Abstract: A drive shaft assembly particularly for use in driving the wheels of a motor vehicle having a first universal joint and a second universal joint with an intermediate shaft interconnecting the two joints, the intermediate shaft being made of fiber reinforced plastic material and being formed integrally with a component of at least one of the universal joints.

Abstract: Stroking type universal joint in which the spider assembly is trapped on the axle shaft by a two-part cylindrical connector sleeve of a bumper assembly which includes a resilient elastomer bumper secured on the end of the axle shaft by the sleeve that in turn is radially retained by a counterbore in the hub of the spider assembly.

Abstract: A tripot type universal joint having a spider assembly retained therein by an annular resilient spring wire retainer having small diameter segments mounted in an internal retention groove in the housing, the spider assembly has offset large diameter access segments disposed externally of the housing and adjacent to one end thereof and ramp portions interconnecting the large and small diameter segments which block internal drive channels in the housing in which drive rollers of the spider assembly are mounted to prevent the inadvertent removal of the spider assembly from the housing.

Abstract: Each arm of a male element of a joint carries two roller sectors which are rotatively and slidably mounted on the arm, independent from each other and externally toric. The joint is of small size and has no angular play between the roller sectors and respective tracks.

Abstract: Constant speed joint assembly comprising an inner joint body member, an outer joint body member and at least two rolling elements arranged therebetween capable of transmitting a torque which engage in an inner arcuate groove in the inner joint body member curved in a longitudinal direction about a center of curvature lying on the axis of rotation of the inner joint body member and in an outer groove in the outer joint body member lying radially opposite the inner joint body member curved in a longitudinal direction about a center of curvature offset in a longitudinal direction on the axis of rotation of the outer joint body member in relation to the radius of curvature of the mating inner groove and control means maintaining the rolling elements in a plane bisecting the angle between the axes of rotation during angular movement of the axes of rotation of the two joint body members, said inner joint body member having a centric cavity, said control means comprising a control body mounted in said cavity having

Abstract: A universal joint comprising an inner element, integral with a first shaft having at least two journals which support rollers adapted to cooperate with roller tracks provided in an outer element made integral with a second shaft, this outer element comprising a rigid casing provided with housings in which are situated the roller tracks, resilient member being provided in connection with these roller tracks. The whole is arranged so that the resilient member tend to apply the walls of the roller tracks against the rollers, each roller being gripped between the two walls defining a roller track, said walls being maintained constantly under pressure against the rollers with the resilient member.

Abstract: A constant velocity, "Tri-Pot" type joint comprises first and second members respectively rotatable about first and second axes and a coupling for connecting the first and second members. The coupling comprises three trunnions rotatable with the first member. The trunnions have respective radial axes extending radially from and perpendicular to the first rotation axis and intersecting the first axis at a common intersecting point. The coupling also comprises rods connecting the trunnions to the second member, and laminated elastomeric bearings, disposed about the trunnions for carrying in compression torque transmitted between the first and second members and for carrying in shear axial misalignment of the first and second members and relative angular motion between the first and second members about the common intersecting point.

Abstract: A constant speed joint differs from the prior art in particular by the fact that it does not include rolling members. The joint includes a bell element, a spider element and three yokes which are mounted, on one hand, at the ends thereof on the bell element to pivot about first axes and, on the other hand, in the central part thereof, on the spider element by means of double pivotal mountings allowing pivotal motion about second and third axes, the pivotal mounting having the third axis also allowing a sliding motion.

Abstract: A telescopic homokinetic joint which is capable of filtering vibrations coming from the driving means and is also devoid, or substantially devoid, of periodical internal friction. This result is obtained in a homokinetic joint comprising a first element including three pairs of planes which are evenly angularly spaced apart about a first axis, the planes of each pair being parallel to each other and to said axis, a second element defining three spherical bearing surfaces which are evenly angularly spaced apart about a second axis, and intermediate elements. The intermediate elements comprise planar surfaces which are respectively parallel to the planes and spherical surfaces which cooperate with the spherical bearing surfaces. According to the invention, rolling elements are interposed between the planar surfaces of the intermediate elements and the planes of the first element.

Abstract: A bearing assembly of a wheel hub for a motor vehicle wheel having an outer bearing ring adapted to be affixed with a vehicle chassis and an inner bearing ring having the wheel mounted thereon. A constant velocity joint is connected to the inner bearing ring for driving the wheel hub, the rotary joint including first and second joint members. The first joint member has three radially extending pins which are arranged uniformly spaced in the circumferential direction in a star-like configuration and are secured to the inner bearing ring. The second joint member is connected to a drive shaft and has three rolling tracks formed therein. The assembly further includes three annular rolling bodies having spherically shaped outer surfaces, each rolling body being separately supported on one of the pins and being received in the rolling tracks of the second joint member for the transmission of torque, the first bearing ring defining a bore for receiving the inner joint member.

Abstract: An articulated transmission joint includes a plurality of arms, each arm carrying a roller. Each roller is biased axially outwardly of the respective arm by an elastically yieldable device which is operative between a washer rigid with a hub carrying the arms of the joint and the inner end of a groove formed in the axially inner face of the roller. The elastically yieldable device is fully withdrawable into the groove when it is compressed so as to avoid reducing the effective thickness of the hub.

Abstract: A homokinetic tripod joint includes a first element connected to rotate with a tripod element having rollers and a second element having runways for the rollers. The first and second elements form a ball and socket connection with the first and second elements having, respectively, complementary concave and convex spherical surfaces. The joint includes a bayonet connection having recesses in the concave spherical surface of the first element and corresponding segments on the convex spherical surface of the second element the joint also includes an abutment member having a convex spherical surface with a shape complementary to the second element.

Abstract: A homokinetic joint includes rollers mounted to swivel on the spherical ends of arms of a tripod element by means of free diabolo-shaped rolling elements. Three pairs of runways are provided in a bowl element for the rollers. These runways are curved in planes parallel to an axial plane of the bowl element. Two floating rings maintain the mean planes of the rollers parallel to one another. The tripod element is in this way axially retained in the bowl element by the retention of the rollers in the runways axially of the bowl element by a combined effect of the curved shape of the runways and the maintenance of the mean planes of the rollers parallel to one another, with no need for other devices. This joint is compact, highly efficient, and has a high torque-transmitting capacity and a large break angle.

Abstract: A tripod type constant velocity universal joint comprises a driven part having an axis of rotation; a driving part having an axis of rotation; a spider member, integral with one of the parts, having three roller supporting rods extended radially from the concentrated portion thereof with an angle of 120 degrees formed therebetween; three roller elements respectively rotatably supported on the roller supporting rods and slidable along the axial directions of the roller supporting rods; and a pot member, integral with the other of the parts, defining three pairs of roller raceways. The longitudinal axis of each pair of roller raceways symmetrically approaches along straight lines a rotational axis of the pot member on both sides of the roller raceways in their longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The joint comprises two opposed forks which are angularly offset from each other at 60.degree. and are axially extended by nose portions which are internally spherical. These nose portions swivel on a ring through which extends with a large clearance a shaft section which carries at each end a tripod element associated with one of the forks. The ring is maintained roughly in the bisecting plane of the joint by contact or quasi-contact with the rollers of the two tripod elements. In this way it is possible to produce steering road wheel homokinetic joints which are capable of operating at angles of 50.degree. and more with no reduction in their transmitting capacity.

Abstract: A sealing device disposed between flanges of a joint assembly comprises a sealing member having an endless shape and an end cover with its periphery held between the flanges and adapted to hold the sealing member inside of the periphery in association with the flange of a casing. The end cover has, along its periphery, first support portions spaced in equal interval and second support portions located between the adjacent first support portions. The second support portions are formed by folding back parts of the end cover and have bolt holes. The end cover further has a setting portion for the sealing member, inside of the periphery. The setting portion is recessed for a depth corresponding to the thickness of the end cover from the faces of the first and second support portions which are in contact with the flange of the casing.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint has an outer female or track part having three grooves within it running in its axial direction. Within the female part the trunnion part is placed which is designed with three rollers which, like the grooves, are equally spaced in angle about the joint's axis, and they are keyingly taken up in the grooves. The rollers are generally mushroom-like and their heads are designed for making rolling contact against sides of the grooves, while their radial stems take the form of turnpins for turningly supporting the rollers in the male joint half. The outer faces of the mushroom-like rollers are spherical and centered on the middle of the joint when the joint halves are in the in-line position. The radially inner ends of the rollers are flat and between them a ball or cylindrical body is placed for positively keeping the outer spherical faces of the rollers against narrow lands (running in the axial direction of the joint) on the floors of the three grooves.

Abstract: A housing for a tri-pot universal joint is manufactured from a tube blank which is cold formed in a two-step indenting process. The indenting process forms the middle of the tube into a tri-lobal section for broaching internal drive tracks while leaving the end portions sufficiently intact to provide circular bands at each end by subsequent machining operations. A closure is attached to the band at one end and the band at the other end is used to mount a conventional boot. A machine having a cam die arrangement suitable for indenting the tube blank is also disclosed.

Abstract: A slidable type constant velocity universal joint comprising an outer member formed with at least three axially extending guide grooves disposed in parallel to one another, and an inner member disposed inside the outer member and provided with at least three radially extending pods projecting therefrom, the respective pods being in engagement, via respective rollers mounted thereon so as to be rotatable and slidable, within the respective guide grooves. The respective rollers are so mounted on the respective pods so as to be, additionally, tiltable in all directions so that the rollers will always be in longitudinally aligned relation in the guide grooves. Each pod is formed with an outer surface with curved generatrices and the surface can be, for example, a spherical surface of comparatively large curvature, and each roller can be formed with an inner surface supported on the pod surface via suitable bearings or guide rings for undergoing universal movement thereon.

Abstract: A sliding universal joint for automobiles having a driving element in the form of socket, connected to a driving shaft and having at least two roller tracks cooperating with rollers mounted by their bores on trunnion pins of a hub connected to a driven shaft. Retainers (11, 21) for retaining the rollers (5) on their trunnion pins (6) are provided with toothed friction surfaces (16, 24) to hold the rollers during manipulation, and against the centrifugal force which occurs during functioning of the joint.

Abstract: In one embodiment the spring comprises a coil which extends through a coiling angle which is slightly less than 360.degree.. The end portions of the coil are curved in a direction for decreasing the pitch of the helix in the working position of the spring between two surfaces. This spring assumes such position that it comes in contact at two points with each of these surfaces and the forces are distributed in an excellent manner.Application in particular to the mounting of rollers on trunnions of homokinetic tripod joints.

Abstract: A dust boot for a universal joint covering two joint elements having largely curved corner portions in the outer peripheral surface thereof near their joint portion, comprises a resilient annular covering portion for covering the joint portion of the universal joint and two annular end portions which are integrally formed with the covering portion in axially both ends thereof. The annular end portions are mounted on the two joint elements near their joint portion. Since the area of an open end of the dust boot mounted on the joint element having largely curved corner portions is made smaller than the cross sectional area of the outer peripheral surface of the joint element, specifically only the curvature of the open end of the dust boot corresponding to the largely curved corner portions of the joint element is made smaller than that of the corner portions of the joint element, the dust boot can be closely mounted on the joint element with excellent sealing effect.

Abstract: The method permits mass-producing axially retained tripod joints having high rigidity and a given prestressing force which is reproducible from one joint to another. According to this method, after having clipped a resiliently yieldable attachment onto a tulip-shaped element of the joint while the joint is in its assembled position, the value of the gap between the shoulder of a thrust member and a bearing surface of a hub carrying the trunnions is determined for the position of the joint in which the hub and tulip-shaped member are in alignment and the thrust member is axially shifted away from the hub and there is introduced in the gap produced between the thrust member and the hub a shim the thickness of which is chosen to be slightly larger than the gap.

Abstract: In the joint, the raceways of the tulip element have the shape of a torus. The ratio of the maximum distance between the axis of the tulip element and the axis of the tori defining the raceways to the radius of said tori is between 1/4 and 3/4. This results in a considerably improved mechanical efficiency and consequently in a reduced opposition to sliding.Application of the joint to automobile vehicle transmissions.

Abstract: A tripod type constant velocity universal joint for interconnecting two shafts to permit transmission of a driving force in a vehicle such as a motor car. In said tripod type constant velocity universal joint, a trunnion portion of the tripod shafts is urged against and supported by a tulip portion of a second shaft by a tripod spring, the spherical head of a mushroom-shaped member provided in the mounting hole of said trunnion portion is kept in contact with a recess in said tulip portion by the biasing force of a compression spring, and further, said mushroom-shaped member or said trunnion portion of the tripod shafts is formed to provide a spherically curved surface or a conical surface incorporating a straight line, in which the distance from the center of the joint is increased as a point on the external configuration leaves the center toward the outer periphery.