Abstract: An insert, a motion-transmitting mechanism and a method of operating a motion-transmitting mechanism. The insert may include an insert body receivable in a bore, the insert body having an outer surface at least partially engageable in a driving relationship with a bore surface, the insert body defining an insert bore operable to receive a shaft in a driving relationship, torque transmission between the shaft and the motion-transmitting member through the insert body causing a portion of the insert body to compress toward the shaft.

Abstract: A universal joint with improved ball lubrication, the improvement wherein each yoke has a ball head at an inward end of the yoke, the centering plate has a tube in which the ball heads of the yokes are slideably received to establish a slideable connection between the ends of the yokes and the centering plate, and the lubricant is supplied from the second passageway to an interior of the tube. A shield substantially encloses the joint in combination with the tractor master shield and has lubrication fitting access holes.

Abstract: A radial detent torque overload clutch has a retaining ring inside the outer housing to retain the hub in the housing and a thrust bearing between the ring and pawls to bear thrust loads that tend to pull the hub out of the housing. The pawls exert driving torque in only one direction so that the hub can be turned manually relative to the housing in the opposite direction by the pawls camming on gently sloped surfaces of the housing.

Abstract: A right angle gear box includes a plurality of channels for carrying lubricating fluids to one or more upper bearing. Fluids in the gear box are naturally pumped through the channels by the rotation of gears in the gear box. The area between the shaft and the external housing is minimized to minimize fluid flow along the shaft encouraging flow through the channels instead. Lubrication of an upper bearing is therefore provided without the need for additional pumps, seals, or lubricants.

Abstract: A universal joint has a ball retainer having a retainer body made of a structurally rigid material and a relatively soft elastomeric seal bonded to the body at an axial end in a recess so as to wipe lubricant back on the ball that is retained by the body. Cavity plates in a housing of the universal joint partially close off lubricant reservoir recesses to retain lubricant in the reservoirs and act as wear plates that stabilize the centering plate orbiting in the recess. Seals can be provided between the retainer and the ball socket, between the centering plate and the wear plates and between the wear plates and the cavity plates. Passageways connect the center cavity of the housing with the ball sockets through an orifice.

Abstract: A guard for covering the union of two rotating drive shafts that are movable in a telescoping manner through a travel distance along a shaft axis includes inner, center and outer guard sleeves disposed about the shafts along the shaft axis. The sleeves are preferably cylindrical and concentric with the shaft axis. The center guard sleeve is radially disposed between the inner and outer guard sleeves in axially overlapping relation. A spring applies an axial force acting on the inner and center guard sleeves to maintain the overlap between the center guard sleeve and both of the inner and outer guard sleeves throughout the travel distance of the shafts. The center and inner guard sleeves are linked by a radial tab slideably retained in a slot in the inner guard sleeve.

Abstract: A coupler assembly for axially coupling a hub onto a shaft includes a latch assembly that prevents a locking collar from latching to the hub in a released or disengaged position when the shaft is in the hub. The collar latch assembly includes a latch ring biased eccentrically about the hub and release members when in a released position so as to engage a surface of the hub. When the shaft is inserted into the hub, the release members move to a radially outward position and center the latch ring on the hub. This allows the collar to slide by spring force to a locked position in which the locking members are moved radially inward to engage recesses in the shaft. The release members remain in the radially outward position as long as the shaft is in the hub, thereby preventing the locking ring from engaging the hub and locking the collar in the released position while the shaft is engaged with the hub.

Abstract: A detent type torque overload clutch has a regressive disc spring that exerts a lower engagement force in the disengaged position than in the engaged position. The force exerted by the spring initially increases to a maximum upon compression from the engagement preload on the spring, and then decreases upon further compression as the disengaged position of the detents is approached. In the disengaged position, the spring moves past flat to a concave shape in which the re-engagement force is small so that re-engagement can only occur at small relative speeds and torques.

Abstract: A torque overload coupler for a driveline allows limited free motion. In one embodiment, torque overload protection is provided by a friction slip clutch and tangs formed at the inner perimeter of a clutch plate fit into spaces between lugs defined on a hub to provide a limited range of free motion. In another embodiment, torque overload is provided by a shear pin and free motion is provided by the shear pin fitting into angular spaces between wings of a relatively rotatable hub.

Abstract: A dry plate torque overload clutch for a driveline has a clutch plate with knurled surfaces that are impressed into the facing surfaces of friction discs to strengthen and support the friction disc material so as to resist being squeezed out from between the clutch plate and the housing and pressure plate on the opposite sides of the friction discs.

Abstract: A coupling for axially fixing a hub on a shaft has locking members slidable in slots of the hub and which are engaged in recesses in the shaft by a collar which holds the locking members in the recesses so as to fix the hub axially on the shaft. In a released position, a shoulder on the collar catches behind a ledge formed on the hub, but only when the shaft is removed from the hub. When the shaft is in the hub, it cams against uncocking members in the form of balls which prevent the collar from being tilted so as to engage the collar shoulder with the ledge on the hub. One embodiment for a larger application has a collar biasing spring radially inside of the collar and axially between the locking members and the shaft entry end of the hub. An embodiment for a smaller application has the spring radially outside of the hub and on the opposite axial side of the locking elements. A shield is provided in this embodiment to enclose the spring chamber.

Abstract: An elastomeric seal for a ball and socket centering apparatus of a double cardan constant velocity universal joint has slits radiating from a hole in which the ball is received which create fingers that flex to wipe against the ball and retain grease in the seal as the joint is rotated through an angle.

Abstract: A torque overload coupler for a driveline allows limited free motion. In one embodiment, torque overload protection is provided by a friction slip clutch and tangs formed at the inner perimeter of a clutch plate fit into spaces between lugs defined on a hub to provide a limited range of free motion. In another embodiment, torque overload is provided by a shear pin and free motion is provided by the shear pin fitting into angular spaces between wings of a relatively rotatable hub.

Abstract: A coupling for axially fixing a hub on a shaft has locking members slidable in slots of the hub and which are engaged in recesses in the shaft by a collar which holds the locking members in the recesses so as to fix the hub axially on the shaft. In a released position, a shoulder on the collar catches behind a ledge formed on the hub, but only when the shaft is removed from the hub. When the shaft is in the hub, it cams against uncocking members in the form of balls which prevent the collar from being tilted so as to engage the collar shoulder with the ledge on the hub.

Abstract: A shear element type torque overload clutch particularly adapted for an agricultural driveline has a compact shape in which the shear elements are arranged to move radially between the engaged and disengaged positions with the shear elements and the driving and driven parts of the clutch received within a cup shaped collar, which retains the shear elements radially. An electromagnetic coil, a permanent magnet or one or more springs may be used to axially shift the collar to the engaged position.

Abstract: A cone style universal joint has two yokes defining two pivot axes perpendicular to one another. Four pins, each coaxial with its corresponding pivot axis, are fixed to the arms of the yokes and are journaled in associated cone bearings radially inside of the arms. The cone bearings are snap fit into four sides of a seal block to form a lubricant-tight seal between the bearing and the seal block. Each cone bearing has a 45.degree. frusto-conical surface which engages the frusto-conical surfaces of the two adjacent cone bearings in line contact. Each cone bearing also has a recessed spherical surface facing inwardly and the four bearings together capture a ball within their recessed surfaces, inside the seal block.

Abstract: A universal joint yoke has a ball and socket connection at one end. The ball is held in the socket with an assembly of a retainer and a hidden spring. The spring is rectangular and is compressed into an external rectangular groove of the retainer. The retainer is then inserted into a recess at the end of the socket. The retainer must be inserted past its final farthest-in position for the spring to expand into an internal rounded groove in the recess to assure a loose connection without any preload on the ball.

Abstract: A lubrication passageway for a universal joint which has a pair of yokes. The yokes are pivotally connected to one another and each has an axis of rotation. An annular groove is formed in an arm of one of the yokes in a plane which is spaced apart from the axis of rotation of the yoke and perpendicular to an imaginary line which is normal to the axis. A first passageway provides lubricant to the side of the groove which is distal from the centering apparatus. A second passageway provides lubricant from the side of the groove proximate to the centering apparatus to the centering apparatus. The annular groove acts as a check valve to prevent lubricant from flowing out of the centering apparatus when the joint is rotating. A sustem for lubricating a centering plate and bearings for the universal joint is also disclosed.

Abstract: A shear joint for torsionally connecting a hub to a yoke for a universal joint includes a shear bolt of a certain length extending through a flange of the hub into a radially disposed T-shaped slot in a flange of the yoke. A nut is inserted into the lateral leg of the T-shaped slot and is tightened onto the bolt by turning the bolt to hold the yoke and hub together axially and torsionally. If a bolt longer than the proper length is used to repair the joint, it abuts the top of the T-shaped slot and prevents holding the yoke and hub together by tightening the bolt, thereby encouraging use of a bolt of the proper size.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint of the type including a pair of outer yokes pivotally connected to a double inner housing and a centering apparatus positioned between the outer yokes is disclosed. The centering apparatus has a centering plate which is restrained axially but free to move radially between the outer yokes. A pin extends from each side of the centering plate and journals a pair of sliders, one on each side of the plate. A cavity is defined at the end of each outer yoke to receive the adjacent slider. Mating spherical surfaces on each slider and in each cavity provide sliding surface contact between the cavity surfaces and the sliders. This arrangement results in a compact constant velocity universal joint with surface contact throughout the centering apparatus. In an especially useful embodiment, a grease reservoir is formed in the double inner housing and grease passageways are formed in the centering plate and pin to provide a dynamic lubrication system throughout the centering apparatus.