Homokinetic universal joint assembly

Claim 1

A homokinetic universal joint assembly having a joint center and defining a bisecting plane comprising: an outer joint member; an inner joint member; said outer joint member and said inner joint member being arranged for axial mobility relative to each other to form said joint assembly as a sliding joint; roller bodies having a generally spherical configuration engaged between said inner and outer joint members for transmitting torque therebetween; a guide member located centrally of said joint assembly within said inner joint member supporting said roller bodies in said bisecting plane; a control sleeve defining a mounting groove extending through said joint center with said guide member being supported within said mounting groove for movement in a direction radially of said joint assembly; means on said control sleeve defining spherical surfaces located on opposite sides of said joint center and spaced a generally equivalent distance therefrom, said spherical surfaces being engaged to guide said control sleeve within said inner and outer joint members; and means defining recesses in said inner joint member for receiving therein in torque transmitting engagement said roller bodies, said recesses having a width taken in the circumferential direction of said joint generally corresponding to the diameter of said roller bodies and a length taken in the axial direction of said joint which is greater than the diameter of said roller bodies by an amount to permit sliding movement of said roller bodies relative to said inner joint member.