Homokinetic plunging ball joint with low plunging forces

US8277329B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GKN Driveline Deutschland GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Frank Braun · Kitchener, CA
• Joachim Prölss · Ober-Ramstadt, DE
• Volker Bergmann · Riedstadt, DE
• Hans Wormsbaecher · Lake Orion, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 2, 2008
• Grant date: Oct 2, 2012
• Expiry date: Oct 18, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16D2003/22303
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A homokinetic rotary ball joint in the form of a plunging joint is described. The joint comprises a joint outer part 3 with outer first ball tracks 4 and with outer second ball tracks 5, the outer second ball tracks 5 intersecting a joint mid-axis A when the joint is aligned; a joint inner part 6 with inner first ball tracks 7 and with inner second ball tracks 8, the inner second ball tracks 8 intersecting the joint mid-axis A when the joint is aligned; first balls 9 which are held in first pairs of tracks including, in each case, an outer first ball track 4 and of an inner first ball track 7; second balls 10 which are held in second pairs of tracks including, in each case, an outer second ball track 5 and of an inner second ball track 8, in each case the outer and the inner ball track 5, 8 of the second pairs of tracks intersecting one another; a ball cage 12 which has, distributed circumferentially, cage windows 13, 14 in which the first and the second balls 9, 10 are held in a common plane; a second radial play formed between the second balls 10 and the second ball tracks 5, 8 is greater than a first radial play formed between the first balls 9 and the first ball tracks 4, 7.