Constant velocity universal ball joint

- GKN Automotive AG

A constant velocity universal ball joint has a bell-shaped outer joint part which is open at one end. The outer joint part includes longitudinally extending circumferentially distributed outer ball tracks. An inner joint part with longitudinally extending circumferentially distributed inner ball tracks is positioned within the outer part such that the outer and inner tracks are arranged radially opposite one another to form pairs. A torque transmitting ball is received in each track pair. A cage is arranged between the outer joint part and the inner joint part and holds the balls in a common plane in circumferentially distributed cage windows. The cage guides the balls on to the angle bisecting plane when the axes of the outer and inner joint part are articulated relative to one another. The outer joint part is produced, especially by extrusion, forging or deep-drawing. The forming provides outer ball tracks which, if viewed from the open end, are axially undercut-free. Inner faces are positioned between the outer ball tracks. The outer part includes wall regions which start from the open end, are axially limited, are deformed radially inwardly, and are arranged between two outer ball tracks. The wall regions, whose width is smaller than the circumferentially directed distance between the respective outer ball tracks, are deformed. The deformed wall regions each form cage guiding faces positioned between the outer ball tracks and provide support towards the open end.

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Claims

2. The universal joint according to claim 1, wherein the cage, relative to the outer joint part, is supported inwardly directly on the inner faces between the outer ball tracks.

3. The universal joint according to claim 1, wherein the cage, relative to the outer joint part, is supported inwardly indirectly by the cage windows, on the balls which, in turn, are supported in the outer ball tracks.

4. The universal joint according to claim 1, wherein the radially deformed wall regions are provided in circumferential regions with a reduced wall thickness.

5. The universal joint according to claim 4, wherein the regions with a reduced wall thickness are formed by radially outer recesses which are axially limited and which start from the open end of the outer joint part.

6. The universal joint according to claim 4, wherein the regions with a reduced wall thickness are formed by axially limited recesses which start from the open end of the outer joint part and which divide the wall thickness into two.

7. The universal joint according to claim 1, wherein between the radially deformed wall regions and the outer ball tracks a circumferential distance is provided which, at least, corresponds to the depth of useful hardness of the outer ball tracks.

Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4191031 March 4, 1980 Girguis et al.
4608028 August 26, 1986 Welschof et al.
4698047 October 6, 1987 Welschof et al.
4861316 August 29, 1989 Welschof
4905206 February 27, 1990 Jacob
4950206 August 21, 1990 Jaccob
Foreign Patent Documents
2064807 June 1971 FRX
2316475 June 1976 FRX
2044724 December 1972 DEX
2430027 May 1975 DEX
2522670 May 1976 DEX
2611218 October 1977 DEX
8524285 November 1985 DEX
3606075 August 1986 DEX
3626998 February 1988 DEX
3132363 June 1990 DEX
53-067045 June 1978 JPX
62-63221 March 1987 JPX
62-063221 March 1987 JPX
2208698 April 1989 GBX
Patent History
Patent number: RE35995
Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 8, 1996
Date of Patent: Dec 15, 1998
Assignee: GKN Automotive AG (Lohmar)
Inventors: Werner Krude (Neunkirchen-Wolperath), Peter Harz (Hennef)
Primary Examiner: Eileen A. Dunn
Law Firm: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P,L.C.
Application Number: 8/727,188
Classifications