Lohr & Bromkamp Gmbh

Gkn Lobro Gmbh

Gkn Automotive Ag

Uni-cardan Aktiengesellschaft

Gkn Driveline Deutschland Gmbh

Gkn Driveline International Gmbh

Lohr & Brompkamp Gmbh

Hans-Heinrich Welschof

Rudolf Beier

Peter Schwarzler

Norbert Hofmann

Michael Ricks

Peter Schw&auml;rzler

Markus Eschbach

Dieter Burghardt

Werner Krude

Wolfgang Hildebrandt

Karl-Heinz Muller

Friedhelm John

Volker Bergmann

Frank Reher

Karl Damian

Hans Wormsbacher

Joachim Pr&ouml;lb

Edgar Dries

Thomas Sch&auml;ffner

Joachim Schoneberger

Wolfgang L&ouml;bel

An articulated structural part includes a peripheral zone. The peripheral zone includes a surface, an outermost layer situated immediately adjacent the surface, a further layer situated adjacent the outermost layer and a core situated adjacent the further layer, wherein the outermost layer is substantially martensite. The further layer includes a varying mixture of martensite and of ferrite or perlite. The core is substantially ferrite or perlite. A process for producing an articulated structural part is also provided.

Process for the production of an articulated structural part having improved wear resistance

A connecting assembly for transmitting torque between a rotational part () having through-holes () and an attaching flange (). Bolts () pass through the through-holes () and are threaded into threaded holes () to bolt the rotational part () and the attaching flange () together to transmit torque. The bolts () have a bolt shank () and a threaded portion (), wherein the diameter of the shank (D) is greater than the diameter of the threaded portion (D). The through-holes, on the inside, include radial projections () which reduce the cross-section and which are radially deformed when the bolts () are inserted and threaded in, so that bolts (), by way of the bolt shank (), rest in a play-free way against the projections () in the through-holes () of the rotational part ().

Connecting assembly

A longitudinal displacement unit for a shaft assembly includes a profiled sleeve () with first ball grooves (), a profiled journal (), second ball grooves (), balls () which are arranged in groups in pairs of first and second ball grooves (), and a ball cage () which is positioned between the profiled sleeve () and the profiled journal () and fixes the balls () in their axial position relative to one another. The ball cage () contains elastic rolling members which are positioned between the profiled sleeve () and the profiled journal (), so as to be radially pre-tensioned and which, during the transmission of torque, remain largely free from circumferential forces.

Longitudinal displacement unit with braking rollers

A longitudinal plunging unit for a shaft assembly used for torque transmitting purposes. The unit includes a profiled sleeve ( ) with circumferentially distributed, longitudinally extending first ball grooves ( ), a profiled journal ( ) with circumferentially distributed, longitudinally extending second ball grooves ( ), balls ( ) which are arranged in groups of balls in pairs of first and second ball grooves ( ), and a ball cage ( ) which is positioned between the profiled sleeve ( ) and the profiled journal ( ) and axially fixes the balls in their positions relative to one another, wherein in the region of the ball grooves ( ), the profiled sleeve ( ) and the profiled journal ( ) include the same torsional stiffness, such that, during the introduction of torque, they are subject to the same angles of torsion.

Longitudinal plunging unit

A driveshaft ( ) having two ball type constant velocity fixed joints ( ), a shaft part ( ) connecting said two joints, and an axial plunging part ( ) arranged in said shaft part ( ). The ball type constant velocity fixed joints ( ) each comprise: a bell-shaped outer joint part ( ) provided with internally positioned first ball tracks ( ); a hub-shaped inner joint part ( ) provided with externally positioned second ball tracks ( ) and arranged inside said outer joint part ( ); balls ( ) engaging pairs of first ball tracks ( ) and second ball tracks ( ); and an annular ball cage ( ) with circumferentially distributed cage windows in which the balls are held in a common plane. The pairs of first ball tracks ( ) and second ball tracks ( ), when viewed in a longitudinal section, form opening angles (&agr; , &agr; ) relative to one another for controlling the balls ( ) in the ball tracks. The opening angles (&agr; , &agr; ) of the pairs of first ball tracks and second ball tracks at both ball type constant velocity fixed joints ( ) open in the same direction.

Driveshaft adapted to a preferred torque transmitting direction

An assembly consisting of a constant velocity universal joint having an outer joint part, an inner joint part and torque transmitting elements which, in the direction of rotation, constitute positive engaging means between the outer joint part and the inner joint part and having a shaft attachment flange. The outer joint part and the shaft attachment flange comprising threaded attaching means for the purpose of being threaded to one another. The threaded attaching means are positioned at the circumference on a diameter outside a rolling circle of the torque transmitting elements. Centering means are provided for centering the outer joint part relative to the shaft attachment flange. The outer joint part comprises an integrally formed-on base on the side of the shaft attachment flange and the entering means are provided directly on the base on a diameter inside the rolling circle of the torque transmitting elements.

Monobloc joint with centering means

A VL constant velocity universal joint for accommodating axial displacements in a propeller shaft of a motor vehicle and for connecting a drive unit to a rear axle gearbox has at least two articulatably connected shaft portions, with a standard plunge which is usable in a damage-free way. An outer joint part has outer ball tracks and an inner joint part has inner ball tracks. A plurality of torque transmitting balls are guided in the outer and inner ball tracks associated with one another. Associated outer ball tracks and inner ball tracks form angles of intersection with respect to a central axis A of the joint. The angles are of identical size but set in opposite directions. A ball cage is provided with a plurality of cage windows each accommodating one of the balls and which hold the balls in one plane when the joint is axially displaced or articulated. The outer joint part is connected to an annular flange and the inner joint part to a connecting shaft, wherein when the outer joint part is displaced relative to the inner joint part, the effective guiding length of the ball tracks in one of the two joint parts is shorter than that of the ball tracks in the other one of the two joint parts. Stop means are provided which become effective at the end of the standard plunge to prevent the balls from leaving the ball tracks with the shorter length. The stop means comprise nominal deformation means which are deformable when the standard plunge is exceeded.

VL joint for a propeller shaft with an optimized crash behavior

A constant velocity universal joint of the tripod type having an outer joint part with three axis-parallel recesses each forming circumferentially opposed pairs of running grooves. An inner joint part with three circumferentially distributed radial arms with spherical heads each engage one of the recesses. The joint also has guiding pieces for rolling contact members. The guiding pieces each comprise a radially extending cylindrical inner aperture radially movably and articulatably slidingly engaged by one of the spherical heads and longitudinally directed guiding grooves holding rolling contact members rolling in the running grooves. The guiding grooves are each provided with end stops at both ends and with a free rolling path available to the rolling contact members in the guiding grooves between the end stops.

Tripod joint with spherical arms

A universal joint for small articulation angles, especially, an intermediate joint in a propeller shaft of motor vehicles, has an outer joint part (11) with longitudinally extending first ball tracks (14) which, between stop faces, include an axial length with an unchanged cross-section; an inner joint part (31, 51) with longitudinally extending second ball tracks (36, 56) whose axial length is greater than that of the first ball tracks (14); and torque transmitting balls (15) guided in the radially opposed first and second ball tracks (14, 36, 56). The outer joint part (11), at least in the axial region of the ball tracks (14) is produced as a formed plate metal part with an approximately constant wall thickness. The ball tracks (14), in the outer joint part (11), are formed by circumferentially distributed formations (13) axially closed at both ends by stops (16, 17).

Universal joint

A universal joint for small articulation angles has parallel, longitudinally extending tracks in the inner joint part and in the outer joint part and axially freely movable torque transmitting balls held in an uncontrolled way in the tracks. The tracks in the two joint parts include a constant cross-section adapted substantially, without a clearance, to the balls. The rolling movement of the balls is limited by axial stops in one of the joint members. The inner joint part includes outer spherical surface parts which are interrupted by the tracks. The spherical surface parts act as sliding faces. The outer joint part includes inner surface parts which are interrupted by the tracks and which act as guiding faces. When the joint is articulated, the surface parts which act as guiding faces, supportingly act on the surface parts acting as sliding faces around at least one fulcrum positioned on the longitudinal axis of the outer joint part.

A propeller shaft for motor vehicles, having an intermediate joint provided in the form of an axially movable universal ball joint and consisting of at least an outer joint part with longitudinally extending first ball tracks, an inner joint part with longitudinally extending second ball tracks and torque transmitting balls guided in radially opposed first and second ball tracks, with the outer joint part being firmly connected to a tubular shaft and with the inner joint part being connected to a shaft journal, and with the inner diameter of the outer joint part or of the adjoining tubular shaft in the region adjoining the free space assumed by the inner joint part in operation during plunging movements in the direction of the tubular shaft being smaller than the outer diameter of the inner joint part.

Energy absorbing propeller shaft for motor vehicles

A constant velocity universal ball joint for a wheel hub/universal joint unit has a bearing assembly arranged on the wheel hub and tensioned relative thereto by the outer joint part of the universal joint. The joint has an unfastenable connection between the wheel hub and universal joint includes a bolt/nut assembly. The outer joint part and the inner joint part have longitudinally extending ball tracks which are arranged radially opposite one another. The tracks contain torque-transmitting balls which, in turn, are held in one plane in individual windows of a ball cage positioned between the outer joint part and the inner joint part. Upon articulation of the joint, the balls are moved on to the angle-bisecting plane with the outer joint part, at one end, closed by a base part and the inner joint part connected to a shaft. The outer joint part includes a base part which, from the wheel hub end, is insertable into an aperture at the wheel hub end and which forms one of the parts of the bolt/nut assembly for tensioning the wheel hub. The bearing assembly and the outer joint part relative to one another, and which base part, after having been connected to the outer joint part, permanently extends into a free space inside the outer joint part required for assembling the joint and thus cannot be connected to the outer joint part until the joint is completely assembled.

Constant velocity universal ball joint

A constant velocity universal ball joint has the ball tracks in the outer joint part (11, 31, 51, 71) and in the inner joint part (13, 33, 53, 73) designed in such a way that, with coaxial axes (A.sub.11, . . . ; A.sub.13, . . . ) and corresponding central planes (E.sub.11, . . . ; E.sub.13, . . . ) of the outer and inner joint parts (11, 31, . . . ; 13, 33, . . . ) on both sides of the respective central planes (E.sub.11, . . ; E.sub.13, . . . ), in a radial projection on to the axes (A.sub.11, . . . ; A.sub.13 . . . ), they form with their center lines (M.sub.11, . . . ; M.sub.13 . . . ) an angle relative to one another which deviates from zero and which decreases towards their axial ends.

A constant velocity universal ball joint has an outer joint part with first ball tracks in its inner recess and an inner joint part with second ball tracks on its outer surface. The first and second tracks are uniformly circumferentially distributed and arranged opposite one another in pairs and each pair receives a torque transmitting ball. A ball cage holds the balls in a common plane (E) and includes unevenly distributed windows, whose number corresponds to the number of balls, in which the balls are arranged so as to be circumferentially movable. The windows have radial center lines respectively bisecting their circumferential length. In the cross-section through the ball cage with reference to a radial axis (X.sub.A), which coincides with the radial center line (X.sub.1, X.sub.2) at least of one first window, and transverse axis (X.sub.Q) , which is positioned perpendicularly to the radial axis (X.sub.A) and extends through the cage center, the respective shortest angular distances of the radial center lines (X.sub.n) of the remaining windows from the radial axis (X.sub.A) are reduced compared to the angular distances of the radii (R.sub.T) of a pitch circle with an equal angular spacing, which pitch circle corresponds to the number of windows and starts from the radial axis (X.sub.A). Also, the respective shortest angular distances of the radial center lines (X.sub.n) of the remaining windows from the transverse axis (X.sub.Q) are increased compared to the angular distances of the radii (R.sub.T) of the pitch circle with an equal angular spacing, which pitch circle corresponds to the number of windows.

Constant velocity universal ball joint with asymmetric cage

A constant velocity universal joint of the tripod type has an outer joint part with three axially extending, circumferentially distributed longitudinal recesses with circumferentially distributed opposed tracks. The tracks have surfaces which are grooved so as to have the shape of a circular cylindrical portion. An inner joint part includes three radial circumferentially distributed arms each engaging one of the longitudinal recesses and carrying roller assemblies having roller carriers and roller elements. The roller elements have running faces in the shape of a spherical portion and are axially guided so as to roll on the tracks in the longitudinal recesses of the outer joint part. The roller carriers are guided on the arms so as to be pivotable and longitudinally movable relative to the respective arm axis. The roller elements are coaxially supported on the roller carriers so as to be rotatable, with the roller assemblies consisting of the roller carriers and roller elements, to prevent them from tilting relative to the outer joint part, are supported on the base of the recesses and on longitudinally extending guiding shoulder faces of the outer joint part which radially inwardly adjoin the tracks, with the roller elements, on their respective radial insides, each including an annular shoulder face which adjoins the running face in the shape of a spherical portion and which provides the supporting contact between the respective roller assembly and the guiding shoulder faces.

Growing community of inventors

Rodenbach, Germany

Hans-Heinrich Welschof