Constant velocity universal ball joints with window surfaces and ball surfaces having a desired roughness

US5725432A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• GKN Automotive Limited · DE

Inventors

• Herbert Konegen · Rösrath, DE
• Peter Seigert · Lohmar, DE
• Hans Schreiber · Aichach, DE
• Frank Tenhumberg · Troisdorf, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 23, 1996
• Grant date: Mar 10, 1998
• Expiry date: Sep 23, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S464/906
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A constant velocity universal ball joint (1) has an outer part (2), an inner part (6) received therein, and a cage (11) arranged between the outer part (2) and inner part (3) to guide balls (17) which serves to transmit torque between the outer part (2) and inner part (6). The balls (17) are guided between parallel window faces (15, 16) of the cage (11). To improve the service life values and the running-in conditions of the joint, balls (17) are used whose surface is ground and have a defined roughness. Thus, in the case of tolerance errors, the window faces (15, 16) are worked off to such an extent as to achieve identical load bearing conditions at the balls.