Abstract: A stronger screwdriver blade is disclosed which is particularly effective for driving round-headed screws. The screwdriver blade has an elongate shank with a tapered end extending from the shank and terminating in a tip. The tip has a straight edge perpendicular to the shank and has a predetermined length and thickness, with side edges extending back toward the shank from ends of the end edge. The tip has substantially parallel, planar sides extending back toward the shank from the end edge to inner edges which, at the side edges, are spaced a distance from the end edge which is approximately equal to the thickness of the end edge. The inner edges are curved with the planar sides being from one and one-half to three and one-half times as wide at central portions as at end portions. From the inner edges, opposite side surfaces of the tapered end extend abruptly outwardly in a direction toward the shank so that the blade tip is thicker at high stress areas thereof.

Abstract: A screwdriver blade is provided which has greater resistance to failure. The screwdriver blade includes an elongate shank with a tapered end extending from the shank and terminating in a tip. The tip has a straight edge perpendicular to the shank and is of a predetermined thickness, with parallel, planar sides extending back from the edge a distance which is approximately equal to the thickness of the edge. Opposite surfaces of the blade end then extend abruptly outwardly in a direction toward the shank, each at an angle of approximately fifteen degrees to an axis of the blade. An analysis has indicated that the greatest stress in a screwdriver blade occurs at a predetermined distance back from the straight edge of the blade. The new blade is thicker and stronger at the areas where the greatest stress occurs.

Abstract: A double Cardan universal joint is provided with improved centering members. One end yoke of the joint has circular ridges or teeth and a central tooth facing the other end yoke with the center line of the teeth being coaxial with the axis of rotation of the one yoke. The other end yoke has circular ridges or teeth and a central recess facing the one end yoke with the center line of those teeth and recess being coaxial with the axis of rotation of that yoke. The teeth are positioned so that one tooth extends between two teeth of the other yoke for any position of the end yokes and the drive and driven members or shafts to which they are attached. The sets of teeth are in patterns of spherical segments so that any longitudinal cross section taken centrally through the teeth has the same general appearance as a section gear through a segment. In a preferred form, the tooth profile or shape in transverse section is such that intermediate portions are thicker than both inner and outer end portions.

Abstract: A universal joint with lubricating means is provided. Heretofore, universal joints with lubricating provisions have had central lubricating fittings in the cross, with the fittings communicating with the bearing cups through lubricating passages in the cross body and trunnions. The lubricating passages reduce the cross section of the trunnions which have broken at the base in certain heavy duty applications. The new universal joint has lubricant fittings in the bearing cups and eliminates the lubricating passages in the cross. Each bearing cup has an opening with an outer surface contoured to receive the nozzle of a lubricating gun or tool. A one-way valve is located at the inner surface of the bearing cup which allows lubricant to enter the cup through the opening and keeps out contaminants.

Abstract: A universal joint is provided and particularly a universal joint of the constant velocity type. The joint is particularly intended for use in drive trains of front wheel drive vehicles. The universal joint includes a pair of members attachable to each of two shafts to be joined, with a curved elongate bridging element connecting the two members. The bridging element extends in a curve from 180.degree. up to several turns in progressing from one of the members to the other. The bridging element is designed to have high resistance to bending in both a direction parallel to and a direction perpendicular to axes of the two connected shafts, when they are aligned. At the same time, the bridging element is designed to have low resistance in torsion or to twisting. These characteristics enable the bridging element to transmit torque from one shaft to the other and yet enable the bridging element to twist or flex so as to accommodate angular misalignment between the two shafts.

Abstract: A universal joint is provided for transmitting torque from one shaft to another, and more specifically for use with shafts where angular misalignment is not excessive. Basically, the universal joint has at least two members connected to two shafts which tend to be angularly misaligned, with each member having at least two extremities extending transversely outwardly beyond the corresponding shaft. The extremities have projections extending toward one another and flexible bridging strips are connected between the projections of the members, the strips lying substantially in a plane which is parallel to the planes in which the members rotate when the shafts are aligned. The flexible strips comprise multiplicities of substantially parallel fibers extending the lengths of the strips and are effective in tension to transmit torque from one of the shafts to the other.

Abstract: A universal joint is provided, and more specifically a constant-velocity type of universal joint particularly for use in a drive train of a front wheel drive vehicle. The universal joint resembles a flexible bellows-type of joint as viewed from the side in elevation but is made primarily of elongate elements which are placed in tension to transmit torque from one shaft to another. The body of the universal joint has at least two large diameter portions and a smaller diameter portion therebetween with the elongate element extending diagonally in both directions between the peripheries of the large diameter portions to provide torque transmittal in both directions. The universal joint preferably is produced from a continuous flexible element which is moved transversely or back and forth beyond two circular core members which are positioned coaxially and spaced apart a distance equal to that of the large diameter portions of the universal joint.