Gkn Automotive Components, Inc.

Noel W Sutton

Steven C Hahn

Glenn F Gehrke

Patrick L Kurzeja

A self-aligning tripod joint tulip cover for use in a tripod joint assembly that has an irregularly shaped, non-circular tulip body and a shaft mounted spider assembly, the tulip cover having a cylindrical flange that surrounds a portion of the tulip body, interconnecting projections extending from the cylindrical flange that are received in part annular recesses of part cylindrical outer surface portions of the tulip body to secure the tulip cover to the tulip body, the tulip body further having an annular flange that extends radially inwardly from the cylindrical flange to lie in close proximity to the front face of the tulip body and to trap a resilient, annular sealing member therebetween. The tulip body has a longitudinal recess therein and longitudinal tracks that extend radially outwardly from the recess, each such recess slidingly receiving a roller of the spider assembly to permit reciprocation of the spider assembly within the tulip body. The tulip cover also has longitudinally extending projections which extend from the annular flange into the tracks in the tulip body to help prevent relative rotational movement between the tulip cover and the tulip body. The tripod joint assembly also has an annular flexible sealing boot, one end of which is attached to the shaft of the spider assembly and the other end of which is attached to the outside of the cylindrical flange of the tulip cover and is maintained in such position by a constricting band. The tulip cover is molded in a single piece from a thermoplastic material.

Tripod constant velocity joint and sealing retainer therefor

A self-aligning tripod joint tulip cover for interconnecting an irregularly shaped non-circular tulip body and a shaft mounted spider assembly, as well as a closed tripod constant velocity joint incorporating the self-aligning tripod joint tulip cover, the tulip body, and the shaft mounted spider assembly. The self-aligning tripod joint tulip cover is provided with a first flange engageable with the outer surface of the irregularly shaped non-circular tulip body and a second flange engageable with a boot, the second flange being generally concentric with the first flange but having a substantially smaller maximum diameter. An inwardly oriented flange extends from the self-aligning tulip cover between the first and second flanges, the inwardly oriented flange being engageable with a flat front surface of the irregularly shaped non-circular tulip body to form a seal therebetween. The first flange is crimped for interconnection with the irregularly shaped non-circular tulip body.

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Northville, MI, United States of America

Noel W Sutton