Abstract: The inner peripheral wall of the sleeve has four longitudinal grooves each disposed between two adjacent races. The driver has the form of a cross with four arms disposed radially at right angles to one another and each serving as a pivot shaft for a corresponding equalizing lever. Each bipod has four radial lugs disposed at 45.degree. to the axis of the rollers carried by said bipod, and each lug has on its surface facing the driver a slot designed to receive an associated end of the corresponding equalizing lever.

Abstract: A system for removably and mechanically locking a sleeve on a driveshaft includes at least one peripheral groove comprising a bearing face on the driveshaft. At least one peripheral slot on the sleeve forms a chamber in the internal peripheral wall of the sleeve and includes a bearing face. At least one wedge-forming element can move more or less radially within the chamber between a position retracted inside the housing to allow the shaft to be slipped into the sleeve, and a position partially protruding from said chamber in which said element is designed to bear on the bearing face of the groove and on the bearing face of the chamber 34. Means for moving the movable wedge-forming element move the wedge-forming element radially inward, from outside the sleeve, in order to lock the sleeve on the shaft.

Abstract: The four trunnions (11) transmit the rotation of the shaft (8) to the body (1) through the intermediately of four tracks (3) which oscillate by rolling without sliding on the inner wall of the body (1). In addition, each track (3) is coupled angularly with the two adjacent tracks by mating teeth (7) so that any inclination of one track produces a contrary inclination of the two adjacent tracks and consequently an inclination in the same direction of the opposite track. The radii (a, b) according to which the tracks roll against the inner wall of the body and the position of the center of gravity (G) of the tracks are such that the centrifugal force (F) returns the tracks into neutral position. The inherent oscillation frequency of the tracks under the effect of this return is equal to twice the speed of rotation of the joint.

Abstract: A joint comprises a tripod equipped with three spherical pivots, and a barrel with six cylindrical inner tracks. Intermediate elements comprise a cylindrical surface complementary with the spherical pivot and a surface of circular profile complementary with the circular profile of the tracks. The intermediate elements are blocks, the surface of circular profile of which is a cylindrical surface permanently bearing slidably in the tracks. The joint enables reducing the contact pressures, increasing the telescopic stroke, simplifying the form of the intermediate elements and making it possible to produce them from a material of moderate hardness.

Abstract: A barrel to be formed has internal tracks of circular profile which abut ridges (4). The process starts with a sheet-metal blank which is arranged around an inner shaping mandrel equipped with protuberances integral or rotatably attached and defining shaping surfaces for the tracks. Three dies are displaced radially and have a projection which initiates a fold and which than forces this fold between the protuberances in order to produce the ridge as a result of a flow of material towards this region, which will undergo a very high load during operation.

Abstract: A roller segment (14) is held for the purpose of machining a spherical internal bearing surface (10). Its toric external surfaces (18) is supported against two fixed seats (17), immobilized with respect to rotation about an axis (VV') passing through the centers (c) of the profiles of the fixed seats (17) by a third seat (19), which is radially movable. Claws (21) hold the segment against the seats and circumferentially position the segment about the axis (UU') of its toric surface (18).The bearing surface (10) is ground with a slight eccentricity (e) relative to the toric surface, and by grinding a surface suitable for hydrodynamic lubrication is obtained.

Abstract: In an articulated transmission joint for automobiles, there is provided a large telescopic range of travel for the joint. A first shaft having a tripod element composed of three radial arms is joined to another shaft with a bowl element. The bowl element is provided with rolling tracks therein. Each arm of the tripod element has two roller segments pivotable thereabout. The roller segments are in rolling contact with the rolling tracks of the bowl element. Each set of roller segments not only has an arrangement for limiting the angular range of movement of the roller segments about their respective arms, but also is provided with an arrangement for limiting the range of telescopic movement of the arms to a maximum extension and a maximum compression position. This arrangement further ensures that the roller segments are at their respective limits of angular movement about each arm when their arm is at an end point of its range of movement in the bowl element.

Abstract: A roller segment is rotatively mounted on a trunnion and rolls along a track. The trunnion may be one of the arms of a tripod element of a homokinetic joint, in which case the track is carried by the other element of the homokinetic joint. In the unloaded state, the inner peripheral wall of the segment has such a shape that its part deformed under load will have an extended area of contact with the trunnion. The material which defines the wall beyond the section of revolution corresponds to the deflection the segment will undergo in service under the effect of cumulated stresses of bending moment and shear under the effect of the load applied at a point by the track and in the distributed form by the trunnion. Utilization thereof for achieving a conformity whose precision allows a hydrodynamic lubrication.

Abstract: In a joint, each arm (22) of a tripod element (14) is provided with two rolling elements (24) disposed on opposite sides of the arm. According to the invention, each rolling element (24) has a spherical rolling surface (32) and a conical rolling surface (34) which respectively cooperate with a spherical surface (38) of the bowl element (20) and a conical surface (40) of a web (32) of the bowl element. Each rolling element (24) is mounted on the arm (22) by means of a half bush (54) which allows the axial sliding and pivoting of the rolling element relative to the arm. A spring device biasing the two rolling elements away from each other in a direction perpendicular to the axis common to the respective concave cylindrical surface portions of the rolling elements is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of manufacturing a tripod element of a homokinetic joint, and more particularly, to a method of forming grooves in the trunnions of a blank from which the tripod element is manufactured. The grooves are formed by punches which have forming edges profiled in correspondence with the grooves to be formed. The blank is positioned such that the punches occupy respective spaces each defined between two adjacent ones of the trunnions and such that the forming edges confront the trunnions, respectively. At least one of the punches is moved in a direction toward the central axis of the blank until the respective ones of the forming edges of the punches contact the trunnions to cause the blank to be self-positioned in contact with the forming edges.

Abstract: Rollers (9a) having a frustoconical lateral wall interposed between two raceways (4, 6) of two rings (1, 2) alternate with rollers (9b) interposed between two other raceways (3, 7) of the rings (1, 2). A crown region (11) of the large base of each roller slides against the confronting raceway (7) or (6) on the outer ring (2). Crown regions (11) of the rollers (9a, 9b) of each series of rollers substantially pertain to a common ideal sphere (Sx,Sy) centered on a common apex (X, Y) toward which converges the lateral walls of the rollers of the same series and the associated raceways. The angle made between the two raceways of the outer ring is less than 90.degree.. By this arrangement is achieved, between the crown region of each roller and the raceway against which the crown region bears, a contact (T) distributed along a segment of a circle centered on the axis of the bearing.

Abstract: Arms (2) of a tripod element (1) are in force-transmitting relation in the circumferential direction and in mobile relation in the axial direction, with rolling tracks (9) provided longitudinally inside a bowl (10), through the medium of roller segments (6,6a, 6b). The latter have a toric outer surface (8) in rolling contact with the tracks (9) which have a corresponding transverse radius of curvature, and an inner spherical surface (3) which is in ball-joint relation to spherical regions (3) of the arms (2). When the joint operates in contraction-extension, each roller segment (6) slides around the spherical regions (3) and rolls in the tracks (9) until, in an extreme position, the two roller segments (6a, 6b) associated with each arm abut against each other by their circumferential ends (14). Utilized for reducing the number of component parts of the joint and eliminating friction between points whose relative paths have turning back points.

Abstract: A tripod element (18) trasmits by its arms (31) circumferential forces (F) to a female member--or bowl--through cups (20) and rolling needles. On the unloaded side of each arm, a clearance is produced between the arm and the corresponding support surface (24) of the bowl. Springs (16) act on the cups (20, 21) in such manner that this clearance is established between the complementary spherical surfaces of the arm and cup. The reserve of oil which is created therein will act as a shock absorber or damper in the case of reversal of the direction of the torque (C). Use in the elimination of shocks created by the reversal of the load on the joint.

Abstract: The joint comprises a male element drive in rotation by a driving shaft (AM) and provided with radial arms (340) on each of which are mounted two rolling segments (310) trapped in rolling tracks (R) of a female element (312), expansible elastically yieldable bearing bushings (600) interposed between the arms (340) and the rolling segments (310), each bushing being formed by two semi-cylindrical semi-bushings (600) which are prevented from moving axially and in rotation relative to the arm (340) and are radially expansible. Each semi-bushing (600) is provided with a stud (410) for locating it on the associated arm (340), this stud being placed inside the semi-bushing on the axis of symmetry (Y--Y') of the latter. This arrangement avoids any risk of breakage of the bushings when the joint is operating at maximum angularity by avoiding any sudden increase in the retaining force of the locating studs in this extreme position of the joint.

Abstract: A differential which includes a housing (1a, 1b) through which axially extend two shafts (4, 5) for driving the driving wheels of the vehicle, sun gears (7, 8) mounted in the housing (1a, 1b) in coaxial relation to the shafts (4, 5) and connected to rotate with the latter, planet gears (13, 14) journalled in the housing to rotate about a shaft (15) perpendicular to the two shafts (4, 5) and fixed at its ends to the housing, these planet gears (13, 14) being cooperative with the sun gears (7, 8). The sun gears (7, 8) and the planet gears (13, 14) are provided with helicospiral sets of teeth of opposite directions, whose teeth (40, 41) are inclined to an axial plane passing through the teeth at a given angle (.alpha.

Abstract: A homokinetic joint including a first element (1,2) extending along a first axis and carrying three radial arms (3) evenly angularly spaced apart and defining spherical bearing surfaces (4), a second element (10) having a second axis intersecting the first axis and capable of making an angle therewith, the second element defining three pairs of raceways (9), intermediate elements (5) disposed between the spherical bearing surfaces and the raceways, rolling members (8) being interposed between the intermediate elements (5) and the adjacent raceways (9). The raceways (9) provided on the second element (10) are formed by cylindrical surfaces having a roughly circular cross-section and generatrices parallel to the axis of the second element, the rolling members being balls (8).

Abstract: A sliding transmission joint intended for motor vehicles, which includes a tripod (1) locked in rotation with a driving shaft (2) and provided with three radial arms (3) capable of sliding axially on flat rolling tracks (22) provided inside a drum (5). The drum 5 is locked in rotation with a driven shaft, rows of needle rollers (7) are arranged between the arms (3) and the rolling tracks (22), and also cages (14) are provided for holding the rows of needle rollers (7). The cages (14) having projecting members (16) which are used for attaching the cages (14) to the drum (5) and which are accommodated in corresponding recesses (15) formed in the drum. The arrangement of the projecting members 16 and recesses 15 ensures that the cage (14) is guided perfectly as far as the end of the extension of the driving shaft (2), and reduces the weight of the joint by eliminating projecting parts (28) between two internal adjacent shoulders of the rolling tracks.

Abstract: A joint including a spider element (2) whose four branches each define a pair of raceways (4), a barrel (11) on the exterior of which are pivotally mounted jaws (13) each defining two spherical concave bearing surfaces (18), and intermediate elements (21) of planar-convex shape, disposed between the raceways and the spherical bearing surfaces. Needles (23) maintained by cages (24) are interposed between the intermediate elements and the raceways. Such a joint provides great freedom of axial sliding, even at high operating speed.

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 coupling is adapted to transmit a movement of rotation and torque between two shafts which make therebetween an angle of between 0.degree. and 90.degree. which is fixed or variable. The coupling includes a flexible or elastic wall having, when it is mounted in the coupling, an active part constituted by two spherical segments one of which segments is outside the other, and which are interconnected by a movable trough or bend. The spherical segments are extended by end parts which are provided with heel portions for fixing the wall to cups rigid with the shafts. This coupling permits the transmission through the flexible wall of moderate torque at large angles between the shafts and with practically no resistance to the positioning of the shafts at an angle to each other.