Abstract: An assembly for mounting a wheel on a vehicle including a bearing assembly and a universal joint wherein the outer bearing ring of the bearing assembly is affixed to the wheel carrier and wherein the hub of the wheel, the inner bearing ring of the bearing assembly and the outer joint member of the universal joint are formed as a single unitary part. Grooves formed in the inner and outer joint members have torque transmitting balls engaged therebetween and the grooves extend so as to be undercut-free beginning at one end thereof facing the wheel hub. In accordance with the invention, the grooves of the inner joint member and of the outer joint member are arranged in such a way that the connecting line extends between the center of the radius of curvature and that of the balls with the connecting line together with the axis of rotation of the inner joint member enclosing an angle .omega.

Abstract: A pair of torque-transmitting members are joined together in torque-transmitting relationship at an inner and outer tubular connecting part of each by connecting elements interposed within an annular recess formed between said inner and outer connecting parts, said connecting elements having acuminated portions and being formed of a material harder than the material of the connecting parts in order to penetrate the surface thereof when the connecting parts are pressed together thereby to hold the first and second members in torque-transmitting engagement.

Abstract: In a universal joint, the inner joint member thereof is connected with one end of an intermediate element, with the other end of the intermediate element receiving an end of a sealing boot to enable the sealing boot to stretch over the outer joint member and to be firmly and tightly connected to a driveshaft and to the intermediate element in order to provide a safe sealing function which forms an enclosed system with connections which may be freely designed without limitation as to the adjoining components, the intention being to obtain a unit having the shortest possible axial length without restricting the angular articulation and axial mobility of the joint.

Abstract: A universal or Cardan joint having a pair of joint members formed as hollow cylinders one smaller than the other, with the smaller cylinder being arranged inside of the larger cylinder and with a centering ball and with a plurality of supporting balls located in engagement between the joint members to provide a joint which will transmit torque but which will be capable of a relatively large angle of articulation.

Abstract: A universal joint having an inner joint member and an outer joint member and torque transmitting balls interposed therebetween is formed with recesses which receive the balls in one of the joint members, this one joint member being provided with at least one elastic ring on which the balls are supported.

Abstract: A universal joint assembly having a universal joint which includes a pair of joint yokes and a cross member with an input and an output shaft being connected, respectively, to each of the joint yokes is formed to include a sealing boot of resilient material which is connected at its ends to both the input and the output shafts on opposite sides of the universal joint to completely cover the joint. The sealing boot is particularly constructed to include internal formations intermediate the ends thereof which engage with the joint yokes of the universal joint to provide additional fixing support connecting the sealing boot in sealing engagement over the universal joint.

Abstract: In an angularly movable universal joint, a ring of balls extends around the axis of rotation of the joint with the balls being radially movably supported in bores in the inner joint member and guided within grooves in the outer joint member. Adjacent balls are in contact with one another through intercommunicating openings between adjacent bores. The area of the material of the inner joint member in a plane extending perpendicularly of the axis of rotation and including the centers of the balls is greater than zero but less than the maximum area of the cross section remaining when the rectangular area of the bores plus areas defined between the inner ends of the rectangular areas of the bores and a circular arc having a radius of the bores is removed.

Abstract: A sealing boot for connection between an outer member of a universal joint assembly and a shaft member associated with an inner member of the joint, the boot being formed with a first end portion which is connected with the joint outer member and a second end portion which is connected with the shaft member. The first end portion of the boot affords a sealing face which engages an end face of the outer joint member and which extends generally radially relative thereto and an axially extending cylindrical portion which fits over the exterior of the outer joint member in order to connect the first end portion of the boot with the outer joint member. The first end portion of the boot may be formed with external reinforcing ribs and internal inwardly extending projections which act as stops to limit movement of the boot if the joint is over articulated. The second end portion of the boot may be conventionally secured to the shaft member or it may be formed with inwardly extending sealing lips.

Abstract: An overload clutch having a sleeve and a hub with a cage connected to the hub having apertures in which balls are received for effecting torque transmission in the clutch. A pressure ring spring-biased to engge the balls with cam elements on the sleeve operates to urge the balls towards the sleeve. The balls engage within recesses in a control ring within the sleeve and the cam elements of the sleeve extend through windows in the control ring which are circumferentially larger than the cam elements so that the control ring and the sleeve may move to a limited extent circumferentially relative to each other. The shape of the pressure ring and of the cam elements is such that as the balls go out of engagement with the recesses in the control ring, for example when overload occurs, the force exerted on the balls is decreased so that wear is reduced under overload conditions.

Abstract: A universal joint with an inner and outer joint member connected in torque transmitting relationship by roller members which are supported in radially extending openings in the inner joint member, the inner joint member being in torque transmitting engagement with a shaft member extending therethrough, the shaft member being formed with recesses having the roller members engaged therein to hold the shaft member and the inner joint member axially fixed relative to each other.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel mounting assembly having a rotary joint and a wheel bearing is formed with an intermediate flange which is adatped to be clamped between the vehicle wheel and a wheel hub which threadedly receives the studs for mounting the wheel. An outer joint body of the wheel bearing is formed with an annular outer surface and an annular inner surface each of which extend with increasing diameters radially outwardly of the outer joint body. The wheel hub has a radially inwardly facing annular surface which conforms and cooperates with the annular outer surface of the outer joint body extension and the intermediate flange is formed on a side thereof facing the outer joint body with an outer surface which coincides and cooperates with the annular inner surface of the extension.

Abstract: A universal joint is formed with trunnions extending into the bores of yokes with bearing bushes being interposed between the trunnions and the yokes. Each of the trunnions is formed with a bore extending internally into the trunnion generally coaxially with the central axis of the trunnion. The trunnion is formed with a wall thickness surrounding the bore and the bearing bush has a wall thickness surrounding the trunnion with the wall thickness of the trunnion being between one and three times the size of the wall thickness of the bearing bush. The trunnion bore may extend with a depth which is at least equivalent to the depth of a generally cylindrical bore within the bearing bush within which the trunnion is received and the central bore in the trunnion may be formed with a conical portion immediately contiguous with a cylindrical portion located inwardly from the conical portion. The conical portion may be formed to widen outwardly with an angle of between 0.5.degree. and 5.degree.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for covering and sealing the open space in a constant velocity universal joint includes a sealing boot, one end of which is fastened to the driven part of the joint and the other end of the sealing boot extending axially from the universal joint is fastened to a sleeve which is axially displaceable and is arranged coaxially surrounding a drive shaft connected to the driving part of the joint. A coating of a material having dirt-repellent and/or water-repellent properties or permitting easy sliding is provided on the drive shaft at least in the range of axial displacement of the sleeve relative to the drive shaft.

Abstract: In a bearing arrangement of a wheel hub driven by a constant velocity universal joint, a vehicle wheel is bolted to the wheel hub. The outer joint member of the universal joint at its outer end has a double frusto-conical surface diverging first outwardly and then inwardly in the inward direction of the wheel. A complementary frusto-conical surface is provided on an inner bearing ring fixed to the wheel hub and bears against the inner part of the double frusto-conical surface. Another complementary frusto-conical surface is provided on an intermediate flange of a brake disc positioned between the wheel hub and vehicle wheel. This frusto-conical surface bears against the outer part of the double frusto-conical surface.

Abstract: A universal joint having a trunnion cross adapted to be received in the arms of a pair of yokes is formed with a continuous resilient seal member loosely extending over the body of the trunnion cross and adapted to contain therein a supply of lubricant located within a recess formed with a center of the recess spaced closer to the axis of symmetry of the trunnion cross than the peripheral portions of the recess. Grooves extend from the trunnion members to the center of the recess, with the grooves being arranged to have an angle of inclination relative to the axis of symmetry of the trunnion cross.

Abstract: A universal joint assembly having a pair of yokes with yoke arms interconnected by a trunnion cross includes a seal member extending between the trunnion cross and a bushing of the assembly, with the seal including a resilient portion defining a lubricant reservoir from which lubricant may be provided for roller bodies of the assembly in order to insure adequate lubrication and long life. The seal is further provided with ribs which define between the seal and the trunnion cross ducts for lubricant flow from the reservoir to portions of the joint assembly including the roller bodies.

Abstract: A universal joint includes a pair of yokes each having a pair of yoke arms with bores therein. Projecting portions of a trunnion cross extend into the bores of the yoke arms, and a number of bearings are arranged between the projecting portions of the trunnion cross and bearing sleeves which are secured within the yoke arm bores. An elastic seal extends over the radially outward end of each bore relative to the joint axis of rotation so as to close the outward sides of the bores and cover end faces of the projecting portions of the trunnion cross. A supply of lubricant can be contained between each end face and seal to be directed toward the bearings during operation of the joint, as a result of pressure exerted on the lubricant supply by the seal.

Abstract: A telescopic drive shaft is formed of a tubular outer shaft member and an inner shaft member axially displaceable within the outer shaft member. At least one cross bore extends through the inner shaft member at right angles to the axis of the outer shaft member. Grooves are formed in the inner surface of and extend in the axial direction of the outer shaft member. Roll bodies, such as balls or rollers with cylindrical rolling surfaces, are positioned within the cross bores with adjacent roll bodies in surface contact with one another and with the surface of the cross bore. Each cross bore has a roll body extending outwardly into rolling contact with the surface of the groove in the outer shaft member.

Abstract: A telescopic drive shaft includes an axially extending inner shaft member slidably supported within an axially extending tubular shaped outer shaft member. Rolling bodies are mounted in one or a plurality of support members secured to the inner or outer shaft member. The rolling bodies project and roll along axially extending grooves in the other of the inner and outer shaft members. The rolling bodies provide relative sliding movement between the shaft members and also effect torque transmission between the shaft members. Each rolling body extends into at least one ring-shaped recess in its support member and guide balls located in the recess support the rolling body. Each recess is located in a plane parallel to the axis of the drive shaft, at least three guide balls are located in each recess, though a full ring of guide balls can be used.

Abstract: In a sealing arrangement for the open space in a homokinetic universal joint formed of an outer joint member defining an interior hollow space and an inner joint member positioned within the hollow space, a sealing boot assembly includes a single part or plural part boot. The assembly includes a ring having a cylindrical inner surface mounted on the outer spherical surface of the outer joint member. When a two-part boot is used, one end of each part is fixed to the ring and the other end is secured to one of the driving or driven parts extending from the universal joint.