Abstract: A homokinetic universal joint assembly including an outer and an inner joint member with roller bodies engaged for torque transmission therebetween includes a guide member which is located centrally of the assembly within the inner joint member and which supports the roller bodies in the bisecting plane of the assembly. A control sleeve defines a mounting groove extending through the joint center and the guide member is supported within the mounting groove for movement in a direction radially of the joint assembly. The control sleeve is provided with spherical surfaces located equivalent distances on opposite sides of the joint center which are engaged to guide the control sleeve within the inner and outer joint members.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for use with a motor vehicle wheel includes an inner sealing ring located within an outer sealing ring, and a constant velocity universal joint located within the inner bearing ring for driving a wheel hub. A contact seal is positioned between the spherical outside surface of the outer joint member of the universal joint and the inside surface of the inner bearing ring. The contact seal extends in the axial direction of the universal joint and has one end fitted into a groove in the inside surface of the inner bearing ring. A plurality of sealing lips extend inwardly from the inner surface of the contact seal into contact with the spherical outside surface of the outer joint member. The lips are spaced apart in the axial direction of the universal joint and extend perpendicularly to the spherical outer surface of the outer joint member. A reinforcing ring laterally encloses the outer surface of the contact seal.

Abstract: In a rigid (non-sliding) homokinetic or constant velocity universal joint, an inner joint member is positioned within an outer joint member. The inner joint has a spherical outer surface which is guided by a spherical inner surface of the outer joint. Grooves in each of the joint members are arranged in pairs with a ball seated in and extending between the grooves in each pair for transmitting torque from one joint member to the other. Each groove is formed on a circular arc with a pair of grooves in the same joint member being formed on the same circular arc. The planes extending through the center line of two adjacent pairs of grooves in the same joint member intersect the axis of rotation of the joint members at a position spaced outwardly from the center of the joint.

Abstract: A universal joint assembly including an inner joint member, an outer joint member and torque transmission means interposed therebetween is formed with a tubular drive sleeve locked in engagement about the outer peripheral portion of the outer joint member. Axially extending grooves and at least one annular or circumferential groove are formed in the outer peripheral portion of the outer joint member and the tubular drive sleeve is shaped to conform with these grooves in order thereby to effect locking engagement between the outer joint member and the sleeve. A shaping roller may be used to mold the drive sleeve into conformity with the grooved configuration of the outer joint member.

Abstract: A swivel joint for transmitting torque between a drive shaft and a driven shaft includes an outer joint member having an interior cavity connected with one of the shafts and an inner joint member carried within the cavity connected with the other shaft. A first plurality of ball receiving grooves are formed on the interior wall surface of the cavity and a second plurality of ball receiving grooves equal in number to the first plurality are formed on the exterior surface of the inner joint member. A ball is carried between at least one pair of corresponding ball receiving grooves of the first and second plurality of grooves for transmitting torque between the inner and outer joint members. A cage having circumferentially arranged window recesses is positioned between the inner and outer joint members and the balls are retained in the window recesses.

Abstract: In a constant velocity universal joint an inner joint member fits into a cavity in a hollow outer joint member and a cage, positioned between the two joint members, has windows which guide a number of torque transmitting balls positioned in oppositely aligned grooves formed in both of the joint members. The cage is formed as one-piece and has at least one cut-out opening extending in the direction of the alignable axes of the joint members. The cut-out opening extends from one end disposed transversely of the axis of the joint members to at least a transverse plane containing the window surfaces of the cage which are more remote from the one end of the cage.

Abstract: A cardan joint for transmitting driving torque between rotative members includes an inner joint member fixed to one of the rotative members and an outer joint member fixed to the other of the rotative members. A plurality of roller bodies are engaged for transmission of torque between the inner and outer joint members. The inner joint member is formed with apertures having the roller bodies radially slidably received therein and grooves are formed in the outer joint members for guided engagement with the roller bodies. The roller bodies each are formed with spherical portions thereon, with a spherical portion of each roller body being in contact with the spherical portion of at least one other roller body so that the roller bodies provide mutual support for each other inwardly of the joint toward the joint center.

Abstract: A universal joint has a single flexible elastic seal inclosing the trunnion body and in contact with the bearings on the trunnion pins to form seals therewith. The trunnion body is provided with a reservoir in the form of a depression or chamber so that the reservoir is positioned between the trunnion body and the seal. Passages may be provided between the reservoir and seal to extend toward the trunnion pins.

Abstract: A bearing assembly has an outer bearing ring attached to a wheel support and an inner bearing ring within which is positioned the outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint. The wheel hub is connected to the inner bearing ring and to the inner joint member of the universal joint. The wheel hub has a flange which may be positioned upon the inner bearing ring or inserted within the bore of the inner bearing ring to center the wheel hub with respect to the inner bearing ring.

Abstract: A double universal joint comprises two individual universal joints and a member positioned axially between the individual universal joints is connected to the first members of each joint. A centering plate extends perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the connecting member and is guided for sliding movement in its own plane. The centering plate is disposed within a casing having guide surfaces for guiding the spherical outer surfaces of the second joint members of the individual universal joints. The centers of curvature of the outer spherical surfaces are offset equal distances from the centers of the respective individual universal joints when the joint is in its straight or unbent position.

Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly has an outer bearing ring for mounting on a wheel support and an inner bearing ring having a bore and connected to a wheel hub. A constant velocity torque transmitting joint has an outer joint member disposed within the inner bearing ring bore and nonrotatably connected to the wheel hub. The inner joint member is centered with respect to the wheel hub. The outer joint member is rotatable within the inner bearing ring but is secured therein against axial movement.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint has an outer joint member with a cavity therein and an inner joint member within the cavity. A plurality of torque transmitting balls are positioned within opposed grooves formed in the facing surfaces of the inner and outer joint members. The balls are retained in a ball plane by a cage which has an inner concave surface guided upon a convex spherical surface of the inner joint member and an outer spherical surface guided within a spherical surface of the cavity. A portion of the outer face of the cage has a cylindrical configuration and is so positioned on the cage that the axis of the cylinder forms an angle with respect to the axis of the cage. The diameter of the cylindrical portion is less than the opening in the outer joint member to the cavity.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint comprises an outer joint element having a spherical cavity therein and an inner joint element positioned within the spherical cavity. A plurality of torque transmitting balls are positioned within pairs of opposed grooves formed in the opposing spherical surfaces of the inner and outer joint elements. Ball retaining means are disposed between the joint elements. The ball retaining means has an inner spherical surface co-acting with the outer spherical surface of the inner joint member and an outer spherical surface co-acting with the spherical surface of the cavity of the outer joint element. The number of grooves in each joint element is divisible by two but is at least four and the center line of each groove lies in a plane spaced from the axis of rotation of the joint element and parallel thereto.

Abstract: A universal joint has an outer joint member with circular grooves in the inner surface of a spherical cavity therein and an inner joint member is positioned within the cavity. The outer surface of the inner joint member is also provided with grooves and torque transmitting balls are received in corresponding grooves of the outer and inner joint members. The centerlines of the two outer joint member circular grooves are located in planes which are parallel with each other and parallel to the axis of the outer joint member and these planes are positioned equidistantly on opposite sides of the rotary axis. The inner joint member has partially circular or arcuate grooves arranged in pairs such that their centerlines extend in planes perpendicular to the planes of the outer joint member grooves.

Abstract: A constant velocity torque transmitting joint comprises an outer joint member having a bore therethrough and an inner joint member positioned within the bore. A plurality of torque transmitting elements, such as balls, are positioned within pairs of opposed grooves formed in the facing surfaces of the inner and outer joint elements. A cage is disposed between the joint elements and has a plurality of openings to retain the balls therein. The cage has an inner concave surface guided upon a convex spherical surface of the inner joint member and an outer spherical surface guided within the bore. The cage comprises a plurality of individual segments each of which receives at least one torque transmitting element and the segments are supported in the radial direction either by direct mutual engagement or by a retaining ring.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint has an outer joint member with an axial bore therethrough and an inner joint member within the bore. A plurality of torque transmitting elements, such as balls, are positioned within pairs of opposed grooves formed in the facing surfaces of the inner and outer joint members. The balls are retained in a ball plane in openings in a cage positioned between the inner and outer joint members. The number of balls is at least six and is divisible by a whole number larger than one but less than the number of balls. The balls are so disposed around the axis of the joint that no one ball is diametrically opposed from any other ball.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint comprises an outer joint member with a hollow interior and grooves formed in the interior surface thereof. An inner joint member is within the outer joint member and has a plurality of grooves in its outer surface such that a groove of the outer member and a groove of the inner member jointly receive a ball which contacts a surface of each groove at one point under a torque load. A cage is disposed between the joint members and has a plurality of radial openings to retain the balls therein. Each of the grooves is constructed with a surface to provide a further point of contact by the balls under all bending angles of the joint and under torque load.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint has an outer joint member with a bore therethrough and an inner joint member within the bore. A plurality of torque transmitting elements, such as balls, are positioned within opposed grooves formed in the facing surfaces of the inner and outer joint elements. The balls are retained in a ball plane by means of a cage which has an inner concave surface guided upon a convex spherical surface of the inner joint member and an outer spherical surface guided within the bore. The outer spherical face of the cage has at least three circumferentially spaced guide ridges which are guided within a plurality of grooves formed within the bore of the outer joint member and between the ball grooves.

Abstract: A constant velocity torque transmitting joint comprises an outer joint member having a bore therethrough and an inner joint member positioned within the bore. A plurality of torque transmitting elements, such as balls, are positioned within pairs of opposed grooves formed in the opposing surfaces of the inner and outer joint members. A cage is disposed between the joint members and has a plurality of openings in which the balls are retained. The cage has an inner concave surface guided upon a separate alignment control device supported upon the inner joint member. The cage also has an outer spherical surface which is guided within the bore. The alignment control device comprises at least three control elements in the shape of balls, cylindrical rollers or barrel-shaped rollers supported in recesses provided between pairs of adjacent track grooves in the inner joint member. The centers of the control elements and of the cage inner concave surface are positioned in a common plane.