Abstract: A wobble joint particularly useful for supporting a wash plate in a wash basket of an automatic washing appliance includes inner and outer races formed with mating part-spherical surfaces having common centers of curvature about a longitudinal axis of the joint. Anti-rotation structure acts between the inner and outer races to prevent relative rotation of the races about the longitudinal axis, and cooperates with the part-spherical surfaces to restrict the races to two degrees of tilting movement about respective tilt axes disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and to one another, such that one of the races is thereby supported for wobbling movement relative to the other of the races. In a washing appliance application, the wash plate is fixed to the outer race and wobbles relative to the inner race.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes outer and inner races with mating part-spherical surfaces in which a single functional set of ball grooves are formed bearing a single torque-transmitting ball which is urged under an applied torque load toward one axial end of the joint. A retainer is carried by one of the two races or the shaft to which they are connected and acts on the ball to maintain the ball within the grooves during all angles of the joint.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes outer and inner races with mating part-spherical surfaces in which a single functional set of ball grooves are formed bearing a single torque-transmitting ball which is urged under an applied torque load toward one axial end of the joint. A retainer is carried by one of the two races or the shafts to which they are connected and acts on the ball to maintain the ball within the grooves during all angles of the joint.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint assembly comprises outer and inner joint members having engaging contact surfaces which support the joint for articulation about a common center point. The joint members have ball grooves which diverge inwardly of the joint and whose inner and outer ball groove surfaces are axially offset with respect to the center point for urging the balls axially inwardly. A ball retainer is provided within the outer joint member. The ball retainer is spring-biased into engagement with an end of the inner joint member and pivots about the center point of the joint to engage and hold the balls within the ball grooves, maintaining them in a common plane.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes a rotatable wheel hub for mounting a wheel of a vehicle which serves as the outer race of the joint. The hub is formed with a through bore that includes a part spherical surface at an inboard end of the hub. An inner joint is installed through the open outboard end and is formed with a plurality of ball grooves whose centers are offset with respect to the center of the joint, forcing balls within the grooves toward the installation end of the hub. A ball retainer device is disposed in the wheel hub bore to retain the balls and seal the joint.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint assembly comprises outer and inner joint members having engaging contact surfaces which support the joint for articulation about a common center point. The joint members have ball grooves which diverge inwardly of the joint and whose inner and outer ball groove surfaces are axially offset with respect to the center point for urging the balls axially inwardly. A ball retainer is provided within the outer joint member. The ball retainer is spring-biased into engagement with an end of the inner joint member and pivots about the center point of the joint to engage and hold the balls within the ball grooves, maintaining them in a common plane.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes a rotatable wheel hub for mounting a wheel of a vehicle which serves as the outer race of the joint. The hub is formed with a through bore that includes a part spherical surface at an inboard end of the hub. An inner joint is installed through the open outboard end and is formed with a plurality of ball grooves whose centers are offset with respect to the center of the joint, forcing balls within the grooves toward the installation end of the hub. A ball retainer device is disposed in the wheel hub bore to retain the balls and seal the joint.

Abstract: A compact constant velocity joint includes outer and inner joint members having surfaces to provide articulation of the joint. The surfaces are formed with aligned grooves to receive torque-transmitting balls. A ball retainer is provided axially adjacent the balls, adjacent an open end of the outer joint member to retain the balls in the grooves during operation. The ball retainer articulates on the same center point as that of the outer and inner joint members.

Abstract: A wobble joint for use in automatic washing appliances and the like includes inner, outer and intermediate joint members which have nesting curved sliding surfaces that enable the joint members to pivot relative to one another. The joint has motion limiting features acting between the intermediate joint member and each of the inner and outer joint members to restrict relative movement between the outer joint member and the intermediate joint member to pivotal movement within a first plane and to restrict relative movement of the intermediate member and inner joint member to pivotal movement within a second plane transverse to the first plane. The motion limiting features comprise first and second arcuate grooves extending parallel to the first and second planes and retainers captured in the grooves and relatively moveable therealong.

Abstract: A wobble joint particularly useful for supporting a wash plate in a wash basket of an automatic washing appliance includes inner and outer races formed with mating part-spherical surfaces having common centers of curvature about a longitudinal axis of the joint. Anti-rotation structure acts between the inner and outer races to prevent relative rotation of the races about the longitudinal axis, and cooperates with the part-spherical surfaces to restrict the races to two degrees of tilting movement about respective tilt axes disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and to one another, such that one of the races is thereby supported for wobbling movement relative to the other of the races. In a washing appliance application, the wash plate is fixed to the outer race and wobbles relative to the inner race.

Abstract: A wobble joint for use in automatic washing appliances and the like includes inner, outer and intermediate joint members which have nesting curved sliding surfaces that enable the joint members to pivot relative to one another. The joint has motion limiting features acting between the intermediate joint member and each of the inner and outer joint members to restrict relative movement between the outer joint member and the intermediate joint member to pivotal movement within a first plane and to restrict relative movement of the intermediate member and inner joint member to pivotal movement within a second plane transverse to the first plane. The motion limiting features comprise first and second arcuate grooves extending parallel to the first and second planes and retainers captured in the grooves and relatively moveable therealong.

Abstract: A compact constant velocity joint includes outer and inner joint members having surfaces to provide articulation of the joint. The surfaces are formed with aligned grooves to receive torque-transmitting balls. A ball retainer is provided axially adjacent the balls, adjacent an open end of the outer joint member to retain the balls in the grooves during operation. The ball retainer articulates on the same center point as that of the outer and inner joint members.