Abstract: A fixed constant velocity joint has an outer part whose inner face includes outer running grooves. The outer part accommodates an inner part with inner running grooves. Each inner running groove and outer running groove jointly accommodate a torque transmitting ball. A cage is arranged at a distance from the inner face of the outer part. The cage is guided on an outer spherical face of the inner part. The inner part includes a first guiding face which guides a guiding element with a second guiding face. The guiding element is radially displaceably guided and axially supported on a contact face. The functional play of the joint is determined by the diameter of the balls. It is possible to set the play in such a way since there is no contact between the outer face of the cage and the inner face of the outer part.

Abstract: A tripod joint has an outer joint part with three axially extending recesses and an inner joint part with three radially circumferentially distributed arms, each engaging one of the longitudinal recesses. Roller assemblies, with roller carriers and roller elements, are carried on the arms. A mechanism cooperating with the inner joint part provides a form-fitting resistance to prevent the roller assemblies from axial removal from their respective arm.

Abstract: An upset tube for accommodating impact energy in a motor vehicle, preferably head-on collisions, which may be used both in the bumper bar or propeller shaft of a motor vehicle, has one bead angled with sides with different angular values. The angles enable a predetermination of the region of nominal fracture. After having been sheared off, the upset tube is able to destroy a defined amount of friction energy.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal ball joint for a wheel hub/universal joint unit has a bearing assembly arranged on the wheel hub and tensioned relative thereto by the outer joint part of the universal joint. The joint has an unfastenable connection between the wheel hub and universal joint includes a bolt/nut assembly. The outer joint part and the inner joint part have longitudinally extending ball tracks which are arranged radially opposite one another. The tracks contain torque-transmitting balls which, in turn, are held in one plane in individual windows of a ball cage positioned between the outer joint part and the inner joint part. Upon articulation of the joint, the balls are moved on to the angle-bisecting plane with the outer joint part, at one end, closed by a base part and the inner joint part connected to a shaft.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for a wheel hub/constant velocity universal joint unit which includes a double-row bearing which has a one-piece outer bearing ring to be connected to a wheel carrier. The bearing inner bearing rings are directly formed by the wheel hub, on the one hand, and by the outer part of the constant velocity universal joint, on the other hand. The parts non-rotatingly engage one another in a form-fitting way and are axially tensioned relative to one another, with the wheel hub, on the one hand, and the outer part of the constant velocity universal joint, on the other hand, including form-fitting engaging mechanism, which are adapted to one another and which enable the two parts to be connected in only one single angular position relative to one another.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint of the tripod type has an outer joint part with three axially extending, circumferentially distributed longitudinal recesses with circumferentially distributed opposed tracks. The tracks have surfaces which are grooved so as to have the shape of a circular cylindrical portion. An inner joint part includes three radial circumferentially distributed arms each engaging one of the longitudinal recesses and carrying roller assemblies having roller carriers and roller elements. The roller elements have running faces in the shape of a spherical portion and are axially guided so as to roll on the tracks in the longitudinal recesses of the outer joint part. The roller carriers are guided on the arms so as to be pivotable and longitudinally movable relative to the respective arm axis.

Abstract: A hub attachment assembly has a driveshaft with external splines at its shaft end, a slide-on hub with a shaft bore with corresponding internal splines, and an axial securing mechanism in the form of a resilient snap ring. The snap ring engages opposed recesses in the two sets of splines to couple the two parts together.

Abstract: A convoluted boot made of a resilient material has a first collar with a large diameter and a second collar with a smaller diameter. The collars are positioned on rotatable parts which are rotatable relative to one another in an articulatable and/or axially movable condition. Also, the boot has a guiding portion positioned between at least one first freely deformable and movable fold and at least one second freely deformable and movable fold. The guiding portion is angularly movably held on a guiding member connected to one of the rotatable parts. The guiding member, on its outside, is enveloped and defines a spherical face.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a cage for constant velocity universal joints. The method involves a chipless forming operation. The method improves radial guidance of the balls by using larger window faces which are also produced in a chipless way. In a first step, starting from a circular plate metal blank, a dish with a rim is deep-drawn. At the same time, projections are formed which are circumferentially distributed along the inner and/or outer circumference of the dish in accordance with to be produced windows. The projections are directed inwardly and outwardly, respectively, away from the longitudinal axis. Also, starting from the dish opening, the projections extend over a distance which is greater than the width of the to be formed windows. In a second step, the base of the dish and the rim, either simultaneously or successively, are punched out while leaving parts to form the projections at the outer circumference.

Abstract: A tripod joint has an outer joint part with three circumferentially distributed axis-parallel recesses which form circumferentially opposed tracks. An inner joint part with a star-shaped cross-section and three circumferentially distributed arms engages the recesses of the outer joint part. The arms hold roller assemblies. Each roller assembly includes a roller carrying means and a roller directly riding on the tracks. On each arm, a roller carrying element is held to be axially and angularly movable relative to the arm axis. Also, on each roller carrying element, the roller is axially secured and rotatably supported via a rolling contact bearing. A friction reducing mechanism is provided between the roller carrying elements and rollers. The friction reducing mechanism is effective with respect to the relative rotational movements taking place between the elements and rollers under axial forces.

Abstract: A tripod joint has an outer joint part with three circumferentially distributed, axis-parallel recesses forming circumferentially distributed opposed tracks. An inner joint part has a star-shaped cross-section and three circumferentially distributed arms engaging the recesses in the outer joint part. The arms support roller assemblies. When torque is transmitted with the joint in an extended position, the resultant K.sub.1 of the forces acting from the inner joint part directly on a roller forms a shorter perpendicular distance from the joint axis than the resultant K.sub.2 of the counter forces acting from the outer joint part on the roller, so that, when torque is introduced into the joint, at any angle of articulation of the operating range, the roller is subject to a tilting moment.

Abstract: A tripod joint has an outer joint component having three circumferentially distributed recesses with parallel axes forming circumferentially opposing tracks. An inner joint component has a spider-shape cross-section with three circumferentially distributed arms which engage recesses of the outer joint component. The arms support roller assemblies. Each roller assembly includes a roller-carrier and a roller that runs directly on the tracks. The roller is arranged to slide axially along the arm axis and swivel with angular movement relative to the arm axis. A support is provided between the roller assembly and the outer joint component. The support absorbs tilting moments exerted on the roller assembly about an axis parallel to the joint axis and tilting moments exerted on the roller assembly about an axis perpendicular to, and spaced from, the joint axis.

Abstract: A fixed constant velocity joint has a hollow outer part (1) whose inner face (2), relative to the longitudinal axis (4) of the outer part, is provided with outer running grooves (3). The cavity (5) of the outer part (1) contains an inner part (6) whose outer face (8) is provided with inner running grooves (7) which extend in meridian planes relative to the longitudinal axis (12) of the inner part and which are positioned opposite the outer running grooves (3). In each case, opposed inner running grooves (7) and outer running grooves (3), jointly, accommodate a ball (9) for torque transmitting purposes. The ball (9) is guided in a cage (11) arranged between the inner face (2) of the outer part (1) and the outer face (8) of the inner part (6). The cage (11), via its partial spherical face (18), is guided on an outer spherical face (14) of the inner part (6) facing away from the closed end (15) of the joint.

Abstract: A resilient shaft coupling element made of fiber composite material layers, preferably with the layers of fibers oriented differently, is in the form of a polygonal ring having attachment holes for alternately receiving bolts, pins, etc. for two axially adjoining shaft connectors. The polygonal ring comprises thin straight webs connected by adjoining thick reinforced eyes. The reinforced eye has attachment holes centered radially inwardly from the intersections of the longitudinal center axes of the straight webs in the reinforced eye adjoining the webs.

Abstract: A rolling or convoluted boot for a constant velocity universal joint has at least one pressure balancing aperture (19, 19a) located in a pressure balancing region (13, 13a). When the shaft (12) is in a stationary position, the pressure balancing region (13) tightly adjoining the shaft (12), during shaft rotation, the pressure balancing region radially lifts off the shaft as a function of the speed or pressure differential. Thus, the boot balances pressure between the joint space and the surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: A driveshaft for a motor vehicle has an approximately constant wall thickness and a changing outer diameter which extends analogously to the amplitude of the second basic vibration of the natural bending frequency. In this way it is possible to achieve a distribution of cross-sectional area which is functionally optimized and meets the respective strength requirements. At the same time, torsional stiffness values may be set as required and natural resonance frequency values may be varied. With help of this design it is possible to move the natural resonance frequency of the tubular shaft into a speed range of minimum external excitation energy.

Abstract: A rotary ball joint, especially for angularly movable driveshafts for motor vehicles, has an outer joint member (11) with ball tracks (18) uniformly distributed on its inner circumference and an inner joint member (12) non-rotatingly connected to the outer joint member (11). The inner joint member (12) includes ball sockets (13) which correspond to the ball tracks of the outer joint members (11). The ball sockets comprise spherical inner faces and, via the balls (14) supported therein, establish a form-fitting connection between the inner joint member (12) and the outer joint member (11). A plurality of bearing balls (15) are positioned in the sockets to provide a bearing surface for the force-transmitting balls (14). In the inner joint member, the force-transmitting balls (14) are guided in the ball sockets (13) and in the outer joint member they are guided in the ball tracks (18).

Abstract: A universal joint of the tripod type comprising an outer joint member (1) in the form of a sleeve with three internal axis-parallel recesses (2) each with circumferentially opposed track pairs (3, 4), an inner joint member (7) with three arms (8) extending into the recesses, intermediate elements (12) pivotally supported on the arms, and rollers (15) guided in the tracks in the recesses and running on rolling members (14) carried by the intermediate elements, wherein the arms of the inner joint member have part-spherical surfaces (10, 11) facing the tracks in the outer joint member, the intermediate elements are non-rotatably held on the arms and have part-spherical internal surfaces engaging the part-spherical surfaces of the arms, and the rollers are displaceable radially of the joint on the rolling members carried by the intermediate elements as well as being rotatable thereabout.

Abstract: A plunging constant velocity ratio universal joint comprising an outer joint member (1) with three circumferentially spaced pairs of tracks (19, 20) in its interior, an inner joint member (3) with outwardly extending pairs of limbs (17, 18) with opposed part-cylindrical surfaces (17a, 18a), and three intermediate members each with a part-spherical portion (2) received between the surfaces (17a, 18a) of the limbs, and projections (10, 11) extending in opposite directions therefrom. Each projection has a pair of oppositely disposed tracks (13, 14, 15, 16) facing the tracks in the outer joint member, at least two rolling members (5, 6, 7, 8) engaging in the facing tracks of the projections and outer joint member, and respective cage (4) for constraining the rolling members of each intermediate member relative to one another.

Abstract: A non-plunging constant velocity ratio universal joint comprising outer and inner joint members (1, 2) with groove pairs (7, 8) in meridian planes and a cage (13) having apertures wherein torque-transmitting balls (9) are received on in each facing pair of grooves, has groove center lines which comprise portions with centers of curvature (M.sub.ag, M.sub.ak, M.sub.ig, M.sub.ik) which, with the joint in the aligned position, are disposed symmetrically relative to each other on opposite sides of the joint center plane (E.sub.K), and in the case of which the center lines of the grooves each comprise a portion with a narrower curvature on that side of the ball center plane (E.sub.K) to which the respective offset line (O.sub.A, O.sub.B) of the joint member points, as well as a portion with a wider curvature on the side of the ball center plane (E.sub.K) positioned opposite the respective offset line of the joint member.