Abstract: A device for fitting a protective boot to a shaft member particularly in a universal joint wherein an expanding device is provided for expanding the diameter of a first collar of the boot so that a shaft upon which the boot is to be mounted may be inserted into the assembly device and the boot. A stripping device cooperates with the expanding device and is axially movable relative thereto so that the stripping device will leave a receiving region of the expanding device radially freely accessible in order to engage the first collar of the boot thereon. After the shaft member has been positioned with the first collar of the boot extending thereabout, the stripping device is moved relative to the expanding device so that the collar may be slipped off the expanding device and onto a recess in the shaft upon which it is to be mounted. The invention is particularly suitable for use in automated assembly of propeller shafts.

Abstract: A rotary drive element for damping torsional vibration comprises an outer part (1) and an inner part (2) defining an annular space therebetween, containing a plurality of interleaved plates and a viscous fluid. The plates comprise a set of first plates (3) having internal teeth (6') which engage teeth (8) on the inner part (2) of the element substantially without circumferential clearance, and outer teeth (5) which engage teeth (7) in the outer part (1) with a circumferential clearance. The second set of plates has inner teeth which engage the teeth of the inner part with a circumferential clearance, and outer teeth which engage the teeth in the outer part (1) without a circumferential clearance. Thus the inner and outer parts are able to move angularly relative to one another according to the circumferential teeth clearances, which movement is damped by the viscous fluid between the plates. The drive element may be incorporated in a gear wheel for a vehicle transmission, or a clutch driven plate.

Abstract: A device for fitting a protective boot to a shaft member particularly in a universal joint wherein an expanding device is provided for expanding the diameter of a first collar of the boot so that a shaft upon which the boot is to be mounted may be inserted into the assembly device and the boot. A stripping device cooperates with the expanding device and is axially movable relative thereto so that the stripping device will leave a receiving region of the expanding device radially freely accessible in order to engage the first collar of the boot thereon. After the shaft member has been positioned with the first collar of the boot extending thereabout, the stripping device is moved relative to the expanding device so that the collar may be slipped off the expanding device and onto a recess in the shaft upon which it is to be mounted. The invention is particularly suitable for use in automated assembly of propeller shafts.

Abstract: A drive shaft of hollow form and of fibre-reinforced plastics material, has an end provided with an integral radially inwardly extending flange and one or more connecting members for effecting torque transmission with such flange. The flange may have a single central bush or the like, or a number of circumferentially distributed bushes, bolts or pins for torque transmission. Further a method of manufacturing such a drive shaft by fibre winding includes chordal winding of fibres to provide the flange, and a device for forming the flange during the winding process.

Abstract: A joint between a pair of longitudinal members, one of which is formed of fiber-reinforced plastic having fibers wound at a fiber angle .alpha. taken relative to a longitudinal angle of the member, and the other of which is made of metal, e.g., steel. The plastic member is formed with an integral flange extending at a flange angle .beta. and the other member is formed with a flange having a frustoconical surface in abutment with the flange of the plastic member. The relationship .beta..ltoreq..alpha. is maintained to ensure that the flange on the plastic member is wound on a geodetic plane thereby becoming nonslip.

Abstract: A power transmitting shaft for a torque transmission assembly is formed with a tubular cross section having bores arranged radially in the tube wall at at least one tube end and with bushes inserted into the bores. The bushes are provided with recesses for receiving joint journals or the like whose longitudinal axis is arranged radially in the tube for the purpose of introducing a torque, with tangential and radial forces occurring at the transmitting face of the tube wall. The bushes are designed as a truncated cone which is tapered towards the tube interior and with a cone angle .alpha. selected to be such that the radial component of the forces to be transmitted at the transmitting face is minimized or eliminated.

Abstract: A torque transmitting coupling assembly including a driving member and a power takeoff member, each of which have an equal plurality of claws thereon with movable transmission members interposed between the claws, the claws having lateral surfaces which define therebetween spaces which narrow radially, with the transmission members being held in these spaces by at least one endless flexible traction member which contacts the transmission members on the sides thereof remote from the narrowed portions of the spaces between the claws. The coupling compensates for radial, axial and possibly, also angular offsetting of shafts which are placed in torque transmitting engagement by the assembly.

Abstract: A joint which includes a barrel (1) in which are pivotally mounted four channels (3) defining rolling tracks (5) having a circular cross-sectional shape, adjacent channels defining mutually engaged teeth (7). Received in these rolling tracks are rollers (12) of spherical shape rotatively and slidably mounted on trunnions (11) connected to a shaft (8). Such a joint has, for a given overall size, a torque-transmitting capacity much higher than that of a universal joint and can slide very freely while transmitting torque. It is moreover homokinetic, silent and of relatively low constructional cost, and has application in particular to motor vehicle transmissions.

Abstract: A control clutch mechanism embodying a first aspect of the invention has an inner clutch part and an outer clutch part defining an annular space therebetween, with a viscous control unit and a frictional clutch unit being provided which consist of two sets of plates arranged in the annular space, each set of plates including plates alternately nonrotatively connected with one of the clutch parts, respectively. An axially movable annular piston is slidingly arranged in fluid-tight engagement between the viscous control unit and the frictional clutch unit and a pressure plate is located between the annular piston and the frictional clutch unit. A first stop is provided for the annular piston and a first spring acts between the piston and the pressure plate.

Abstract: A joint assembly for effecting an angularly movable torque transmitting connection between a driving and a driven member wherein at least three coupling members are connected to one of the driving and driven members for pivotal motion relative thereto about axes extending radially from the one member, wherein a ball and socket joint is interposed between the two members and wherein at least three circumferentially spaced pins arranged to extend radially from the other member are engaged with the coupling members to effect a torque transmitting connection between the driving and driven members while enabling angular displacement therebetween.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for a universal joint formed as an annular disc made of resilient material extending in sealing engagement between an inner joint member or a shaft part thereof and an outer joint member with the annular disc being in sealed engagement with the outer joint member and having a central bore formed with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the shaft of the inner joint member extending therethrough in order to effect sealing engagement with the shaft, the central bore being surrounded by a reinforcing annular portion which is dimensioned with an enlarged thickness for reinforcing purposes thereby to enable large angles of articulation to be endured even when the central bore is under extreme loads thereby to provide a rugged construction for the sealing assembly.

Abstract: A wheel assembly for a motor vehicle including a bearing assembly rotatably mounting a wheel and a universal joint for driving the wheel. An inner bearing ring of the wheel assembly is fitted in rotative driving engagement with the outer joint member of the universal joint and an outer circumferential portion of the inner bearing ring is formed with a configuration generally corresponding with the configuration of an inner contour of the outer joint member to establish a form-fitted rotative driving connection between the universal joint and the bearing assembly. A securing ring is provided for maintaining the inner bearing ring and the outer joint member axially fixed relative to each other and the fitted connection is formed with interfitting recesses and projections.

Abstract: A shaft coupling assembly having a first and a second internal fluid chamber system, each containing therein a fluid medium which is placed under pressure when torque is transmitted through the coupling assembly, each of the fluid chamber systems including a plurality of chambers and a plurality of channels which converge from a common point placing the channels in flow communication with each other and which interconnect the plurality of chambers of each of the systems. The channels of the first and the second systems are axially offset relative to each other and each of the systems is designed to create a throttling effect offering resistance to flow of the fluid medium within each of the systems. The coupling assembly enables compensation for axial, radial, angular and/or torsional shaft offset and, additionally, makes it possible to damp the vibrations in an axial, radial, angular and torsional direction and to adjust the stiffness of the coupling assembly.

Abstract: A universal joint wherein torque-transmitting balls are engaged between complementary grooves formed in an inner and outer joint member, with the balls being supported by a supporting element which is arranged in a jaw-like opening formed on one side of the universal joint through which the balls may be inserted in operative engagement within the joint. The invention is directed toward the curvature of the grooves which are arranged in such a way that a connecting line extending between the center of the radius of curvature of the grooves and the center of the torque-transmitting balls forms an angle relative to the central axis of rotation of the joint which is smaller than or equal to 85.degree., the angle being taken in accordance with the arcsine of the projection of the center of the radius of curvature of the grooves and the ball center onto a vertical plane extending perpendicularly relative to the axis of rotation of the joint, divided by the length of the radius of curvature.

Abstract: A bearing assembly particularly for the wheel of a motor vehicle wherein a wheel hub and a part of a universal joint are arranged in torque-transmitting engagement, the assembly including an inner race member formed by at least one of the wheel hub and the part of the universal joint in torque-transmitting engagement therewith and an outer race member adapted to be connected with the wheel carrier of the motor vehicle. First and second inner bearing tracks are formed in the inner race member and first and second outer bearing tracks are formed in the outer race member. A first and a second plurality of rolling elements are disposed in operative load-bearing engagement between the first inner and outer bearing tracks and the second inner and outer bearing tracks, respectively, and the outer race member is formed in two separate parts, one part having the first outer bearing track therein and the other part having the second outer bearing track therein.

Abstract: In a torque transmitting assembly including a driven member and a driving member, one having teeth thereon extending parallel to the rotational axis and the other having teeth thereon extending obliquely to the rotational axis, an annular member is interposed which also has teeth which are parallel to the rotational axis and oblique to the rotational axis for engaging with the corresponding teeth of the driving and driven members in order to place them in torque transmitting engagement with each other. The annular member is formed from a deformable metallic material and the obliquely extending teeth extend relative to the parallel teeth at an angle of between 15.degree. and 45.degree..

Abstract: A bearing assembly for a wheel hub driven from a universal joint including an outer race attached to the wheel carrier of a motor vehicle having first and second outer bearing tracks thereon and an inner race having first and second inner bearing tracks thereon, the first bearing tracks being formed by a tubular projection of the universal joint and the second bearing tracks being formed by a tubular projection of the wheel hub. First and second bearing elements are interposed respectively betwen the first inner and outer tracks and the second inner and outer tracks and a sleeve extending within inner juxtaposed surfaces formed by the first and second tubular projections operates to place the universal joint in torque-transmitting engagement with the wheel hub and to restrain the tubular projections against relative axial displacement.

Abstract: A universal joint assembly including a universally jointed transmission shaft formed with a tubular portion and made of fiber reinforced plastic material wherein a pair of opposed axially extending arms are provided on the shaft beyond the tubular portion, the arms being provided with bores which support therein opposed trunnions of a cross member of the universal joint, the arms being connected in supporting engagement by a reinforcing member which extends diametrically therebetween, the reinforcing member comprising a generally U-shaped bracket having limbs which engage the arm portions and a body portion extending between the limbs.

Abstract: A wheel hub assembly includes an internally ventilated brake disc. The brake disc is mounted on a flange-like extension of the inner bearing ring of the assembly. Slots are formed in the flange-like extension and the brake disc acts as a cover over the slots forming cooling channels extending radially outwardly in the wheel hub assembly to the cooling apertures in the radially outer part of the brake disc. A heat insulated cover disc can be positioned between the brake disc and the slots in the flange-like extension.

Abstract: A drive shaft assembly particulary suited for power transmission in motor vehicles wherein a drive shaft has a universal joint connected to at least one end thereof with a sealing boot attached in sealing engagement between the outer joint member of the universal joint and the drive shaft. The invention is particularly directed to the provision of an elastomeric cover on the outer surface of the drive shaft, the elastomeric cover extending along the shaft from the exterior of the sealing boot to within the region enclosed by the boot in order to provide an arrangement which is resistant to damage, corrosion, and wear and which may be conveniently fitted and assembled. The elastomeric cover may be provided with internal ribs to establish ventilation channels for the shaft assembly.