Universal joints

US4027927A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• GKN Transmissions Limited

Inventor

• Colin Turner

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 9, 1976
• Grant date: Jun 7, 1977
• Expiry date: Jul 9, 1996

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T403/32
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A plunging constant velocity universal joint of the kind comprising a hollow outer member and an inner member, torque-transmitting balls which are located in apertures in a cage disposed between said members and are each engaged in and between a pair of opposed longitudinal grooves in said members so as to be movable therealong to permit relative angular and axial movement between the members, and a guide ring mounted on the inner member, the cage having a convex part-spherical outer surface engaging the surface of a cylindrical bore in the outer member so that the cage is movable relative to said member axially of the latter, and a concave part-spherical inner surface engaging a complementary convex part-spherical surface on the guide ring, the centers of the part-spherical surfaces of the cage being offset by equal amounts on opposite sides of the joint center along the joint axis whereby the cage assists in maintaining the balls in the bisector plane of the joint. The guide ring is axially movable relative to the inner member to a limited extent to allow the torque-transmitting balls to roll rather than skid with respect to the surfaces of the grooves in the inner and outer memb…