Daimler Chrysler Ag

Mercedes-Benz Aktiengesellschaft

Rolf Schröder

Otto Worner

Heinz Schultz

Jürgen Henkel

Günter Wörner

Peter Münich

Tripod joints have a joint outer part and a joint inner part which are in driving connection to each other with cylindrical rolling bodies being connected in between and axial displacement and pivotability being ensured. In this case, the rolling bodies extend in rectilinear, guiding running paths of the joint outer part. The rolling bodies are mounted in a manner such that they may be displaced longitudinally via the cages but to a restricted extend radially with respect to the pressure element. The radial extent of the running paths or mating surfaces is greater than the longitudinal extent of the rolling bodies. This enables the rolling bodies to move on a path in the shape of a circular arc. The arrangement provides an improved, mechanical transmission function of the tripod joint and reduced wear as a result. The tripod joint is suitable for the displaceable and pivotable driving connection of two shaft ends, e.g., in conjunction with drive trains or side shafts of motor vehicles.

Tripod joint

In a hydrodynamic torque converter, an axial abutment is arranged to support friction discs of a lock-up clutch and a clutch actuator working pressure chamber accommodating an axial piston so as to move with a friction disc carrier. Together with a second friction disc carrier, the friction disc carrier torsionally holds the friction discs in alternating sequence and is also located in a centripetal flow between a pump impeller outlet and a torque converter return conduit.

Hydrodynamic torque converter with lock-up clutch

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Stuttgart, Germany

Rolf Schröder