Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly wherein the wheel is driven through a universal joint is arranged with the outer joint member of the universal joint in positive driving engagement with the inner bearing ring of the wheel bearing which is connected to drive the wheel hub.

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: The hub assembly comprises a wheel flange, a transmission joint and a rolling bearing. The confronting radial surfaces of the flange and the inner race of the bearing are separated throughout their height by a gap and consequently do not bear against each other. The connection between these two elements is achieved by means of a circumferential weld. By means of such an arrangement, there is avoided a harmful heating of the rolling bearing and of the joint by transmission of heat from the wheel flange.

Abstract: A homokinetic joint of the type wherein torque is transmitted between two heads by means of balls engaged in tracks formed in said heads, said tracks being in the form of grooves. The axes of both grooves in each of the ball rolling tracks are disposed so as to make an angle with one another both in the radial plane containing the center of the respective ball and the plane perpendicular thereto, containing said center. The angle of the grooves is higher in the radial direction than in the direction perpendicular thereto. The invention is applied to homokinetic joints, whether sliding or not, particularly adapted to automobile vehicles.

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: An articulated tricycle of the swingable type employing a front body and a rear body, the front body having a front wheel and the rear body having two rear wheels mounted on an axle. The rear body includes a first body member and a second body member. The first body member is pivoted about a transverse axis to the front body while the second body member is pivotally mounted about a longitudinal axis to the first body member. The second body member includes mounting for the rear wheels. A gear train extends between an engine, located in the front body, and the rear axle. This gear train may pass through either the first body member or second body member and includes a chain drive. Either the drive sprocket or the driven sprocket is positioned about a constant velocity universal joint which is in turn positioned about a transverse shaft or the transverse rear axle.

Abstract: A plunging constant velocity ratio universal joint with inner and outer joint members having opposed pairs of straight grooves receiving balls for torque transmission, and a ball cage with inner and outer part-spherical surfaces, wherein the inner part-spherical surface of the cage engages a number of elements constrained to sliding movement along the lands between the grooves in the inner joint member. Each element may have a projection engaging in a groove in its land, and may be able to rotate about such projection. Frictional resistance to plunge of the joint is minimized by ensuring that the balls roll rather than skid along the grooves in the joint members.

Abstract: A universal joint comprises inner and outer drive members, two drive balls located in the complementary funnel-shaped ball grooves of the inner and outer drive members and a pilot member which engages for the two drive balls to locate the drive balls in cooperation with the complementary funnel-shaped grooves.The two drive balls are 180.degree. apart and the pilot member is hinge-connected to the inner drive member for pivotal movement solely about an axis which is perpendicular to an axis through the center of the two drive balls.

Abstract: Therein is disclosed a method for assembling a uniform-speed joint having an inner rotary body and an outer rotary body which transmits a rotational force from one to the other through a plurality of small spheres in receiving holes on the disposed outer peripheral surface of said inner rotary body and including a pair of small spheres diametrically facing each other where the intersecting angle between the rotation axes of said inner rotary body and said outer rotary body is variable and the rotational speed is not changed.

Abstract: An assembly of a bearing unit with inner and outer members and rolling elements between them and a universal joint member, with a retaining element which has been deformed to hold the members together and removal of which to permit dismantling of the assembly leaves at least one of the members undamaged and fit for further service. Torque transmission between the members may be by way of tapered splines.

Abstract: A universal joint assembly for transmitting a moment of rotation in both directions between two members comprising an outer joint element and an inner joint element, the joint elements have confronting spherical surfaces wherein one of the surfaces is smoothly spherical and the other surface has a series of generally axially extending circumferentially spaced grooves having flanks open at an angle, the joint assembly includes a plurality of rolling elements in the annular space between the confronting surfaces which engage in the grooves and a cage having a plurality of pockets disposed between the confronting surfaces of the joint elements for guiding the rolling elements. At least a pair of rolling elements are located in a common pocket of the cage and elastic preloaded member is disposed between the rolling elements in each pocket which is operable to press the rolling elements reciprocally in a peripheral direction against the related flank of the groove.

Abstract: A universal joint is provided comprising an outer substantially bowl-shaped element having a cylindrical bore in which are formed tracks, an inner element housed in this bore and having a convex external surface provided with grooves, and connecting balls, disposed respectively in a track of the outer element and in a groove of the inner element. These connecting balls are held in position by a cage which has a concave internal surface adapted to cooperate with the convex external surface of the inner element, and a convex external surface. The clip is also provided with positioners removable positioning means for securing the cage with respect to the outer element.The removable positioners are formed by an expandable holding clip comprising at least two diametrically opposite lugs adapted to surround the cage and having a concave shape so as to cooperate with the external surface of this cage. These lugs are engaged in grooves formed in the internal wall of the outer elements.

Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly for use in an automotive vehicle includes a wheel hub. A rotary constant velocity joint drives the wheel hub and the outer member of the constant velocity joint is an integral part of the wheel hub. A bearing is mounted on a tubular part of the wheel hub and includes an outer bearing ring and a two-part inner bearing ring. A retaining ring secures the two-part inner bearing ring on the tubular part of the wheel hub. The retaining ring is secured in a groove in the tubular part and in the secured position it is plastically deformed and pretensions the inner bearing ring.

Abstract: A universal joint comprises inner and outer drive members with longitudinal drive grooves which receive drive balls for transferring torque between the members. The balls are positioned by a cage which is pivoted on the inner and outer drive members about two respective centers which are on opposite sides of and spaced from the cage center. The cage has a cylindrical surface and two stop surfaces inside the cage which permits the inner drive member to slide and pivot with respect to the cage for limited distance which in turn provides either a limited plunge or a limited plunge of reduced resistance.

Abstract: A universal joint has two shafts, axially restrained, but pivotable from a common point. One shaft end is in the form of a thick-walled hollow sphere. Two axially extending grooves are cut into the wall facing each other in a circumferentially opposed relationship to form a first set. The other shaft end is in the form of a spherical bowl having a central ball. The inside surface of the bowl and the surface of the ball define an annular spherical cavity into which the hollow sphere nests. Two axially extending grooves are cut, one in each surface, in a radially opposed relationship to form a second set. Each set of grooves positively determines the line path that the center of an enclosed ball will travel. In the assembled joint, the line paths are in mirror image relationship and always intersect in the homokinetic plane. The ball, being enclosed by each set is forced to occupy the intersection. The number of balls used can be any number, odd or even.

Abstract: An improved coupling device for joining two rotatable members which may undergo misalignment is disclosed. The device includes a plurality of balls for operatively coupling the two rotatable members. One disclosed embodiment of the coupling device is a plunging joint and another disclosed embodiment of the coupling device is a fixed joint. The joints can be used independently or, alternatively both types of joints can be combined in tandem to provide an improved transmission drive. Each joint is connected between a driving member and a driven member. The coupling device comprises laminated bearing units of alternating layers of resilient and nonextensible materials. The units are designed to carry in compression torque loads transmitted through the device.

Abstract: A constant velocity ball joint in which each of the rotary members of the bearing portion, such as an outer race, cage and inner race is chamfered at one axial end of inner or outer spherical portion thereof at an angle of 2.degree. to 15.degree. to the line tangent to the axial end and at a chamfering width of 1 mm or greater. Thanks to the provision of chamfering, the breakage of lubricating oil film under application of heavy load is avoided to ensure a smooth rotation of the bearing and high durability of the constant velocity ball joint.

Abstract: A universal joint is provided with an outer ring and has a socket, an inner ring accommodated in the socket, and a set of flatted balls accommodated in groove-like ball races. The ball races are formed in the surface of the socket and in the surface of the inner ring, respectively, to transmit rotation from one ring to the other ring, wherein a ball with its flat face can freely cooperate with a curved surface of a race.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint in which an outer member and an inner member are coupled through a cage member which has an outer spherical surface and an inner spherical surface. These spherical surfaces of the cage member are in contact with an inner spherical surface of the outer member and an outer spherical surface of the inner member, respectively. The cage member supports a number of balls in respective windows, and these balls are in engagement with respective pairs of longitudinally extending ball grooves formed in the inner spherical surface of the outer member and the outer spherical surface of the inner member. The bottom surfaces of the ball grooves extend substantially along respective circular arcs whose centers are located at equal distances on opposite sides of the center of the joint. The inner and outer spherical surfaces of the cage member are eccentric to one another and their centers are also located at equal distances on opposite sides of the center of the joint.