Abstract: A fixed center constant velocity joint includes an outer race having races formed with a spherical surface, a shaft, a driver connected to the shaft and including radially directed pivot shafts, first and second bipods each located on an opposite axial side of the driver and including radially directed trunnions, equalizers fitted on a pivot shaft and driveably connected to the first and second bipods for pivoting the bipods relative to one another, and bearings rotatably supported on a trunnion and including a spherical surface conjugate to and engaged with a surface of a race.

Abstract: The externally threaded surface of a clutch adjusting ring is provided with circumferentially spaced friction-enhancing plugs, preferably formed of nylon. The plugs are friction fit into bores located between the first and last threads of the externally threaded surface. The nylon plugs are slightly longer than their bores and, therefore, the top surfaces of the plugs extend slightly beyond the externally threaded surface. As the externally threaded surface of the ring is threaded into the cover, the corresponding internally threaded surface of the cover cuts through the radially extending plugs located in the threads of the ring. The plugs frictionally grip the cover thereby preventing, or greatly reducing, the amount of play in the adjusting ring, yet allowing the ring to be readily turned manually.

Abstract: A lubrication system designed particularly for small universal joints is provided. It includes a central distribution insert with a system of vertical and transverse passage which enable all four bearing cups and bearings to be sequentially lubricated from a single source. When all four are completely lubricated, lubricant appears at the top of the central distribution insert to assure that all cups have been fully lubricated. Preferably, when the lubricant reaches the distribution insert after the last trunnion, it is directed to a fitting in the distribution insert which is connected via a hose or the like to a container for collecting any excess lubricant. As a result, the uncontrolled discharge of the lubricant into the environment is avoided. The passages in the insert are positioned such that the insert can be made from one two-part mold without any mold inserts being required.

Abstract: A lubrication system designed particularly for small universal joints is provided. It includes a central distributions insert with a system of vertical and transverse passages which enable all four bearing cups and bearings to be sequentially lubricated from a single source. When all four are completely lubricated, lubricant appears at the top of the central distribution insert to assure that all cups have been fully lubricated. The lubrication system enables lubricant fittings to be positioned in four locations around the universal joint cross and also a central lubrication fitting can be located in the central distribution insert. The passages in the insert are positioned such that the insert can be made from one two-part mold without any mold inserts being required.

Abstract: A universal joint seal is symmetrical about a transverse plane taken centrally therethrough. In this manner, the seal can be properly and correctly inserted into a bearing cup from either end. This eliminates the requirement for sorting for orientation of the seals after they are made. Either a mechanical sorter is eliminated or an operator for sorting the seals is eliminated.

Abstract: A universal joint has a primary seal and a secondary seal. The universal joint includes a cross and a bearing cup with the cross having a body and a trunnion and an annular shoulder with an adjacent surface of circular cross section at the juncture of the body and the trunnion. The open end of the cup has at least one leg extending outwardly therefrom. The primary seal comprises a resilient sealing member having spaced lips engaging the cup and the cross. The secondary seal is spaced outwardly from the primary seal and has a ring with a leg extending outwardly therefrom. The leg of the secondary seal is in overlapping relationship with the leg of the cup. The ring has a tight fit with the adjacent surface of the cross body, with a top of the ring engaging the shoulder of the cross. The secondary seal is spaced slightly from the cup to enable lubricant flushed past the primary seal to escape.

Abstract: A lubrication system is set forth for a universal joint. A cross of the universal joint has four trunnions extending therefrom along two mutually perpendicular lines. Bearing cups are rotatably received on the ends of the trunnions and the cups, in turn, are held by universal joint yokes. Lubrication passages extend from a central portion of the cross outwardly to cavities located at the ends of the trunnions. A passage extension extends substantially through each cavity from the lubrication passage toward the end of the trunnion. A lubricant retainer is of generally inverted U-shaped configuration and extends over the passage extension. The retainer has openings near the bottom of the cavity and is centered in the cavity by a flange on the passage extension or by an outer flange at the edge of the retainer. The retainer prevents air from being trapped in the bottom of the cavity so that the cavity will always be filled with lubricant.

Abstract: A fixed constant velocity universal joint having direct spherical contact and support between inner and outer race members to prevent axial movement has inserts which can be replaced, when worn, with new inserts. The universal joint includes an inner race member having a plurality of recesses and an outer race member with a plurality of recesses, each containing one of the inserts. Bearing balls are located in grooves in the inserts which are so arranged that they require axial support in one direction only by a retainer which is fully enclosed in the universal joint and abuts the bearing balls. A seal engages the inner and outer race members on the side of the bearing balls opposite the retainer. The seal includes a base held in an annular recess in the outer race member and at least one resilient finger engaging a partially spherical surface on the inner race member.

Abstract: A high capacity universal joint has a larger cross with larger bearings surfaces. The cross has a heavier main body with four legs, the diameters of which are larger than those of a standard cross used with yokes of a given size. The cross can also have longer trunnions to provide larger bearing surfaces. The yokes have two arms with bores and with locating surfaces adjacent the bores. The cups for races can be deeper and extend beyond outer surfaces of the arms with the cups having recessed locating surfaces in coplanar relationship with the yoke locating surfaces and held in position by machine screws. Closed ends of the cups have lubricating fittings with standpipes extending into recesses in the ends of the trunnions. Two rows of bearings separated by an annular ring are located between the trunnions and the cups, and seals in the open ends of the cups urge the bearings toward the closed ends thereof.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint has replaceable inserts for ball grooves. The inserts and balls can be removed and replaced with new ones as needed, without the requirement of replacing the entire universal joint. The inserts can be made from solid blocks which are bored and cut in half to form inserts for the inner and outer races of the universal joint. The inserts can be machined and matched in particular ways to form a variety of designs of ball grooves.

Abstract: An outboard constant velocity universal joint for a steered wheel of a vehicle includes a one-piece, structurally-integral inner race and first shaft and a one-piece, structurally-integral outer race and second shaft. The inner race has an outer surface of partially spherical configuration. The outer race has a closed end and an open end with an inner surface of partially-spherical configuration and of constant radius extending from the open end to the closed end. The inner and outer races fit closely together in the manner of a ball and socket without any cage between the surfaces thereof. A cage or retainer is located in the closed end of the outer race with a convex outer surface substantially equal in length to the radius of the inner surface of the outer race. The cage has a plurality of fingers extending only into end portions of the grooves of the inner race. The fingers have outwardly-extending flanges extending into grooves of the outer race.

Abstract: A support for rotatbly supporting a portion of a shaft, specifically a drive shaft of a vehicle, is disclosed. An intermediate drive shaft support is required when three or more universal joints are embodied in a drive line between a transmission and a differential of the vehicle. An intermediate drive shaft is sufficiently long that it tends to bend or whip to an objectionable extent. The shaft support features a simplified, lower-cost bearing having fewer rolling elements in the form of balls or rollers between inner and outer races, there being from three to six and preferably four. Two rings are located on the sides of the rolling elements to uniformly circumferentially space the elements and can also provide lubricant seals. Each of the rings has a plurality of uniformly-circumferentially spaced recesses in which portions of the rolling elements are received.

Abstract: An intermediate bearing support for a drive shaft of a vehicle is set forth. An intermediate drive shaft support is required when three or more universal joints are embodied in a drive line between a transmission and a differential. The new drive shaft support is more compact, uses fewer parts which is brought about in part by the use of symmetrical designs, and is easier to assemble on a drive shaft. Bearing shields or flingers of the support are mounted on the drive shaft adjacent a bearing of the support so that the shields do not have to be specially designed to fit particular drive shafts. For replacement purposes, one replacement kit can be used to rebuild a number of different drive shaft bearing supports.

Abstract: A versatile mounting is provided for a bearing cup or race located in a yoke arm of a universal joint. The mounting includes an adapter sleeve which receives a bearing cup and enables it to be located in a larger bore of an existing yoke arm. The adapter sleeve has an annular flange which extends inwardly and contacts a closed end of the bearing cup. The sleeve also has at least one locating surface by means of which it can be located in a predetermined position in the yoke arm bore by means of a mounting fastener which engages the sleeve locating surface and a locating surface on the yoke arm adjacent the bore.

Abstract: A seal is for a universal joint of the type comprising a cross having trunnions with annular shoulders therearound and with a bearing cup for each of the trunnions with the bearing cup having an interior shoulder adjacent the open end thereof. The seal is substantially recessed within the bearing cup at the open end. The seal comprises a sealing member having a lip which engages a portion of the trunnion at the shoulder thereof and an oppositely extending lip which engages the shoulder of the bearing cup. The sealing member has additional lips extending inwardly and outwardly for engaging the trunnion and the bearing cup. The sealing member has a deep annular groove between the lip which engages the shoulder portion of the trunnion and the outwardly-extending lips, the groove opening outwardly away from the bearing cup. The latter lips can have discontinuities in the form of slits or notches extending generally radially from outer extremities toward base portions thereof.

Abstract: A tripot universal joint of the end motion type is provided. The joint includes a first shaft with a cup-shaped member at one end having three axially-extending, parallel grooves in its inner periphery. Another shaft has a spider at one end with three trunnions extending radially outwardly. A roller is mounted on each trunnion for slidable, rotatable, and pivotal movements with respect to the trunnion. The roller is maintained with its axis perpendicular to the associated groove, even when the spider shaft is positioned at a substantial angle to the axis of the first shaft and the cup-shaped member. The roller mounting includes a guide ring slidably mounted on the trunnion for axial movement with respect thereto, the guide ring having an outer segmental spherical surface.

Abstract: A tripot universal joint of the end motion type is provided. The joint includes a first shaft with a cup-shaped member at one end having three axially-extending, parallel grooves in its inner periphery. Another shaft has a spider at one end with three trunnions extending radially outwardly. A roller is mounted on each trunnion for slidable, rotatable, and pivotal movements with respect to the trunnion. The roller is maintained with its axis perpendicular to the associated groove, even when the spider shaft is positioned at a substantial angle to the axis of the first shaft and the cup-shaped member. The roller mounting includes a guide ring slidably mounted on the trunnion for axial movement with respect thereto, the guide ring having an outer segmental spherical surface.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint is provided which employs bearing rollers with central cylindrical portions and groove-matching ends in place of balls. The universal joint has an inner race or member with outwardly-facing grooves spaced therearound, an outer race or member with inwardly-facing grooves therearound, and a cage between with openings. The rollers are retained in the openings with the cylindrical portions located at the openings and with the ends engaged in the grooves of the inner and outer races. The central cylindrical portions engage the cage at the openings in line contact rather than point contact, as with balls, resulting in less wear, longer life, and smooth operation. The ends engage the grooves in a manner somewhat similar to balls.

Abstract: An internal seal is provided for a universal joint, which seal is more effective in retaining lubricant and in preventing the ingress of water and contaminants. Each trunnion of the joint is received in a bearing cup having an open end with an internal annular shoulder near the open end. The seal comprises a resilient sealing member having at least two inner circular lips which engage the trunnion near a cross body and at least two outer circular lips which engage the internal surface of the bearing cup between the open end and the annular shoulder. The sealing member further includes an additional lip which engages the annular shoulder and a spaced additional lip or ridge which engages the body adjacent the trunnion. The latter two lips serve to position the sealing member with respect to the cross and bearing cup with the sealing member being substantially enclosed by the bearing cup, which minimizes the possibility of damage to the sealing member.

Abstract: A universal joint seal is provided for a universal joint, which seal is more effective in retaining lubricant and in preventing the ingress of water and contaminants, particularly when engaging surfaces which tend to be rough. In a specific form, the universal joint includes a cross having a body and trunnions extending therefrom with an annular shoulder and an adjacent surface of circular cross section at the juncture of said body and each of the trunnions. The bearing cup has an open end which receives the trunnion and can have an annular groove adjacent the open end. The universal joint seal comprises a resilient sealing member having at least two circular lips which engage the annular shoulder of the cross and at least one additional lip which engages the adjacent surface of the cross. The sealing member also has at least one lip which engages the open end of the cup and additional lips which engage the groove portion of the cup.