Patent · US Expired

Universal joint assembly for coupling together a first and a second shaft

US6325724A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
8References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 7, 1999
Grant dateDec 4, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 7, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16D3/40
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The universal joint of this invention comprises a hub interposed between an upper shaft and a middle shaft, an upper pin coupling together the upper shaft and the hub, a lower pin coupling together the middle shaft and the hub, and a stopper ring fitting over the outside of the middle shaft at an end thereof on the side of the upper shaft. The hub is formed in such a manner that the outer shape thereof is a spindle shape narrowing in the fore-and-aft direction with respect to the upper pin, and a bottomed hole provided with a taper portion is formed in the axial center thereof, opening towards the rear of the upper pin. In a front end portion of the upper shaft are formed a taper portion contracting towards the front of the upper pin and a groove portion engaging with the lower pin. The upper and lower pins are disposed adjacent to one another in the central axial direction of the hub and are also at a phase angle difference of, for example, 90 degrees. This invention provides a universal joint that has a simpler structure and a reduced manufacturing cost.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.