Gkn Driveline International Gmbh

Gkn Automotive Gmbh

Stephan Maucher

Thomas Weckerling

Wolfgang Hildebrandt

Anna Gremmelmaier

Ida Hassenrik

Rolf Cremerius

Hans-Jürgen Post

Ida Benner

Peter Harz

Herbert Taureg

Michael Ricks

Peter Bilz

Arne Berger

Hans Wormsb&auml;cher

Olf Wolf

Heiko Kossack

Robert Sandig

Kiyoshi Taniyama

Jürgen Post

A constant velocity joint comprises an outer joint part with outer ball tracks and an inner joint part with inner ball tracks. An outer ball track and an inner ball track respectively form a pair of tracks with one another; in each, a torque-transmitting ball is guided. The torque-transmitting balls are accommodated in a ball cage with circumferentially distributed cage windows. In any angular position of the constant velocity joint an opening angle is formed between an outer tangent to the outer ball track and an inner tangent to the inner ball track. At an articulation angle of zero degrees the opening angle is greater than zero degrees. A central articulation angle range is defined with articulation angles less than fifteen degrees. The opening angle increases by at least two degrees within the central articulation angle range, and is less than twelve degrees for all articulation angles within the central articulation angle range.

Constant velocity joint

A constant velocity joint comprises an outer joint part with outer ball tracks, an inner joint part with inner ball tracks, wherein respectively an outer ball track and an inner ball track form a pair of tracks with each other; a torque-transmitting ball in each pair of tracks; a ball cage in which the torque-transmitting balls are received; wherein a first articulation angle range is defined comprising articulation angles of less than twenty degrees, and a second articulation angle range comprising articulation angles greater than twenty degrees; wherein an opening angle within the first articulation angle range increases as the articulation angle (&#x3b2;) increases, and wherein a first mean opening angle increase of the first articulation angle range is greater than a second mean opening angle increase of the second articulation angle range.

A constant velocity joint comprises an outer joint part with a longitudinal axis and first and second outer ball tracks. The outer joint part comprises an attachment side and an aperture side. An inner joint part has a longitudinal axis and first and second inner ball tracks. with a torque transmitting ballin each pair of tracks, and a ball cagewith cage windowsin which the ballsare held. In each angular position of the constant velocity jointan opening angle is enclosed between an outer tangent and an inner tangent at the ball. At least one of the first and second pairs of tracks is designed such that, within a small articulation angle range comprising at least the joint central plane, at at least an articulation angle, an opening angle amounts to zero, and within a greater articulation angle range, an aperture-side opening angle of a first pair of tracks widens in the opposite axial direction relative to the aperture-side opening angle of a second pair of tracks.

Constant velocity joint in the form of a counter track joint

A constant velocity joint comprises an outer joint part with a longitudinal axis and outer ball tracks, wherein the outer joint part comprises an attachment side and an aperture side; an inner joint part with a longitudinal axis and inner ball tracks; a torque transmitting ball in each pair of tracks; a ball cage with cage windows in which the balls are held, wherein in each angular position of the constant velocity joint there is enclosed an opening angle &#x3b4; between an outer tangent T and an inner tangent T' at the ball, wherein at least one of the pairs of tracks is designed such that, inside a small articulation angle range, which comprises at least the joint central plane EM, in at least one joint articulation angle &#x3b2;, an opening angle &#x3b4; amounts to zero, and that inside a larger articulation angle range, an aperture side opening angle &#x3b4; of a ball moving towards the aperture side of the outer joint part and an attachment side opening angle &#x3b4; of a ball moving at the same joint articulation angle &#x3b2; towards the attachment side of the outer joint part do not equal zero and open in the same axial direction.

A constant velocity universal joint is disclosed that comprises an outer joint part, an inner joint part, torque transmitting balls, an annular ball cage, and a supporting mechanism. The outer joint part includes circumferentially distributed outer ball tracks. The inner joint part includes circumferentially distributed inner ball tracks. The torque transmitting balls are guided in pairs of tracks, wherein each track includes an outer ball track and an inner ball track. When the joint is in the aligned condition, the pairs of tracks, at least in a central joint plane, widen in coinciding axial directions. The annular ball cage is defined by a cage axis. The cage is positioned between the outer joint part and the inner joint part and comprises circumferentially distributed windows in which the torque transmitting balls are held with a clearance. The ball cage comprises an axial clearance relative to the outer joint part. The supporting resiliently supports the ball cage relative to the outer joint part and acts on the ball cage in the direction opposed to the direction in which the pairs of tracks widen. The supporting mechanism comprises a carrier element connected to the ball cage and a separate supporting member, wherein the supporting member is resiliently supported on the carrier element and rests against the outer joint part.

Clearance-free constant velocity universal joint

A constant velocity joint in the form of a counter-track joint. The circumferential length (L) of the first cage windows for the balls in the first pairs of tracks is greater than the circumferential length (L) of the second cage windows for the balls in the second pairs of tracks. This permits a method of assembly wherein first the first balls, one after the other, are mounted in first pairs of tracks which widen from the aperture end to the attaching end and wherein then the second balls, one after the other, are mounted in second pairs of tracks which widen from the attaching end to the aperture end. For mounting the second balls in the second pairs of tracks, only a small overarticulation angle is necessary, and thus a shorter circumferential length of the respective windows than there is required for mounting the first balls in the first pairs of tracks.

Method of assembling a constant velocity joint

A longitudinal plunging unit comprises a profiled sleeve with longitudinally extending first ball grooves, and a profiled journal with longitudinally extending second ball grooves. The profiled journal engages said profiled sleeve with balls arranged in groups in pairs of first ball groove and second ball grooves. A ball cage positioned between the profiled sleeve and the profiled journal fixes the balls in their axial position relative to one another. The ball cage is displaceable relative to the profiled journal between spaced axial stops. On the profiled journal, there is arranged a stop sleeve, which can abut the profiled journal or a component connected thereto. The stop sleeve delimits the displacement path of the ball cage towards the second portion.

Longitudinal plunging unit with cage securing means

A constant velocity joint () in the form of a counter track joint wherein, when the joint is in the aligned condition, the ratio (V) of the pitch circle diameter (PCDS) of the shaft toothing in the inner joint part () in the power of three relative to the product of the ball diameter (DK) squared and pitch circle diameter (PCDB) of the balls () assumes a value ranging between 0.9 and 1.3.

Counter track joint with building space

A constant velocity joint in the form of a counter-track joint. The circumferential length (L) of the first cage windows for the balls in the first pairs of tracks is greater than the circumferential length (L) of the second cage windows for the balls in the second pairs of tracks. This permits a method of assembly wherein first the first balls, one after the other, are mounted in first pairs of tracks which widen from the aperture end to the attaching end and wherein then the second balls, one after the other, are mounted in second pairs of tracks which widen from the attaching end to the aperture end. For mounting the second balls in the second pairs of tracks, only a small over-articulation angle is necessary, and thus a shorter circumferential length of the respective windows than there is required for mounting the first balls in the first pairs of tracks.

Counter track joint with a ball cage

A counter track joint having an outer joint part (), inner joint part (), a ball cage () and torque transmitting balls. First outer tracks and first inner tracks form first pairs of tracks which widen in a first direction, and second outer tracks and second inner tracks form second pairs of tracks which widen in an opposed second direction. The annular cage () includes four first and four second circumferentially distributed cage windows which each accommodate one of the balls and which hold the balls in one plane. The second outer ball tracks (), at one end, include widened, non-contacting assembly portions () for inserting balls () into the second cage windows from the radial outside, with all the first cage windows already having balls, and with the second cage windows axially projecting from the outer joint part () as a result of the joint being over-articulated.

Counter track joint

A driveshaft assembly having two CV joints and an intermediate shaft. One of the CV joints () includes an outer joint part () with first ball tracks (), an inner joint part () with second ball tracks (), and balls () held in a common plane by a cage (). First and second angles of intersection of the ball tracks () of a pair of tracks are identical in size and are positioned symmetrically relative to the joint axis. The ball cage () is axially fixed in the constant velocity joint. The intermediate shaft includes a longitudinal plunging unit () having a sleeve () with first ball grooves () which extend axially, a journal () with second ball grooves () which extend axially, balls () which are held in a cage () in groups in pairs of the first and second ball grooves ().

Plunging sideshaft assembly with joint

A counter track joint including first pairs of tracks whose control angles open in a first axial direction, and second pairs of tracks whose control angles open in a second axial direction. The outer joint part forms an introducing aperture for the ball cage. The ball cage, while engaging the outer tracks, can be threaded into the outer joint part in the second axial direction. The outer joint part forms a first stop and guiding face for a spherical outer face of the ball cage. Between the introducing aperture and the first stop and guiding face, the outer joint part comprises a displacement region for the ball cage. A securing element forms a second stop and guiding face for the spherical outer face of the ball cage.

Constant velocity fixed ball joint in the form of a counter-track joint

A driveshaft having at least one counter-track joint, the joint having an outer joint part (), an inner joint part (), torque-transmitting balls () accommodated in pairs of tracks, and a ball cage with cage windows in which the balls are held in a common plane. First outer tracks and first inner tracks form first pairs of tracks which diverge from one another when viewed in a first axial direction towards the connection end of the inner joint part () and hold first balls. Second outer tracks and second inner tracks form second pairs of tracks which diverge from one another when viewed in a second axial direction towards the connection end of the outer joint partand hold second balls. The first pairs of tracks are positioned radially opposite each other and the second pairs of tracks are positioned radially opposite each other.

Driveshaft with counter-track joint

A constant velocity fixed ball joint in the form of a counter-track joint comprising an outer joint part with outer tracks, an inner joint part with inner tracks, torque-transmitting balls accommodated in pairs of tracks, and a ball cage with cage windows in which the balls are held in a common plane. First outer tracks and first inner tracks form first pairs of tracks which diverge from one another running in a first axial direction towards the connection end of the inner joint part and hold first balls. Second outer tracks and second inner tracks form second pairs of tracks which diverge from one another running in a second axial direction towards the connection end of the outer joint part and hold second balls. First pairs of tracks are positioned radially opposite other first pairs of tracks, and second pairs of tracks are positioned radially opposite other second pairs of tracks.

Counter-track joint having identically orientated opposed pairs of tracks

A constant velocity fixed ball joint in the form of a counter track joint, having an outer joint part with outer tracks, an inner joint part with inner tracks, torque transmitting balls received in pairs of tracks formed of outer tracks and inner tracks, and a ball cage with cage windows in which the balls are held in a common plane and guided on to the angle-bisecting plane when the joint is articulated. First outer tracks, together with first inner tracks, form first pairs of tracks whose control angles open in a first axial direction. Second outer tracks, together with second inner tracks, form second pairs of tracks whose control angles open in a second axial direction, with the control angles being defined as angles between the tangents at the ball contact points in the tracks when the joint is in the aligned condition. The outer joint part forms a first stop-and-guiding face for a spherical outer face of the ball cage. A securing element at the outer joint part forms a second stop-and-guiding face for the spherical outer face of the ball cage. The inner face of the outer joint is undercut-free if viewed in the second axial direction.

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Siegburg, Germany

Stephan Maucher