Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes an outer part having an opening and a plurality of axially extending race grooves in the opening, an inner part at least partially located in the opening and having an outer surface with a plurality of axially extending race grooves, and a plurality of balls located between in inner and outer parts in the grooves. A first subset of the race grooves in the outer part and/or a first subset the race grooves in the inner part includes a section that follows a curved path in the axial direction.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes an outer part having a connecting portion and an opening portion and a plurality of axial grooves forming outer raceways, and an inner part having a plurality of axial grooves forming inner raceways. Each outer raceway and inner raceway form a raceway pair, a ball being disposed in each raceway pair. Each raceway pair defines a region in axial cross-section with respect to a groove longitudinal axis conceptually divided into four quadrants. The outer raceway is in the first and second quadrants and the inner raceway is in the third and fourth quadrants. With torque transmission in a first direction, the ball has two contact points in the first quadrant and/or two contact points in the third quadrant, and with torque transmission in a second direction, the ball has two contact points in the second quadrant and/or two contact points in the fourth quadrant.

Abstract: A method of designing a ball bearing includes providing a value of a shaft outside diameter and a load. An inside diameter of a bearing inner ring is determined based on the value of the shaft outside diameter. A ball size having a specific ball diameter is selected and a number of the balls of the selected standard ball size required to support the load is determined. A pitch diameter of a pitch circle of the ball bearing is determined based on the determined number of balls of the selected ball size. A suitability factor is calculated for the particular value of the pitch diameter and the particular pitch diameter is validated as suitable when the suitability factor is between calculated upper and lower limits.

Abstract: An optimized ball bearing assembly for an electric vehicle having inner and outer rings formed with axial lengths that are at least twice as large as the diameter of the balls is provided with a bearing cage having an open end. A lubricant source directs lubricant into an opening defined between the first axial ends of the inner and outer rings and the cage is positioned relative to the balls such that the closed-end of the cage, provided by a base or backbone of the cage, is located between the balls and the second axial ends of the inner and outer rings. Thereby, an unimpeded path for lubricant to reach the balls is provided.

Abstract: An optimized ball bearing for an electric vehicle having an inner ring or an outer ring with a radial thickness at least equal to the diameter of the balls is provided with at least one annular recessed surface to reduce the mass of the ring. Each annular recessed surface may be formed as chamfer, a fillet or a groove. The annular recessed surfaces may be provided on both the inner and outer rings to improve lubrication flow.

Abstract: A method of designing a ball bearing includes providing a value of a shaft outside diameter and a load. An inside diameter of a bearing inner ring is determined based on the value of the shaft outside diameter. A ball size having a specific ball diameter is selected and a number of the balls of the selected standard ball size required to support the load is determined. A pitch diameter of a pitch circle of the ball bearing is determined based on the determined number of balls of the selected ball size. A suitability factor is calculated for the particular value of the pitch diameter and the particular pitch diameter is validated as suitable when the suitability factor is between calculated upper and lower limits.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes an outer part having an opening and a plurality of axially extending race grooves in the opening, an inner part at least partially located in the opening and having an outer surface with a plurality of axially extending race grooves, and a plurality of balls located between in inner and outer parts in the grooves. A first subset of the race grooves in the outer part and/or a first subset the race grooves in the inner part includes a section that follows a curved path in the axial direction.

Abstract: A method for connecting a constant velocity joint having a bell and a shaft to a wheel bearing having an opening, the shaft being oversized relative to the opening, includes applying an adhesive to the shaft and/or the opening, the adhesive in an uncured state being configured to reduce a coefficient of friction between the shaft and the opening, pressing the shaft into the opening to form a press connection between the shaft and the wheel bearing, and curing the adhesive or allowing the adhesive to cure. Also a subassembly formed by the method.

Abstract: A tripod joint includes a multi-part pot having an interior and a plurality of raceways for supporting a plurality of rollers in the interior. The pot includes a housing having an open end and a base at the end of the housing opposite the open end, and the base may be formed separately from the housing or one-piece therewith. The raceways may be formed by inserts mounted in the interior which inserts may have a hardness greater than a hardness of the material of the housing.

Abstract: A subassembly includes a wheel hub and a constant velocity joint having a bell in which the wheel hub is connected to the bell by friction welding. A first one of the wheel hub and the bell may include an axial projection and the other one of the wheel hub and the bell may include a recess in which the axial projection is received. Also a method of connecting a wheel hub to a constant velocity joint by friction welding.

Abstract: A subassembly includes a wheel hub and a constant velocity joint. The constant velocity joint includes a bell and the wheel hub is connected to the bell by high-pressure internal forming. Preferably, the wheel hub includes an axial projection disposed radially inside a connecting section of the bell, the projection interacting with the connecting section during the high-pressure internal forming process in order to connect the wheel hub to the bell. The projection is preferably configured to deform plastically and is connected to the bell in an interference-fit manner. Further, the wheel hub preferably provides an inner ring of a bearing unit and either the bell of the constant velocity joint provides another inner ring or a separate inner ring is disposed between the wheel hub and the bell.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes an outer part having a connecting portion and an opening portion and a plurality of axial grooves forming outer raceways, and an inner part having a plurality of axial grooves forming inner raceways. Each outer raceway and inner raceway form a raceway pair, a ball being disposed in each raceway pair. Each raceway pair defines a region in axial cross-section with respect to a groove longitudinal axis conceptually divided into four quadrants. The outer raceway is in the first and second quadrants and the inner raceway is in the third and fourth quadrants. With torque transmission in a first direction, the ball has two contact points in the first quadrant and/or two contact points in the third quadrant, and with torque transmission in a second direction, the ball has two contact points in the second quadrant and/or two contact points in the fourth quadrant.

Abstract: A rolling-element bearing unit for use in a motor vehicle wheel or in a motorbike rocker arm includes outer and inner raceway elements and a set of rolling elements between the inner and outer raceway elements such that the inner and outer raceway elements are pivotable or rotatable relative to each other and also a lubricant reservoir body in the bearing interior for storing and dispensing a lubricant, the body including bridge elements extending between adjacent pairs of the rolling elements and a side ring connecting the bridge elements.

Abstract: A rolling-element bearing unit for use in a motor vehicle wheel or in a motorbike rocker arm includes outer and inner raceway elements and a set of rolling elements between the inner and outer raceway elements such that the inner and outer raceway elements are pivotable or rotatable relative to each other and also a lubricant reservoir body in the bearing interior for storing and dispensing a lubricant, the body including bridge elements extending between adjacent pairs of the rolling elements and a side ring connecting the bridge elements.

Abstract: A multi-row bearing assembly includes first and second rolling-element bearings having first and second bearing rings and first and second rows of rolling elements therebetween, respectively, each ring having exactly one guide flange. An intermediate space exists between the first and second rows of rolling elements, and a first side of each row of rolling elements faces the intermediate space and a second side of each row of the rolling elements is remote from the intermediate space. The guide flanges of the first and third bearing rings guide the first sides of the rolling elements, and the guide flanges of the second and fourth bearing rings guide the second sides of the rolling elements.

Abstract: A multi-row bearing assembly includes first and second rolling-element bearings having first and second bearing rings and first and second rows of rolling elements therebetween, respectively, each ring having exactly one guide flange. An intermediate space exists between the first and second rows of rolling elements, and a first side of each row of rolling elements faces the intermediate space and a second side of each row of the rolling elements is remote from the intermediate space. The guide flanges of the first and third bearing rings guide the first sides of the rolling elements, and the guide flanges of the second and fourth bearing rings guide the second sides of the rolling elements.

Abstract: A method of forming a flexible elastomer polymer fluid jacket for a plastic processing mold, and a novel elastomer polymer fluid jacket. The method comprises attaching channel formers to the rear surface of the metal shells of the mold sections to define a desired flow configuration, securing a support casting to the rear surface of the metal shells spaced from the channel formers to define a designed cavity, feeding a curable elastomer polymer typified by silicone elastomers into the cavity, curing the elastomer polymer, and removing the channel formers whereby the cured elastomer polymer forms a fluid jacket. A mold having mold components with flexible polymer fluid jackets between the mold shells, preferably nickel shells, and support castings permit enhanced heat transfer to the mold cavity while providing improved thermal insulation to the mold. The elastomer polymer also enables multiple modular configurations of the heating and/or cooling function of the mold.