Abstract: A shaft assembly comprises a tubular shaft and a joint, wherein at least a portion of the joint is disposed within the tubular shaft. The present invention may also include a shaft assembly comprising a shaft and a constant velocity joint wherein the constant velocity joint is integrated into the shaft by inserting at least a portion of the constant velocity joint into the shaft. In one method of the invention, the method comprises the steps of integrating a constant velocity joint into a propeller shaft by inserting at least a portion of the constant velocity joint into the propeller shaft.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes an outer race and an inner race arranged within the outer race. The joint includes a cage arranged between the outer race and inner race and a rolling element arranged between the outer race and inner race. The cage includes relatively flat portions on an outer face the cage surrounding window areas that hold the rolling elements in place.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint for use in a prop shaft of an automotive vehicle includes an outer race. The constant velocity joint also includes an inner race arranged within the outer race and a rolling element arranged between the outer race and inner race. A cage is arranged between the outer race and inner race such that the cage positions the rolling element therebetween. The constant velocity joint also includes a flange contacting the outer race. Torque is transmitted through the use of a face spline. A collar contacts the flange and outer race and secures the flange and outer race to one another in an axial direction.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint for use in a prop shaft of an automotive vehicle includes an outer race. The constant velocity joint also includes an inner race arranged within the outer race and a rolling element arranged between the outer race and the inner race. A cage is arranged between the outer race and the inner race such that the cage positions the rolling element therebetween. The constant velocity joint also includes a flange contacting the outer race. A plurality of sleeves are arranged between the constant velocity joint outer race and the flange. A plurality of fasteners will secure the outer race to the flange.

Abstract: An assembly including an outer race of a constant velocity joint and part of a vehicle wheel bearing sealed by a sealing member. The outer race has a first bore defining a neck portion having an interior surface including an annular wall. The wheel bearing part has a second bore with an open end and a flange. The second bore defines a central passage and the flange engages the interior surface of the neck portion. The engaged portion is sealed by a sealing member including a body sealingly engaging the central passage and a diaphragm attached to the body sealingly engaging the annular wall. In one aspect of the invention, the sealing member body includes a cylindrical body having an annular groove formed therein containing a seal for sealingly engaging the central passage. In another aspect of the invention, the interior surface includes an annular ridge and the diaphragm includes a curved portion engaging the annular wall and the annular ridge.

Abstract: An assembly including an outer race of a constant velocity joint and part of a vehicle wheel bearing. The outer race has a first bore and an internal groove in the bore, and the wheel bearing part has a second bore with an open end, an external groove, and a slot extending radially from the second bore between an inner end open to the second bore and an outer end at an external surface of the bearing part, the slot extending axially between the external groove and the open end. The wheel bearing part and the outer race are held in an assembled position by a spring ring engaged in the internal groove and the external groove. The spring ring includes, adjacent its ends, first and second arms which extend generally radially inward through the slot. The first arm is substantially longer than the second arm and inclined such that the first arm extends approximately through a center axis of the spring ring. A sealing element is also included to seal the second bore.

Abstract: An assembly including an outer race of a constant velocity joint and part of a vehicle wheel bearing. The outer race has a first bore and an internal groove in the bore, and the wheel bearing part has a second bore with an open end, an external groove, and a slot extending radially from the second bore between an inner end open to the second bore and an outer end at an external surface of the bearing part, the slot extending axially between the external groove and the open end. The wheel bearing part and the outer race are held in an assembled position by a spring ring engaged in the internal groove and the external groove. The spring ring includes, adjacent its ends, first and second arms which extend generally radially inward through the slot. The first arm is substantially longer than the second arm and inclined such that the first arm extends approximately through a center axis of the spring ring. A sealing element is also included to seal the second bore.

Abstract: An assembly including an outer race of a constant velocity joint and part of a vehicle wheel bearing sealed by a sealing member. The outer race has a first bore defining a neck portion having an interior surface including an annular wall. The wheel bearing part has a second bore with an open end and a flange. The second bore defines a central passage and the flange engages the interior surface of the neck portion. The engaged portion is sealed by a sealing member including a body sealingly engaging the central passage and a diaphragm attached to the body sealingly engaging the annular wall. In one aspect of the invention, the sealing member body includes a cylindrical body having an annular groove formed therein containing a seal for sealingly engaging the central passage. In another aspect of the invention, the interior surface includes an annular ridge and the diaphragm includes a curved portion engaging the annular wall and the annular ridge.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint has an encapsulated spring to aid in the resistance to centrifugal forces generated during high speed rotation. The encapsulated spring has first and second mating housing portions and a coil spring biasing the housing portions with respect to one another and the interconnecting shaft with respect to the joint.

Abstract: A tripod joint provides unlimited rolling plunge capabilities by using a chain-linked plurality of roller bearings. The roller bearings travel in an endless path around the inner member continuously providing plunging movement of the outer member with respect to the inner member. The angular travel of the joint is accommodated by angular movement of the inner member with respect to an inner roller. This insures that the plurality of roller bearings will maintain a rolling movement with respect to the outer member even when the joint is operated at an angle.

Abstract: A boot for a high speed constant velocity universal joint having an articulation accommodating portion attached to the outer joint member of the universal joint and a contiguous linear displacement accommodating portion having its end connected to the inner joint member shaft. The junction between the articulation and linear displacement accommodating portions is reinforced to form a boot stabilizer at a point intermediate its opposite ends which inhibits eccentric spinning of the boot at high rotational speeds. The articulation accommodating portion has a first plurality of annular convolutes, the diameters of which diminish as a function of their displacement from the outer joint member. The linear displacement accommodating portion has a second plurality of annular convolutes having substantially equal diameters.

Abstract: A tripod constant velocity universal joint having an annular outer member, an inner member and three multiple component rollers. The interior surface of the outer member has three longitudinal lobes forming opposing pairs of parallel longitudinal guideways which are engaged by the multiple component rollers. The inner member is centrally positioned within the outer member and has three trunnions extending radially into the three longitudinal lobes. A multiple component roller is pivotally attached to each of the trunnions. Each multiple component roller has oppositely disposed pairs of elongated rollers, each of which engages an adjacent guideway that corresponds to its trunnion. The axis of rotation of the elongated rollers is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent guideway. Each elongated roller is mounted such that it can be axially displaced along its axis of rotation.

Abstract: A clamping system for clamping a member onto a cylindrically-shaped surface. The member to be clamped has a first annular groove provided in the region which is to be clamped and a second annular groove provided in the bottom of the first annular groove. A clamping band has a body portion received in the first annular groove, a tongue received in the second annular groove, hooks for connecting the opposite ends of the body portion to each other to lock the clamping band in the first and second annular grooves, and a plastically deformable ear to tighten the clamping band about the member. In a preferred embodiment, the tongue is offset from the body portion of the clamping band.

Abstract: A clamping device for clamping a hose, boot or the like to a cylindrical-shaped structure is disclosed. The clamping device is a clamping band having a body portion, an underlap end having a pair of hooks adjacent thereto, an overlap end having a pair of shoulders adjacent thereto for engaging the pair of hooks, and a clasp for binding the overlapped portion of the clamping hand adjacent the overlap end. The overlap end is elevated above the body portion of the clamping band so as to accommodate the underlap end therebelow. As a result, no gap beneath the clamping band is formed where the overlap end extends radially outward to overlap the underlap end. Further, the profile of the clamping band is limited to four thicknesses of the body portion outside the perimeter of the hose or boot.

Abstract: An anti-shudder tripod constant velocity universal joint having an outer member and an inner member. The outer member has an internal cavity having three lobes, each of which has a pair of face-to-face longitudinal guideways for a roller. The inner member has three radially extending trunnions which individually extend into a respective one of the three lobes. The rollers are a multiple component roller having an inner race member pivotably attached to each trunnion by mating spherical surfaces. A roller member is rotatably attached to each inner race member by a plurality of roller bearings disposed therebetween. The roller member is free to move axially with respect to the inner race member along the roller bearings when the inner member is angularly disposed relative to the outer member to keep the rollers in the guideways.