Telescopic homokinetic joint

Claim 1

A homokinetic joint comprising: a first element having a first axis and having three radial wing members equally spaced at substantially 120° from each other about the axis, each radial wing member including two radially extending, uncurved, planar surfaces parallel to each other, said planar surfaces also extending parallel to said first axis to thereby define said planar surfaces; a second element including three radially extending means for engaging said two planar surfaces of each radial wing, said second element having a second axis and said engaging means extending equally spaced at substantially 120° from each other and in confronting relation with said planar surfaces; said means for engaging including spherical bearing surfaces disposed on each side of said planar surfaces; intermediate elements disposed between said spherical bearing surfaces and the wing members, the intermediate element having planar surfaces disposed parallel to and facing the planar surfces of the wing members and having spherical bearing surfaces complementary to and fitting into the spherical bearing surfaces of the engaging means; rolling elements disposed between the planar surfaces of the wing members and the planar surfaces of the intermediate elements, the rolling elements being arranged in a linear manner and as three sub-assemblies, each subassembly including means for allowing both relative linear and angular displacements of said first and second axis, the allowing means including two linear rows of said rolling elements and a cage in retaining relation to the corresponding two rows of rolling elements; and return means provided between each said sub-assembly and said first element for elastically returning each sub-assembly to a mean position relative to said first element.