With Intermediate Positioning Cage For Ball Patents (Class 464/145)
  • Publication number: 20140090917
    Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes an outer housing and an inner race disposed inside the outer housing and spaced therefrom. The outer housing and inner race are respectively rotatable about a first and second rotation axes, and moveable relative to one another to change an angle between the rotation axes. A cage, disposed between the outer housing and the inner race, has cage windows defined therethrough. A plurality of balls, each retained in a corresponding cage window roll along corresponding outer housing grooves and inner race grooves, respectively defined on an inner surface of the outer housing and an outer surface of the inner race. Rotation of one of the outer housing and the inner race about their respective rotation axis, causes rotation of the other. A cooling member disposed on the outer housing contacts at least a portion of its outer surface. Powertrains and vehicles are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventor: Charles Despres-Nadeau
  • Patent number: 8684850
    Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint has track shapes which facilitate quality control on a forging die set, securing higher durability through securement of a stable contact state of forging-molded tracks and finishing-processed tracks with respect to balls. At least one of each of track grooves of an outer joint member and each of track grooves of an inner joint member is formed by cold-forging finishing. A track groove bottom side of the at least one of each of the track grooves is formed into a Gothic arch shape in horizontal cross-section, and a track groove opening side of the at least one of each of the track grooves is are each formed into an elliptical shape in horizontal cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Terasaka, Tomoshige Kobayashi, Kisao Yamazaki, Minoru Ishijima
  • Patent number: 8684849
    Abstract: An eight-ball fixed type constant velocity universal joint of an undercut free type is capable of increasing a torque capacity at high operating angles while securing durability at low operating angles. When a distance between a center of a track groove and a center of a ball is denoted by Rt, and when an axial distance between the center of the track groove and a joint center plane is denoted by F, a ratio R1 of F to Rt is set to fall within a range of 0.061?R1?0.087. When a radial offset amount, which is a distance between the center of the track groove and a joint center axial line is denoted by fr, a ratio R3 of fr to Rt is set to fall within a range of 0.07?R3?0.19. When an effective cured-layer depth with Hv 513 is denoted by Di and the diameter of the ball is denoted by d, a bottom surface of a track groove of an inner joint member includes a cured layer with an effective cured-layer depth ratio Di/d of at least 0.111 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Sone, Hirokazu Ooba, Kazuhiko Yoshida, Kiyohiro Itou
  • Publication number: 20140080613
    Abstract: An outer joint member has first and second track groove portions located respectively on depth and opening sides. The first track groove portions each have a circular-arc ball-raceway center line having a curvature center that is not offset in an axial direction with respect to a joint center. The second track groove portions each have a ball-raceway center line including a straight part to increase an effective track length at a maximum operating angle. Track grooves of an inner joint member each have a ball-raceway center line that is mirror-image symmetrical with a ball-raceway center line of the paired track groove of the outer joint member with respect to a plane passing through the joint center at an operating angle of 0°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Hirukawa, Kenta Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20140080612
    Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint smoothly operates under load and during speed rotation, and also suppresses heat generation and has enhanced durability. An offset in an axial direction between a center of curvature of each of track grooves and a center of curvature of an inner surface of an outer joint member, and an offset in the axial direction between a center of curvature of each of track grooves and a center of curvature of an outer surface of an inner joint member are each set to zero. The track grooves of the outer and inner joint members are each inclined with respect to an axial line. A circumferential length of each of pockets of a cage is set so that two pockets allow balls to be assembled therein at one time under a state in which the two pockets are exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Teruaki Fujio
  • Publication number: 20140073441
    Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity universal joint has track grooves of an outer joint member including first and second track groove portions located on depth and opening sides, respectively. The first track groove portions each have a circular-arc part having a curvature center that is not offset in an axial direction with respect to a joint center, are inclined in a circumferential direction with respect to a joint axial line, and are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with their inclination directions opposite to each other. The second track groove portions have a different shape than the first track groove portions to increase an effective track length with respect to a maximum operating angle. The first and second track groove portions are connected respectively to each other on the opening side with respect to the joint center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Kenta Yamazaki, Kisao Yamazaki, Teruaki Fujio
  • Publication number: 20130316838
    Abstract: A joint in the form of a counter track joint is disclosed that comprises a joint outer part with first outer ball tracks and second outer ball tracks; a joint inner part with first inner ball tracks and second inner ball tracks; wherein first aperture angles are respectively formed between tangents to contact points of a ball with the first outer ball track and with the first inner ball track, and second aperture angles are respectively formed between tangents to contact points between a ball with the second outer ball track and with the second inner ball track. The first aperture angles of the first track pairs open towards a first side of the joint, and the second aperture angles of the second track pairs open towards a second side of the joint., Outer axial play is provided between the joint outer part and the ball cage. Inner axial play is provided between the ball cage and the joint inner part. Axial play permits relative axial displacement of the joint inner part with respect to the joint outer part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hildebrandt, Orkan Eryilmaz
  • Patent number: 8555508
    Abstract: A method for producing an internal or external part of a torque-transmitting opposed track joint, such as a fixed constant velocity ball joint, in which approximately axially parallel extending track bases of the joint tracks have curvatures which deviate in their axial course from the curvatures of the ball contact lines. The method is characterized in that in a first step a perform with approximately axially parallel extending grooves having lateral flanks is produced, and in a second step the perform is formed into a final joint part whereby the lateral flanks of the grooves are just partially formed to achieve the ball contact lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Neumayer Tekfor Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Szentmihalyi, Mathias Lutz, Ekkehard Koerner
  • Publication number: 20130267332
    Abstract: Provided is a fixed type constant velocity universal joint which suppresses heat generation under high load and in high speed rotation, has a higher durability, and involves less torque loss. The fixed type constant velocity universal joint includes eight or twelve torque transmitting balls (27) arranged in ball tracks formed of pairs of track grooves (22) of an outer joint member (23) and track grooves (25) of an inner joint member (26), respectively. A center of curvature (O1) of each of the track grooves (22) of the outer joint member (23) and a center of curvature (O2) of each of the track grooves (25) of the inner joint member (26) have an axial offset of zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventor: Teruaki Fujio
  • Patent number: 8545337
    Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity universal joint of an eight-ball undercut-free type has improved torque capacity at high operating angle while ensuring durability at low operating angle. Centers of a track groove (32) of an outer joint member and a track groove (35) of an inner joint member are respectively separated from a center plane (P) toward axially different sides, and are offset away from a joint center axis (X) to a radially opposite side relative to grooves (35). When Rt represents a distance between a center of a ball (37) and the center of groove (32), and F represents an axial distance between plane (P) and the center of groove (32), a ratio R1 between F and Rt is 0.061?R1?0.087. When fr represents a radial offset amount as a distance between axis (X) and the center of groove (32), a ratio R3 between fr and Rt is 0.07?R3?0.19.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Sone, Hirokazu Ooba, Kazuhiko Yoshida, Kiyohiro Itou
  • Publication number: 20130237331
    Abstract: An arrangement with a joint and a gearwheel body for a transmission is provided in which the joint is a constant velocity joint arranged at least partially in an interior space enclosed by the gearwheel body. The constant velocity joint has inner and outer hub tracks and a bearing cage arranged to maintain an essentially constant control angle between tangential ball contact points with the inner and outer tracks while the bearing cage holds the balls in a plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Neumayer Tekfor Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander EBERT, Martin LEHMANN, Tobias ROSER, Thomas ETZOLD, Tim BENZ
  • Patent number: 8529360
    Abstract: An outer joint member for a fixed type constant velocity universal joint contributes to the reduction of the number of man-hours through the reduction of the number of processes after a forging process, to an increase in yield, and to the reduction of manufacturing cost. The outer joint member is made of machine-structural carbon steel. The portions of the outer joint member that are finished by cold forging are track grooves, radially inner spherical-surface portions, a cup-inlet chamfer, track chamfers, track-inlet chamfers, a part except for a boot fixing portion on a radially outer surface of the cup section, and a center hole at an end surface of the shaft section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Masazumi Kobayashi, Kisao Yamazaki, Minoru Ishijima
  • Patent number: 8523687
    Abstract: A joint, particularly a constant velocity ball joint, including an inner hub and an outer hub, which hubs exhibit respective inner and outer ball tracks which are associated with each other in pairs, and further including balls disposed in the pairs of associated inner and outer ball tracks, the tracks being configured such that at the contact points of the balls with the ball tracks the tangential planes form an angle of inclination, and the ball tracks exhibiting at any given time a continually changing curvature, as a result of which the angle of inclination is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Neumayer Tekfor Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Mathias Lutz, Thomas Gregor
  • Patent number: 8469829
    Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member including an inner surface in which a plurality of track grooves are formed, an inner joint member including an outer surface in which a plurality of track grooves are formed, a plurality of balls between the track grooves of the outer joint member and the inner joint member so as to transmit torque, and a cage having pockets for housing the balls, and being between the outer joint member and the inner joint member. At a maximum operating angle, the balls roll up to track-groove-opening-end portions of the outer joint member. Each of the track grooves of the outer joint member includes a hardened layer formed so as to extend from a track-groove deep side to the track-groove-opening-end portion, the hardened layer being thinner at the track-groove-opening-end portion compared with the other portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Masazumi Kobayashi, Kenji Yamada
  • Publication number: 20130130811
    Abstract: Provided is a sliding ball type constant velocity joint for a vehicle, which can minimize vehicle vibration by forming a track groove pair by two track grooves of an outer race and an inner race to reduce a contact area between the inner race and a cage, and can reduce the manufacturing cost by reducing the number of processing steps of the cage by forming the number of windows of the cage to half that of balls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventor: PIL KI KIM
  • Publication number: 20130123027
    Abstract: Provided is a ball type constant velocity joint for a vehicle. The ball type constant velocity joint includes an inner race installed at an end of a shaft, an outer race installed outside the inner race, a plurality of hails for transmitting rotational power of the inner race to the outer race, and a cage having windows for supporting the balls, wherein a ball track of the outer race is divided into two sections consisting of an outer race radial track and an outer race linear track contiguous to the outer race radial track, and when a joint angle is not created, a rotation center of the outer race radial track and a rotation center of the inner race linear track are positioned at the same point on a vertical center axis and have the same vertical offset amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventor: Pil Ki Kim
  • Publication number: 20130116056
    Abstract: An angled offset ball type constant velocity joint for a vehicle, which can enhance the strength of the joint by compensating for a contact surface pressure between an outer race groove and a ball while maintaining an outer diameter of the outer race by making rotation centers of the outer race and the inner race positioned to be symmetrical with respect to each other by an offset angle. The angled offset ball type constant velocity joint includes an inner race connected to an end of a shaft, an outer race installed outside the inner race, a plurality of balls for transmitting a torque of the inner race to the outer race, and a cage having windows for supporting the respective balls, wherein a rotation center of an outer race ball track is symmetrical with a rotation center of an inner race ball track by an offset angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: PIL KI KIM
  • Publication number: 20130109483
    Abstract: Provided is a fixed type constant velocity universal joint which can achieve, at low cost, excellent properties in terms of durability, high load condition, low load condition, and high angle condition. The fixed type constant velocity universal joint comprises a lubricating grease sealed therein. A surface roughness of a ball (37) is set to Ra 0.15 ?m or less and a surface roughness of a counterpart surface on which the ball (37) rolls is set to be higher than the surface roughness of the ball (37). An additive composition of the lubricating grease comprises a base oil, a diurea compound, molybdenum dithiocarbamate, zinc dialkyldithiophosphate, melamine cyanurate, molybdenum disulfide, and calcium salt of alkylaromatic sulfonic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yoshida, Keisuke Sone, Mika Kohara
  • Patent number: 8430758
    Abstract: A constant velocity fixed joint. The center line (M22) of the outer ball tracks (22) towards a first side (S1) departs, radially inwardly, a reference radius centered in the point of intersection between a perpendicular line on tangents (T22) at the center line (M22), and the longitudinal axis (L12). The center line (M23) of the inner ball tracks (23) towards a second side (S2) departs, radially inwardly, a reference radius centered in the point of intersection of a perpendicular line on the tangent at the center line (M23), and the longitudinal axis (L13). In the outer joint part, from the joint center plane (EM) to the second side (S2), the center line (M22) moves beyond the reference radius radially outwardly. In the inner joint part (13), from the joint center plane (EM) to the first side (S1), the center line (M23) moves beyond the reference radius, radially outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: GKN Driveline Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Schwärzler, Heiko Harnischfeger
  • Publication number: 20130102397
    Abstract: In a fixed type constant velocity universal joint (1), pairs of track grooves (3) of an outer joint member (2) and track grooves (5) of an inner joint member (4) each form a wedge angle (?), the wedge angle (?) including a wedge angle (?0) formed, under a state in which an operating angle is 0°, with respect to each of torque transmitting balls (6) arranged in a joint center plane, and opening to the same side in an axial direction in all the pairs of the track grooves (3) and the track grooves (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Hirokazu Ooba
  • Patent number: 8419554
    Abstract: A cage for a ball joint, the cage being configured annularly about a longitudinal axis and having an inner surface and an outer surface, two edges delimiting the inner surface and the outer surface and a window, in which the inner surface surrounds an inner space of the cage and two webs laterally adjoin the window. One edge of the cage has an offset relative to the longitudinal axis in relation to one of the two webs at the height of the window. A ball joint with a corresponding cage is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Neumayer Tekfor Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Szentmihalyi, Arne Schmidbauer
  • Patent number: 8414406
    Abstract: A constant velocity joint assembly and a method of securing a shaft to the assembly are described. The assembly may have an outer race with a first portion having a plurality of grooves and a second portion that extends from the first portion and is substantially parallel to the shaft. The method of securing the shaft to the assembly includes the step of magnetically pulse welding the shaft to the outer race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Donald W. Dine, Boris A. Yablochnikov
  • Patent number: 8414405
    Abstract: A fixed center constant velocity joint includes a first group of funnels and a second group of funnels arranged radially about a longitudinal axis in alternating relationship. The first group of funnels diverges in a first direction and the second group of funnels diverges in a second direction opposite the first direction along the longitudinal axis. The first group of funnels defines a first diverging width increasing in value along the longitudinal axis and the second group of funnels defines a second diverging width increasing in value at a different rate than the first diverging width to bias the joint in one of the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Keith A. Kozlowski, Eduardo Mondragon
  • Publication number: 20130079163
    Abstract: A constant velocity joint for a drive system comprises: an outer joint member having a plurality of inwardly facing outer ball grooves, the outer ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves and a second group of grooves with composite or non-linear groove pattern; an inner joint member disposed inside the outer joint member and having a plurality of outwardly facing inner ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves and a second group of grooves with composite or non-linear groove pattern, each inner ball groove of the inner joint member being coupled with a corresponding outer ball groove of the outer joint member generally in crossed pair; and a cage having circumferentially displaced cage windows to accommodate a plurality of balls therein. The groove patterns of the ball grooves can be a combination of skewed grooves and non linear grooves, a combination of non linear of linear grooves and non linear grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: HYUNDAI WIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: HYUNDAI WIA CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8403765
    Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint is disclosed that comprises an outer joint part, an inner joint part, torque transmitting balls, an annular ball cage, and a supporting mechanism. The outer joint part includes circumferentially distributed outer ball tracks. The inner joint part includes circumferentially distributed inner ball tracks. The torque transmitting balls are guided in pairs of tracks, wherein each track includes an outer ball track and an inner ball track. When the joint is in the aligned condition, the pairs of tracks, at least in a central joint plane, widen in coinciding axial directions. The annular ball cage is defined by a cage axis. The cage is positioned between the outer joint part and the inner joint part and comprises circumferentially distributed windows in which the torque transmitting balls are held with a clearance. The ball cage comprises an axial clearance relative to the outer joint part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Maucher
  • Patent number: 8403764
    Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member having an inner surface with a plurality of track grooves, an inner joint member having an outer surface with a plurality of track grooves which are paired with the track grooves of the outer joint member, and an inner surface having a shaft hole with a spline, a plurality of balls interposed between the track grooves of the outer joint member and the track grooves of the inner joint member so as to transmit torque, and a cage interposed between the inner surface of the outer joint member and the outer surface of the inner joint member so as to retain the balls, in which the inner joint member includes an axial step portion between an inlet-side end surface thereof and a spline end portion of the shaft hole so as to form a recessed end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Masazumi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20130072312
    Abstract: A high angle plunging constant velocity joint includes an outer race, an inner race, a plunging cage, a plurality of balls and a shaft. The outer race is defined by inner and outer surfaces, wherein the inner surface contains a plurality of double offset tracks. The inner race includes a plurality of corresponding double offset tracks disposed within a bore of the outer race. An outer surface of the inner race defines a first radius. The plunging cage is defined by an inner surface and an outer surface. The plunging cage is disposed between the inner race and outer race. The inner surface of the plunging cage is defined by a second radius that is less than the first radius. The plurality of balls are arranged within the cage and contact the double offset tracks of the inner and the outer race. The shaft is connected to the inner race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Hans Wormsbaecher, Steven C. Hahn
  • Patent number: 8398494
    Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint has a boot with enhanced durability and compactness, which are achieved by suppressing abrasion of the boot. The constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member, an inner joint member, a torque transmitting member, a shaft, and a boot. The surface roughness of an outer peripheral surface of the shaft satisfies Rsk<0, Rpk<2 ?m, and Ra<4 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Takabe
  • Patent number: 8388456
    Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity universal joint has cutout round portions (32) provided at two portions of a ball-contact-point corresponding part on a track inlet end (22a) of each of the track grooves (22) of the outer joint member for reduce biting of balls. The fixed type constant velocity universal joint is capable of achieving reduction of stress generated when balls and edge portions interfere with each other, suppression of chipping of the edge portions, and prolongation of a service life of the joint as a whole. These advantages are achieved even at a time of an unexpected high-angle operation, and in particular even when an angle expected during use of the constant velocity universal joint is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kisao Yamazaki, Masazumi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20130012326
    Abstract: Provided is a constant velocity universal joint having track shapes which facilitate quality control on a forging die set and products as in a conventional case while securing higher durability through securement of a stable contact state of forging-molded tracks and finishing-processed tracks with respect to balls. At least one of each of track grooves (22) of an outer joint member (23) and each of track grooves (25) of an inner joint member (26) is formed by cold-forging finishing. A track groove bottom side of the at least one of each of the track grooves (22) and the track grooves (25) is formed into a Gothic arch shape in horizontal cross-section, and track groove opening sides of the at least one of each of the track grooves (22) and the track grooves (25) are each formed into an elliptical shape in horizontal cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Yoshinori Terasaka, Tomoshige Kobayashi, Kisao Yamazaki, Minoru Ishijima
  • Patent number: 8342972
    Abstract: An outer joint member (10) and an inner joint member (40) each have a shaft portion (18 and 46) having a male spline formed thereon, and shaft clamps (60) are press-fitted onto the respective shaft portions (18 and 46). Each of the shaft clamps (60) includes: a connection hole (66) that has a female spline formed therein, extends from a first axial end partway toward a second axial end, and has no quench-hardened layer; and a cylindrical portion (64) that has no female spline formed therein and extends from the second axial end partway toward the first axial end. The shaft portions (18 and 46) each have a quench-hardened layer on the outer circumference thereof. The inner diameter of the connection hole (64) at a portion having no female spline formed therein is less than the outer diameters of the shaft portions (18 and 46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta Yamazaki, Minoru Ishijima
  • Patent number: 8342971
    Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity universal joint secures smooth rotation and reduces a load on a cage even at a large operating angle and when bearing large torque. The universal joint includes an outer joint member having an inner spherical surface in which track grooves are circumferentially formed in an axial direction and an inner joint member having an outer spherical surface in which track grooves paired with the track grooves of the outer joint member are circumferentially formed in the axial direction and multiple outer spherical surface portions circumferentially arranged. Balls are interposed between the track grooves of the outer and inner joint members for transmitting torque. A cage is interposed between the inner spherical surface and the outer spherical surface for retaining the balls. A spherical surface angle of the outer spherical surface on a joint opening side is set to 12.5° or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Masazumi Kobayashi, Kisao Yamazaki, Hisaaki Kura, Shin Tomogami
  • Patent number: 8342973
    Abstract: A sliding joint for motor vehicles, having an inner race which includes inner running grooves, an outer race which includes outer running grooves, a cage, and balls. The inner running grooves are constructed parallel to each other in the axial dimension and include a displacement segment and a functional segment, and the outer running grooves are likewise constructed parallel to each other in the axial dimension and also include a displacement segment and a functional segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignees: Neumayer Tekfor Holding GmbH, Hofer PDC GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Lutz
  • Publication number: 20120329565
    Abstract: A cage for a ball joint, the cage being configured annularly about a longitudinal axis and having an inner surface and an outer surface, two edges delimiting the inner surface and the outer surface and a window, in which the inner surface surrounds an inner space of the cage and two webs laterally adjoin the window. One edge of the cage has an offset relative to the longitudinal axis in relation to one of the two webs at the height of the window. A ball joint with a corresponding cage is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Neumayer Tekfor Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Szentmihalyi, Arne Schmidbauer
  • Patent number: 8317629
    Abstract: An inner joint member for a constant velocity universal joint is incorporated in an outer joint member and has multiple ball track grooves which are formed in an outer diameter surface thereof. A spherical surface roughness in a range extending from an axial center of the outer diameter surface to an end side of the outer diameter surface which corresponds to an opening side of the outer joint member is larger than a spherical surface roughness in a range extending from the axial center of the outer diameter surface to an end side of the outer diameter surface which corresponds to an inner side of the outer joint member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Hamaguchi, Yasunori Hamaguchi, legal representative, Yumiko Yokoyama, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8313387
    Abstract: A cage for a constant velocity universal joint include, an outer diameter surface guided by an outer joint member; an inner diameter surface guided by an inner joint member; and pockets for accommodating multiple balls which are interposed between the outer joint member and the inner joint member. A spherical surface roughness in a range extending from an axial center of the inner diameter surface to an end side of the inner diameter surface which corresponds to an opening side of the outer joint member is different from a spherical surface roughness in a range extending from the axial center of the inner diameter surface to an end side of the inner diameter surface which corresponds to an inner side of the outer joint member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Hamaguchi, Yasunori Hamaguchi, legal representative, Yumiko Yokoyama, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8313386
    Abstract: A housing for a constant-velocity universal joint includes a cup having a cylindrical outer surface, a shank integral with the cup, and a rotation axis extending through the cup and the shank, the cup and the shank being spaced apart along the axis. A shoulder is interposed between the cup and the shank and a recess extends into the cup outer surface and is disposed adjacent to the shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Stefano Costa
  • Patent number: 8311457
    Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes a first rotation body and a second rotation body. The first rotation body includes a cup unit, a shaft, and ribs that project from the cup unit and connect the cup unit to the shaft. One of the first rotation body and the second rotation body transmits a rotational driving force to other one of the first rotation body and the second rotation body through balls. The first rotation body is so formed that the cup unit and the shaft are formed into one piece using resin material. Moreover, the rib is so formed into one piece with the cup unit and the shaft using resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Limited, NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Junya Takigawa, Yoshimi Asayama
  • Patent number: 8292749
    Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity universal joint is capable of reducing the size and weight of a cage while keeping the strength of the cage, and is also capable of improving the high angle strength and the durability. An offset angle ?CAGE of the cage, which is defined by lines that connect a center curvature of an inner spherical surface and a center curvature of an outer spherical surface of the cage and centers of torque transmission balls, and a line that connects the centers of the torque transmission balls and a joint center in a state where a joint operating angle is 0°, is set in a range of 2.7°??CAGE<5.7°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Hoshino, Teruaki Fujio, Tohru Nakagawa, Wasaburo Suganuma
  • Patent number: 8282495
    Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity universal joint is capable of, without involving decreases in load capacity of an inner joint member (inner member) and in spherical area, increasing rigidity of a cage and stabilizing durability. The cage has four pockets including a pair of long pockets with large circumferential intervals and a pair of short pockets with small circumferential intervals. The pair of long pockets can be shifted by 180 degrees along a circumferential direction, and the pair of short pockets can be shifted by 180 degrees along the circumferential direction. The long pockets and the short pockets are arranged alternately to each other along the circumferential direction. Two balls are accommodated in each of the long pockets, while one ball is accommodated in each of the short pockets. A cutout portion is provided to an inner end portion of at least one of the track grooves of the inner member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Hoshino, Teruaki Fujio, Tohru Nakagawa, Wasaburo Suganuma
  • Publication number: 20120238370
    Abstract: A constant velocity joint for a drive system comprises: an outer joint member having a plurality of inwardly facing outer ball grooves, the outer ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves and a second group of grooves with composite or non-linear groove pattern; an inner joint member disposed inside the outer joint member and having a plurality of outwardly facing inner ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves and a second group of grooves with composite or non-linear groove pattern, each inner ball groove of the inner joint member being coupled with a corresponding outer ball groove of the outer joint member generally in crossed pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: HYUNDAI WIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seung Tark Oh, Tae Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 8267802
    Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity universal joint is capable of securing a ball groove depth larger than conventional products and enhancing performance without an increase in a “force of pushing out balls in an axial direction”, the force having an influence on joint efficiency. In the fixed type constant velocity universal joint, a center of each of a plurality of guide grooves of an outer joint member and a center of each of a plurality of guide grooves of an inner joint member are offset with respect to a spherical surface center of an inner surface and a spherical surface center of an outer surface. A ratio (F/PCR) of an offset amount F to a length of a segment (PCR) ranges from 0.045 to 0.065. A ratio (?t/?) when an angle ? is the total of an angle ?t and an angle ?c ranges from 0.45 to 0.65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoshige Kobayashi, Kenta Yamazaki, Teruaki Fujio
  • Publication number: 20120220382
    Abstract: Provided is an eight-ball fixed type constant velocity universal joint of an undercut free type, which is capable of increasing a torque capacity at high operating angles while securing durability at low operating angles. When a distance between a center of a track groove (32) and a center of a ball (37) is denoted by Rt, and when an axial distance between the center of the track groove (32) and a joint center plane (P) is denoted by F, a ratio R1 of F to Rt is set to fall within a range of 0.061?R1?0.087. When a radial offset amount, which is a distance between the center of the track groove (32) and a joint center axial line (X) is denoted by fr, a ratio R3 of fr to Rt is set to fall within a range of 0.07?R3?0.19. When an effective cured-layer depth with Hv 513 is denoted by Di and the diameter of the ball is denoted by d, a bottom surface of a track groove of an inner joint member includes a cured layer with an effective cured-layer depth ratio Di/d of at least 0.111 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Keisuke Sone, Hirokazu Ooba, Kazuhiko Yoshida, Kiyohiro Itou
  • Patent number: 8251829
    Abstract: A constant velocity ball joint is disclosed. The constant velocity ball joint may be a counter track joint, and may include first and second track pairs that form an opposite opening angle. The first track pairs may be provided with a track inflection point. The second track pairs may each form a second track centerline that has a path other than a singular circular path in a section between the central joint plane and the connection side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International, GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Weckerling, Nader Khoshoei, Ramon Amenabar, Xabier Ureta, Jose M. Cubert, Inaki Gutierrez
  • Publication number: 20120202605
    Abstract: A constant velocity joint including an outer race having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface including a plurality of outer bail tracks. The constant velocity joint also includes an inner race having a plurality of inner ball tracks which correspond to the outer ball tracks, a ball cage disposed between the outer race and the inner race, a plurality of balls arranged within the ball cage and contacting the outer ball tracks and the inner ball tracks. A damping assembly is connected to the outer race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventor: Robert L. Cassell
  • Patent number: 8226489
    Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint has high strength and capable of suppressing deformation caused by quenching at an opening end portion of a track groove of an outer joint member. In an undercut-free constant velocity universal joint in which a track groove in a cup portion of the outer joint member has a hardened layer formed by induction quenching, an opening end surface is protruded by a protruding amount t in an axial direction from a groove bottom of the track groove in a relief surface. The protruding amount t satisfies a relation of t=0.037d to 0.185d when a diameter of a torque transmission ball is represented by d. The opening end surface in a protruded portion and an outer surface of the cup portion continuous to the opening end surface have an unhardened layer free from hardening by quenching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Ooba, Kazuhiko Yoshida, Keisuke Sone
  • Publication number: 20120184381
    Abstract: A sliding joint for motor vehicles, having an inner race which includes inner running grooves, an outer race which includes outer running grooves, a cage, and balls. The inner running grooves are constructed parallel to each other in the axial dimension and include a displacement segment and a functional segment, and the outer running grooves are likewise constructed parallel to each other in the axial dimension and also include a displacement segment and a functional segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicants: Hofer PDC GmbH, Neumayer Tekfor Holding GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias LUTZ
  • Publication number: 20120184382
    Abstract: Provided is a fixed type constant velocity universal joint which can prevent stick slip from occurring due to lack of lubricity, and prevent abnormal noises from occurring at low temperatures, even during use in an extremely cold region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Tomoshige Kobayashi, Minoru Ishijima, Kisao Yamazaki, Aiko Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8216075
    Abstract: A joint arrangement in the manner of a counter track joint, wherein a cage is provided which is arranged between a joint outer part and joint inner part, which has a cage outer sphere with an outer sphere centripetal point and a cage inner sphere with an inner sphere center point and which has a plurality of cage windows which each hold at least one ball, wherein at least the outer sphere center point and the inner sphere center point of the cage are arranged offset with respect to the joint center plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Weckerling, Ida Hassenrik, Nader Khoshoei, Jose Manuel Cubert
  • Publication number: 20120165105
    Abstract: Provided is a fixed type constant velocity universal joint, which is capable of preventing heat generation when high load is applied or during high-speed rotation to improve durability, and further, suppressing a contact resistance between a cage and inner and outer races to improve constant velocity performance. A curvature center of a track groove (22) of an outer joint member and a curvature center of a track groove (25) of an inner joint member have an offset of 0 in an axial direction. Track grooves (22a, 22b, 25a, 25b) of the outer joint member and the inner joint member, which are tilted in opposite directions from each other with respect to an axis line, are alternately formed in a circumferential direction. An outer surface (24) of the inner joint member is a spherical surface which is to be brought into sliding contact with an inner spherical surface (28b) of the cage (28). An inner surface (21) of the outer joint member is a cylindrical surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Teruaki Fujio, Tatsuro Sugiyama