Abstract: A wheel drive shaft assembly for a motor vehicle including two universal joints, at least one of which is a plunging joint to enable axial movement of the shaft assembly, with one of the universal joints further including a splined journal engaging into a wheel hub, wherein the axial length of the splined journal is smaller than the amount of axial shortening available in the shaft assembly by virtue of the plunging movement of the at least one plunging universal joint when the shaft assembly is built into the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A constant velocity ratio plunging universal joint, comprising an outer joint member (101, 201, 301), an inner joint member (102, 202, 302), torque-transmitting balls (103, 203, 303) engaging in straight axis-parallel tracks in the joint members, and a cage (104, 204, 304) holding the balls with their centers in a common plane. There are further provided control members either in the form of radially disposed pins (105, 106, 305, 306) or smaller balls (221, 225) engaging further tracks in the joint members to control the axial position of the cage relative thereto. The further tracks engaged by the control members are not parallel to the axes of the joint members, either crossing one another in developed view of the joint or diverging from one another in longitudinal section of the joint.

Abstract: A constant velocity ratio universal joint of plunging type, comprising an outer joint member (1), an inner joint member (2), facing pairs of tracks (3, 4) in the joint members receiving balls (5) for torque transmission, and a cage (6) constraining the balls and having first and second control surfaces (7, 9) with centers of curvature unequally off-set from the ball center plane I, in order to guide the balls to the bisect or plane, wherein the first control surface of the cage comprises two portions (7.sub.1, 7.sub.2). The first portion (7.sub.1) is part-spherical, and the second portion (7.sub.2) is a surface of revolution about the axis of the cage of an arc of radius of curvature less than the radius of curvature of the part-spherical portion (7.sub.1).

Abstract: An angularly movable rolling boot, for sealing a universal joint, sealingly encloses a shaft journal with a sleeve which is integrally formed with a wall of the boot. The sleeve is fitted onto the shaft journal under radial pretensioning which increases axially towards a free end of the sleeve.

Abstract: An assembly for torque transmission, comprising a tube of fiber-reinforced plastics material and a metal spigot fitting within an end portion thereof, wherein the end portion of the tube in its free state has an internal diameter less than the external diameter of the spigot and has been pressed axially onto the spigot to produce a frictional connection. The end portion of the tube may be reinforced by being wound with fibres at a greater angle than the rest of the tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel bearing/constant velocity joint unit having a double row bearing 2 which has been provided with at least one inner bearing ring 12 which is separate from the wheel hub 1. The wheel hub and the outer part of the constant velocity joint are form-fittingly and non-rotatingly connected to each other by spur teeth. The spur teeth at the wheel hub are preferably produced by orbital pressing or orbital forging, and while the forming process takes place a collar is produced at the wheel hub which serves for axially tensioning the inner bearing rings, at least the one of the joint end.

Abstract: A cross groove type of constant velocity ratio universal joint, comprising an outer joint member (1), an inner joint member (2), and a cage (3) constraining torque transmitting balls (4) received one in each pair of facing grooves (8, 14) in the outer and inner joint members, the grooves being inclined to the axes of the joint members so as to cross one another, wherein the cage is of asymmetrical configuration, comprising at one end an opening of a diameter greater than an outside diameter of the inner joint member, and at its other end and opening of a diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the inner joint member. The external surface of the cage comprises a number of surface portions (S1 to S5) of different configuration from one another. The configuration of the cage facilitates assembly of the joint and also permits an extended range of plunging movement in one direction, while limiting plunging movement in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A ball-type constant velocity universal joint has a plurality of axially extending circumferentially spaced tracks in its inner and outer joint members. Balls in a ball cage engaged between the tracks of the inner and outer members. Runouts or extensions of the ball tracks are under load in a deflected position of the joint, and deviate in an asymmetrical manner from each other in cross-section, in an undeflected position of the joint, with reference to the center point of a ball in that track. This makes it possible in a preferred manner to fabricate the ball tracks of the one joint member which is free of undercuts, by means of a non-cutting shaping process, and to fabricate the ball tracks in the other joint member which is uniformly curved by a cutting machining process, particularly by grinding with swivelling motion of the joint member.

Abstract: A wheel supporting assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising a wheel carrier member (1) with means for attachment to at least one suspension component, and a unit of hub member (16), universal joint member (21), and bearing with outer race (15) integral with or received in a bearing housing (3), secured to the wheel carrier member. The wheel carrier member affords a formation (2) open and undercut-free in a direction transversely of the rotational axis of the hub member, so that the hub member-bearing unit can be fitted radially to the wheel carrier member. The bearing housing of the unit is then held to the wheel carrier member by at least two fixing elements, particularly bolts, spaced from one another by a distance greater than an outer diameter of the bearing, which distance is preferably less than the size of a flange on the hub member to which a wheel is to be attached.

Abstract: Press tooling for manufacturing an inner or outer member of a constant velocity universal joint, with non-undercut ball-receiving tracks and, between such tracks, a part-spherical cage guiding surface, comprises a first element with radially extending ribs for forming the tracks, and a number of second elements with portions which fit between the ribs of the first element and are shaped to form the part-spherical surface of the joint member between its tracks. For forming an outer joint member the first element may have outwardly extending ribs between which the second elements fit, or for forming an inner joint member for first element may be in the form of a sleeve with inwardly extending ribs between which the second elements fit.

Abstract: A differential gear assembly wherein at least one constant velocity universal joint is integrated within the gear housing and wherein an outer joint member of the universal joint is designed as an outer bevel gear and is axially inwardly supported relative to the differential or planetary gears of the assembly and is outwardly supported relative to the differential carrier on a radial supporting face. The inner member of the joint is supported toward the outside on a counter face of the differential cage and/or toward the inside on a corresponding part of a second constant velocity universal joint or on a special supporting ring. Support of the joint inner part may be effected either directly or indirectly by means of a ball cage or a shaft journal, and the supporting ring is particularly suitable as a central supporting element if two constant velocity universal joints are integrated into the differential gear assembly.

Abstract: A hub assembly comprising a hub member (10), a flange (4) for wheel attachment, a double row bearing (2), and a constant velocity ratio universal joint (3), wherein the bearing has at least one inner bearing ring (13, 14) which is a separate component received on the hub member, and a connection between the hub member and a further part of the assembly is established by a welding and upsetting operation, and the inner bearing ring is engaged to hold it in position and to set the bearing as a result of such welding and upsetting operation. The welded and upset connection may be provided between the hub member and an outer member (15) of the constant velocity ratio universal joint, or between the hub member and flange. A weld bead formed by the welding and upsetting operation may engage the inner bearing ring either directly or indirectly, or a projection extending from the part welded to the hub member may engage the inner bearing ring.

Abstract: A differential gear assembly particularly for motor vehicles having a rotatably supported differential housing, a driving gear attached to the differential housing, at least two rotatably supported differential bevel gears and a pair of output bevel gears which engage into the differential bevel gears with a constant velocity universal joint being integrated into each of the output bevel gears. The differential bevel gears are connected in a form-fitting manner to the driving gear by means of radial and/or axial recesses, apertures or the like, with the differential housing, which may be formed of two parts, being connected to the driving gear. The differential housing is formed with an aperture or is divided in the region of each differential bevel gear to form a compact structure.

Abstract: In a wheel assembly for a vehicle wheel, a supportive sleeve is provided mounted in rotatably fixed engagement with a hub of the wheel assembly with one side of a protective boot for the universal joint being attached thereto. The supportive sleeve is constructed as a shaped sheet metal part shaped which, during installation, is permanently plastically deformed in press-fitted engagement with a groove in the hub of the wheel assembly and is formed with a radially extending annular region which is pressed into abutting engagement with an inner bearing ring of the wheel bearing assembly.

Abstract: A protective boot for sealing the free space between the driving and driven parts of a constant velocity universal joint formed of a material which is suitable for injection molding, wherein the boot is formed with a larger outer diameter part mounted on an outer joint member of the joint and attached thereto by a relative thin-walled metal cap which, due to its resilience, is capable of sealingly pressing radial and axial sealing faces provided at the outer diameter part of the boot against an outer circumference and an end face of the outer joint member while securingly embracing them. The boot is formed with a smaller diameter part which is provided with an inwardly directed end facing the outer joint member and resting in sealing engagement against a driving shaft connected to an inner joint member of a universal joint over a defined distance.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a universal joint which includes an inner and outer joint member, a cage, and torque-transmitting balls supported in the cage and received in ball tracks formed in the outer face of the inner joint member and the inner face of the outer joint member, contact faces along which the balls run in the tracks and in contact with the cage are partially hardened to a relatively great depth taken relative to the wall thickness of the workpiece by means of a shaped inductor. The contact faces between the cage and both the inner and outer joint members, respectively, are also formed with a wear-resistant layer which is thin taken relative to the wall thickness of the workpiece.

Abstract: A differential gear assembly particularly for motor vehicles having a rotatably supported differential housing, a driving gear attached to the differential housing, at least two rotatably supported differential bevel gears and a pair of output bevel gears which engage into the differential bevel gears with a constant velocity universal joint being integrated into each of the output bevel gears. The differential bevel gears are connected in a form-fitting manner to the driving gear by means of radial and/or axial recesses, apertures or the like, with the differential housing, which may be formed of two parts, being connected to the driving gear. The differential housing is formed with an aperture or is divided in the region of each differential bevel gear to form a compact structure.

Abstract: In a universal joint having inner and outer joint members with grooves formed therein and torque-transmitting balls interposed within the grooves, the grooves of at least one of the joint members is formed to extend in a curved configuration wherein lines extending tangentially to the curved configuration will intersect the central axis of the joint at angles which increase, taken from one point on the curved configuration to another.

Abstract: In a universal joint assembly having an outer joint member with grooves in its internal wall, an inner joint member with opposed grooves, balls disposed one in each pair of the grooves, and a cage supporting the balls, there are included pairs of grooves formed of adjacent grooves one in each joint member with the pairs including pairs having grooves extending parallel to a center axis of the joint and pairs having grooves which are inclined or oblique relative to the center axis of the joint with adjacent oblique grooves in each of the joint members being inclined relative to the center axis at equal angles but in intersecting directions. Each joint member may have at least nine, and preferably twelve, grooves. The balls may be considered as divided into groups which provide the joint with improved ball control and torque transmitting ability.

Abstract: In a universal joint, a spacing is provided between the inner face of the cage and the outer face of the inner joint member and within the outer joint member there is provided a stop face which cooperates with a supporting face on the inner joint member in order to accommodate axial forces. As a result, a fixed joint is provided wherein it is not necessary to machine the inner face of the cage and the outer face of the inner joint member with axial forces being nevertheless accommodated.