Dana Corporation

Torque-traction Technologies, Inc.

Ray A Gall

James A Duggan

Leon W Valencic

Andrew L Nieman

Philip J Mazziotti

Albert Aiken

A fixed center constant velocity joint includes an outer race having races formed with a spherical surface, a shaft, a driver connected to the shaft and including radially directed pivot shafts, first and second bipods each located on an opposite axial side of the driver and including radially directed trunnions, equalizers fitted on a pivot shaft and driveably connected to the first and second bipods for pivoting the bipods relative to one another, and bearings rotatably supported on a trunnion and including a spherical surface conjugate to and engaged with a surface of a race.

Fixed-center articulating constant velocity joint

A driveshaft assembly includes a universal joint and a driveshaft tube. The universal joint includes a hollow journal and bearing carrier that is adapted to support a cross having a plurality of outwardly extending trunnions therein. In a first embodiment, the universal joint is assembled by initially disposing a pair of bearing supports loosely about a first pair of opposed trunnions of the cross. Next, the cross and the bearing supports are inserted within the carrier. The bearing supports are preferably sized to fit snugly within the carrier. Then, bearing cups are inserted through openings formed through upper and lower panels of the carrier and through openings formed through the bearing supports onto the opposed trunnions of the cross. The carrier and the cross are then connected to the driveshaft tube by moving them axially such that the carrier is received within opposed channel regions provided in a pair of arms formed in an end portion of the driveshaft tube. Lastly, the outermost ends of the arms of the end portion are bent inwardly toward one another to enclose portions of the carrier therein. The bent ends of the arms function to positively retain the universal joint within the end portion of the driveshaft tube.

Driveshaft tube and universal joint assembly and method of manufacturing same

A universal joint assembly includes a yoke having an arm with an opening formed therethrough. A bearing cup is mounted on an outwardly extending trunnion of a cross. The bearing cup includes an outer circumferential surface and an end surface. The circumferential surface is received within the yoke arm opening. A retainer clip includes a base portion secured to the yoke arm and an end portion extending over a portion of the end surface of the bearing cup. A retainer element is placed between the end portion of the retainer clip and the end surface of the bearing cup to provide an interference fit to prevent the bearing cup from rotating relative to the yoke arm. If desired, a depression can be formed in the end surface of the bearing cup to seat the retainer element.

Anti-rotation retainer for universal joint

A universal joint assembly which prevents the bearing cups from rotating relative to the end yokes during use. In a first embodiment, the arms of a half round end yoke are formed having integral tabs which extend over the recessed areas of the associated bearing cups. The tabs cooperate with the shoulders to prevent the bearing cups from rotating relative to the end yoke. In a second embodiment of the half round end yoke, retainer straps extending about the outer circumferential surface of the bearing cups are provided with integral flanges. The retainer strap flanges cooperate with the bearing cup shoulders in the same manner as the tabs to prevent relative rotation. In a third embodiment, the bearing cups are disposed in openings formed in the arms of a full round end yoke. A retainer strap has end portions which are formed at a slight angle relative to the central portion. In a fourth embodiment, the retainer straps are secured to the full round end yoke by spring clips.

Angled and pre-stressed clip for retaining a bearing cup in a universal

A structure restrains a bearing cap mounted on a universal joint cross from rotating relative to an end yoke connected thereto during use. The bearing cap has a plurality of axially extending protrusions provided on its end surface. In a first embodiment of the invention, the bearing cap is connected to a half round end yoke, and means are provided for engaging the protrusions to prevent rotation of the bearing cap relative to the half round end yoke. A preferred structure for this is a nib formed integrally with the half round end yoke arm, wherein the nib extends over the end of the recess and engages the protrusions to prevent rotation. A second embodiment includes a half round end yoke and a retainer strap for retaining the bearing cap within the recess of the yoke arm. The retainer strap includes a flange portion extending partially across the end surface of the bearing cap. The flange portion includes a slot positioned to engage the protrusions to prevent rotation. A third embodiment includes a half round end yoke and a retainer strap including a pair of flange portions extending partially across the end surface of the bearing cap. The flange portions define a gap therebetween to engage the protrusions to prevent rotation. A fourth embodiment includes a full round end yoke and a retainer strap extending completely across the end surface of the beating cap. The retainer strap engages the protrusions to prevent rotation. A fifth embodiment includes a full round end yoke and a spring tab including a flange portion extending partially across the end surface of the bearing cap. The flange portion is positioned to engage the protrusions to prevent rotation.

Bearing cap for universal joint having anti-rotation protrusions

Bearing cup and retainer strap for universal joint

A ferrous metal yoke for a universal joint, the yoke having a central axis, an annular hub and spaced-apart arms extending from an end of the hub on opposite sides of the central axis. The arms have coaxial openings extending therethrough for pivotably receiving the opposed arms of a first pair of arms of a cruciform-shaped journal cross, and each of the arms of the yoke is provided with a shear center which is positioned between such arm and the central axis of the yoke to provide corresponding or closely corresponding free deflection characteristics under torsional load around the central axis between the arms of the yoke and the arms of the journal cross which are received therein. Such shear center characteristics are obtained by constructing each arm of the yoke with a portion between the end of the hub and the opening in such arm in the shape of an outwardly facing 'C' in transverse cross-section, with a generally planar web portion and spaced-apart flange portions extending perpendicularly outwardly from the web portion and generally parallel to each other.

Yoke for Hookes-type universal joint

A seal and dust guard assembly for use with a bearing cup mounted on a trunnion of a universal joint cross member is disclosed. The trunnion includes a cylindrical friction surface, an inwardly tapered surface, a cylindrical sealing surface, and a cylindrical bearing surface. A bearing cup is rotatably mounted on the bearing surface of the trunnion. The outer surface of the bearing cup has an annular groove formed circumferentially thereabout. Between the open end of the bearing cup and the groove, the outer surface of the bearing cup is reduced in diameter. An annular seal assembly is provided for sealing the bearing cup on the trunnion. The seal assembly includes an elastomeric seal having a first lip adapted to engage the sealing surface and a second lip adapted to engage the tapered surface. The seal assembly further includes a plastic dust guard having an axially extending portion which extends over the reduced diameter portion of the bearing cup. The axially extending portion includes a flange which extends radially inwardly into the groove formed in the bearing cup so as to releasably secure the dust guards thereto. The dust guard also includes a radially inwardly extending portion which terminates in an inner friction surface. The dust guard friction surface frictionally engages the trunnion friction surface so as to releasably secure the bearing cup to the trunnion.

Seal and dust guard assembly for a universal joint trunnion

A slip joint seal assembly includes an elastomeric sealing body and an annular metallic cage circumferentially supporting the body. The assembly also includes a relubrication chamber. An auxiliary sealing lip on the elastomeric sealing body is normally out of contact with a shaft, but engages the shaft upon pressurization of the relubrication chamber to prevent lubrication from flowing toward primary sealing lips on the sealing body during relubrication. In a preferred form, the elastomeric sealing body includes a pair of sealing lips disposed for making angular contact with the shaft, while the auxiliary lip is also angularly disposed with respect to the shaft but in an axially opposite direction. In an alternate preferred form, an annular ring provides a reduction in volume of the relubrication chamber between the cage and shaft to enhance pressurization characteristics of the chamber.

Growing community of inventors

Toledo, OH, United States of America

Ray A Gall