Abstract: A constant velocity joint comprises: a hollow housing having a plurality of axially-extending guide grooves; a tripod having a plurality of trunnions positioned in the guide grooves of the hollow housing; and a roller assembly including an inner roller having a spherical inner face and an outer roller mounted on an outer face of each inner roller, the roller assembly for transmitting a load between the first and second rotating shafts. A cross sectional shape of the trunnion, taken in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the trunnion, has a thickness at one or both lateral sides of the trunnion the same as or slightly less than a maximum non-interfering thickness of the trunnion, the maximum non-interfering thickness measured with the inner roller inclined by a predetermined degree relative to the longitudinal axis of the trunnion to assemble the trunnion into the inner roller.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint for a drive system comprises an outer joint member and an inner joint member each having a plurality of ball grooves in pairs for accommodating balls therein, the ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves, each groove of which having a linear groove shape with no skew angle or a skewed groove shape with a relatively smaller skew angle, and a second group of grooves, each groove of which having a skewed groove shape with a relatively larger or regular skew angle. In addition to having the differentiated skew angles in the first and second groups of grooves, a taper angle is provided to the pair of grooves of at least one or both of the first and second groups of grooves in order to reduce the potential risk of ball locking in the grooves.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint for a drive system includes an outer joint member and an inner joint member, each having a plurality of ball grooves, the ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves of a skewed groove shape with a first skew angle other than zero and alternately arranged in opposite directions relative to an axis of rotation of the outer and inner joint members, and a second group of grooves of a skewed groove shape with a second skew angle other than zero and alternately arranged in opposite directions relative to an axis of rotation of the outer and inner joint members, the second skew angle less than the first skew angle. In addition to the differentiated skew angles, the contact angles of the balls in the first and second group of grooves may also be differentiated.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint for a drive system comprises: an outer joint member having a plurality of inwardly facing outer ball grooves, the outer ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves and a second group of grooves with composite or non-linear groove pattern; an inner joint member disposed inside the outer joint member and having a plurality of outwardly facing inner ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves and a second group of grooves with composite or non-linear groove pattern, each inner ball groove of the inner joint member being coupled with a corresponding outer ball groove of the outer joint member generally in crossed pair.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint for a drive system comprises: an outer joint member having a plurality of inwardly facing outer ball grooves, the outer ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves and a second group of grooves with composite or non-linear groove pattern; an inner joint member disposed inside the outer joint member and having a plurality of outwardly facing inner ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves and a second group of grooves with composite or non-linear groove pattern, each inner ball groove of the inner joint member being coupled with a corresponding outer ball groove of the outer joint member generally in crossed pair; and a cage having circumferentially displaced cage windows to accommodate a plurality of balls therein. The groove patterns of the ball grooves can be a combination of skewed grooves and non-linear grooves, a combination of non-linear grooves such as a curved groove or a compositely shaped groove, or a combination of linear grooves and non-linear grooves.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint has an outer joint part, an inner joint part, a ball cage and a plurality of balls located in the cage. The outer surface of the inner joint part is provided with two radii and the inner surface of the ball cage is provided with two radii resulting in a joint that is more compact, more durable and lubricated better than known joints.

Abstract: A double offset constant velocity joint is provided. The constant velocity joint includes an outer element, an inner element, an annular element, and a plurality of torque transferring elements. The annular element has a first spherical outer surface, a second spherical outer surface, a spherical inner surface, and a plurality of perforations formed therethrough. The first spherical outer surface and the spherical inner surface have a center common with a spherical outer surface of the inner element. The second spherical outer surface has a center different from a joint pivot point and the first spherical outer surface. The second spherical outer surface has a diameter complementary to a diameter of the inner surface of the outer element. The annular element is disposed between the inner element and the outer element.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint for a drive system comprises: an outer joint member having a plurality of inwardly facing outer ball grooves, the outer ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves and a second group of grooves with composite or non-linear groove pattern; an inner joint member disposed inside the outer joint member and having a plurality of outwardly facing inner ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves and a second group of grooves with composite or non-linear groove pattern, each inner ball groove of the inner joint member being coupled with a corresponding outer ball groove of the outer joint member generally in crossed pair.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint comprises: a hollow housing having a plurality of guide grooves therein, a tripod having a plurality of trunnions. Each trunnion includes two opposing spherical contact surfaces disposed in the directions subject to load, and two opposing side surfaces disposed between the two opposing spherical contact surfaces and in the directions perpendicular to the spherical surfaces and not subjecting to the load. A cross sectional shape of the trunnion, the cross section taken in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the trunnion, has a thickness at one or both lateral sides of the trunnion the same as or slightly less than a maximum non-interfering thickness of the trunnion. Preferably, a groove of circular or oval shape is formed on each of the two opposing spherical contact surfaces, the groove for retaining grease therein to lubricate contact surfaces.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint comprises: a hollow housing having a plurality of guide grooves; a tripod having a plurality of trunnions positioned in the guide grooves; and a roller assembly disposed on each trunnion. The outer roller includes a convex outer surface, the convex outer surface having a first radius (Rry) seen from a cross section taken in an orthogonal direction of the outer roller, the convex outer surface having a second radius (Rrx) seen from a cross section taken along the central axis of the outer roller, in which the center of the second radius (Rrx) is displaced outwardly from the center of the first radius (Rry), and the second radius (Rrx) is shorter than the first radius (Rry).

Abstract: A constant velocity joint comprises: a hollow housing having a plurality of axially-extending guide grooves; a tripod having a plurality of trunnions positioned in the guide grooves of the hollow housing; and a roller assembly including an inner roller having a spherical inner face and an outer roller mounted on an outer face of each inner roller, the roller assembly for transmitting a load between the first and second rotating shafts. A cross sectional shape of the trunnion, taken in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the trunnion, has a thickness at one or both lateral sides of the trunnion the same as or slightly less than a maximum non-interfering thickness of the trunnion, the maximum non-interfering thickness measured with the inner roller inclined by a predetermined degree relative to the longitudinal axis of the trunnion to assemble the trunnion into the inner roller.

Abstract: A method of assembling a constant velocity joint comprises: measuring a maximum non-interfering thickness of a trunnion that can be inserted into an inner roller without interference while inclining the inner roller by a predetermined degree; providing the trunnion to have a cross sectional shape, taken in a direction perpendicular to the trunnion, with a first thickness at one lateral side and a second thickness at the other lateral side, where one or both of the first and second thicknesses have a size the same as or 0-30% smaller than the maximum non-interfering thickness of the trunnion; inclining the inner roller to assume the predetermined degree of inclination; positioning the inclined inner roller onto the trunnion and completely assembling thereto without excessive external force.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint for a drive system with a first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft, comprises: a hollow housing having a plurality of guide grooves therein, the guide grooves extending in an axial direction of the housing and spaced equally apart in a circumferential direction of the housing; a tripod having a plurality of trunnions, each trunnion positioned in a corresponding one of the guide grooves of the hollow housing; and a roller assembly disposed on each trunnion, the roller assembly including an outer roller for rollably receiving in the corresponding guide groove; wherein the outer roller includes a convex outer surface, the convex outer surface having a first radius (Rry) seen from a cross section taken in an orthogonal direction relative to a central axis of the outer roller, the convex outer surface having a second radius (Rrx) seen from a cross section taken along the central axis of the outer roller, a center of the second radius (Rrx) displaced outwardly from a center of the

Abstract: A constant velocity joint for a drive system comprises: an outer race having a plurality of guide grooves formed in an axial direction in the inner spherical surface of the outer race; an inner race having a plurality of guide grooves formed in an axial direction in the outer spherical surface of the inner race, said guide grooves of the outer race and the inner race together forming a plurality of ball guide tracks; a plurality of balls disposed in the ball guide tracks; and a cage installed between the inner spherical surface of the outer race and the outer spherical surface of the inner race, said cage having a plurality of windows for retaining the balls therein.

Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity joint includes: an outer race having an inner spherical surface, and a plurality of guide grooves formed in the inner spherical surface of the outer race; an inner race having an outer spherical surface, and a plurality of guide grooves formed in the outer spherical surface of the inner race, said guide grooves of the outer race and said guide grooves of the inner race together forming a plurality of ball guide tracks; a plurality of balls disposed in the ball guide tracks; and a cage having a plurality of windows for retaining the balls therein. The ball guide tracks include first tracks and second tracks with different groove configurations and having dual, multiple, or differentiated center offsets with smaller offsets applied to the tracks having relatively large ball movements and larger offsets applied to the tracks having relatively small ball movements as the joint is articulated for assembling.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint for a drive system of a vehicle comprises: a spider trunnion for transmitting torque between first and second shaft of the drive system, the spider trunnion including a spherical outer surface; and a roller assembly operatively attached on the spider trunnion, the roller assembly including an inner roller, an outer roller, and a plurality of needle rollers engaged between the inner and outer rollers, wherein the inner roller includes a tapered outer surface with a taper angle (?t), and the outer roller includes a tapered inner surface with the same taper angle (?t). The taper angle (?t) is preferably in a range from about 0.23° and to about 1.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint for a drive system comprises: an outer joint member having a plurality of inwardly facing outer ball grooves, the outer ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves, each groove of which having a skewed groove shape with a first skew angle other than zero and alternately arranged in opposite directions relative to an axis of rotation of outer joint member, and a second group of grooves, each groove of which having a skewed groove shape with a second skew angle other than zero and alternately arranged in opposite directions relative to an axis of rotation of outer joint member, the second skew angle less than the first skew angle; and an inner joint member disposed inside the outer joint member and having a plurality of outwardly facing inner ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves, each groove of which having a skewed groove shape with a first skew angle other than zero and alternately arranged in opposite directions relative to an axis of rotation of inner joint m

Abstract: A constant velocity joint for a drive system comprises an outer joint member and an inner joint member each having a plurality of ball grooves in pairs for accommodating balls therein, the ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves, each groove of which having a linear groove shape with no skew angle or a skewed groove shape with a relatively smaller skew angle, and a second group of grooves, each groove of which having a skewed groove shape with a relatively larger or regular skew angle. In addition to having the differentiated skew angles in the first and second groups of grooves, a taper angle is provided to the pair of grooves of at least one or both of the first and second groups of grooves in order to reduce the potential risk of ball locking in the grooves.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint for a drive system comprises: an outer joint member having a plurality of inwardly facing outer ball grooves, the outer ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves and a second group of grooves with composite or non-linear groove pattern; an inner joint member disposed inside the outer joint member and having a plurality of outwardly facing inner ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves and a second group of grooves with composite or non-linear groove pattern, each inner ball groove of the inner joint member being coupled with a corresponding outer ball groove of the outer joint member generally in crossed pair; and a cage having circumferentially displaced cage windows to accommodate a plurality of balls therein. The groove patterns of the ball grooves can be a combination of skewed grooves and non-linear grooves, a combination of non-linear grooves such as a curved groove or a compositely shaped groove, or a combination of linear grooves and non-linear grooves.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes: a hollow housing fixed to a first rotating shaft, an inner face of the housing including a plurality of guide grooves; and a tripod disposed at an end of a second rotating shaft, having a plurality of trunnions each positioned in a corresponding guide groove; and an inner roller mounted to each trunnion, an outer roller mounted on each inner roller. Each trunnion includes an a spherical surface in a circumferential area subjecting to the load, and a cylindrical protrusion protruded from the spherical surface of the trunnion, the cylindrical protrusion having an spherical contact surface at its distal end with a gap between the trunnion and the the respective inner roller, and the inner face of each inner roller includes a pair of guide grooves for receiving the cylindrical protrusions.