Gkn Driveline North America, Inc.

Gkn Automotive Gmbh

Erik Harry Meyer

Joachim Proelss

A shaft system for use in a vehicle is disclosed. The shaft system includes a tube. A constant velocity joint is secured to the tube. The shaft system also includes a plug arranged within the constant velocity joint wherein the plug is secured within the joint by a weld curl that is also used to secure the constant velocity joint to the tube.

Plug and method of retaining the same

A constant velocity joint for use with an automotive vehicle. The constant velocity joint includes an outer race and an inner race supported within the outer race. The constant velocity joint includes a cover, wherein that cover creates a barrier between a lubricant and the atmosphere. The constant velocity joint also includes a permeable membrane adjacent to the cover.

Venting solution for constant velocity joint

The invention relates constant velocity fixed universal joints A fixed constant-velocity ratio universal joint, comprising an outer joint part, an inner joint part, a ball cage and a plurality of balls. The ball cage is disposed between the inner and outer joint parts and includes windows in which respective balls are received and constrained such that their centers lie in a common plane. At least two opposing windows are wider than said outer joint part lands to accommodate receiving the lands during assembly. The cage includes substantially spherical inner and outer surfaces which engage the land surfaces on the inner and outer joint parts respectively. The ball cage also includes a relief groove between at least one pair of adjacent windows thereby providing a reduced circumference for the ball cage outer surface in the region of the groove. The groove is at least as wide as one of the outer joint part lands to accommodate introduction of the ball cage into the outer joint part when the ball cage is rotated about a transverse axis by 90&deg; with respect to the outer joint part axis during assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Chesterfield Township, MI, United States of America

Erik Harry Meyer