Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Automotive Components Holdings, LLC

Robert W Sams

Michael Hopson

Bradley W Doner

Robert F Keller

Peter Bongartz

Holm Schmitt

Alexander Haertel

A constant velocity (CV) joint and, more particularly, a retaining ring for a CV joint and a method of assembling a retaining ring on a CV joint. The tripod constant velocity joint may be assembled by placing a retaining ring in alignment with a trunnion head, applying a force to the aligned retaining ring to expand the diameter of said retaining ring so that a fracture area on the retaining ring fractures. After the fracture area fractures, the retaining ring is displaced into a retaining groove on the trunnion. The retaining ring includes an outer surface, an inner surface, a first notch extending from one of the inner and outer surfaces to the other of the inner and outer surfaces, and a fracture area extending from the first notch to the other of the inner and outer surfaces.

Retainer ring for tripod constant velocity joints

An anti-shudder constant velocity universal joint of the tripod type is provided having an outer joint member including three circumferentially distributed, axially extending longitudinal tracks formed therein, and an inner joint member having three circumferentially distributed radial journals arranged to engage the longitudinal tracks when the joint is assembled. The end of each journal is mated with and supports rotation of a roller bearing assembly, while rotating and pivoting within the roller bearing assembly upon articulation of the joint. This reduces the frictional forces on the roller bearings created by maintaining the roller bearings in a relatively proper/parallel orientation within the tracks by allowing the journal ends to freely rotate and pivot therein. A spherical-to-spherical contact surface is provided between the journal ends and an inner ring of the respective roller bearing assemblies to lower Hertzian stresses by distributing forces over a larger region of contact.

Anti-shudder tripod type CV universal joint

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Clinton Township, MI, United States of America

Robert W Sams