Gkn Automotive Gmbh

Anna Gemmelmaier

Wolfgang Hildebrandt

A constant velocity universal ball joint comprising an outer joint part having a first axis and comprising an inner aperture in which there are provided substantially longitudinally extending first ball tracks, an inner joint part having a second axis and forming a ball hub positioned in the inner aperture of the outer joint part and being provided with substantially longitudinally extending second ball tracks, torque transmitting balls guided in first and second ball tracks associated with one another in pairs, and an annular ball cage which is arranged between the outer joint part and inner joint part and comprises circumferential distributed ball windows in which the individual balls are held in a common plane and guided on to the angle-bisecting plane between the first axis and the second axis, wherein at least the ball tracks of one of the joint parts&mdash;outer joint part or inner joint part&mdash;comprise a track cross-section which remains uniform along the length of same, whose second derivative rises continuously and monotonically from the track base, whose radius of curvature is not constant and which, when the joint is torque-free, permits a contact between the respective ball and the track base within a range of &lE;5&deg; measured from the track base.

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Sankt Augustin, Germany

Anna Gemmelmaier