechanism for preventing relative axial shifting between said members, including: a. a centering device fixedly secured to said track member radially inwardly of said drive tracks and having three generally sperical centering surfaces with a common center at the aforementioned common center, and b. a segmental generally spherical socket formed on each of said drive rollers and having a radius substantially equal to the radius of each of said centering surfaces, c. whereby said centering surfaces are universally engaged with said spherical sockets on said drive rollers to prevent relative axial shifting between said members while still accommodating relative weaving of the axes of said members when the joint is rotated with the axes of the members angularly disposed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
192 words
In a constant velocity universal joint of the three-roller type including a trunnion member having three trunnions each carrying an axially shiftable drive roller and also including a track member having three drive tracks confining and controlling the axial positions of the drive rollers on the respective trunnions with each of said tracks being generated on an arc having a common center at the axis of the track member, the improvement comprising centering mechanism for preventing relative axial shifting between said members, including: a. a centering device fixedly secured to said track member radially inwardly of said drive tracks and having three generally sperical centering surfaces with a common center at the aforementioned common center, and b. a segmental generally spherical socket formed on each of said drive rollers and having a radius substantially equal to the radius of each of said centering surfaces, c. whereby said centering surfaces are universally engaged with said spherical sockets on said drive rollers to prevent relative axial shifting between said members while still accommodating relative weaving of the axes of said members when the joint is rotated with the axes of the members angularly disposed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a constant velocity universal joint including at least one drive element carried by a trunnion, the improvement comprising two-way antifriction bearing means rotatably and axially shiftably mounting said drive elements on said trunnion, including: a. inner and outer annular bearing races formed on the respective drive element and trunnion, and b. a plurality of antifriction members annularly disposed in rolling preloaded bearing fashion between said inner and outer races and arranged to accommodate both rotation and axial shifting of said drive element on said trunnion by rolling of said antifriction members between said races, said antifriction members of said bearing means being spherical.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a constant velocity universal joint including at least one drive element carried by a trunnion, the improvement comprising two-way antifriction bearing means rotatably and axially shiftably mounting said drive elements on said trunnion, including: a. inner and outer annular bearing races formed on the respective drive element and trunnion, and b. a plurality of antifriction members annularly disposed in rolling preloaded bearing fashion between said inner and outer races and arranged to accommodate both rotation and axial shifting of said drive element on said trunnion by rolling of said antifriction members between said races, said antifriction members of said bearing means being spherical.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A constant velocity universal joint according to claim 7 in which each of said spherical antifriction members is carried in a loose-fitting aperture in an annular cage member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A constant velocity universal joint according to claim 8 in which said loose-fitting apertures in said annular cage member are arranged in a plurality of circumferential rows.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A constant velocity universal joint according to claim 9 in which said loose-fitting apertures in said annular cage members are alternately staggered in adjacent circumferential rows.
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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) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |