Spicer Gelenkwellenbau Gmbh & Co. Kg

Gelenkwellenbau Gmbh

Gkn Gelenkwellenbau Gmbh

Wilfried Gille

Dieter Heier

Walter Bischoff

Andreas Wons

Gerd Faulbecker

Gerd Sehlbach

Hans-Jurgen Schultze

A universal joint includes a first joint yoke and a second joint yoke having respective base portions. Each of the joint yokes has two yoke arms that are attached on the respective base portions. Each of the yoke arms ends in a free end and has an inner face facing toward the longitudinal axis and an outer face facing away from the inner face. Each of the yoke arms has a bearing bore extending between the outer face and the inner face. The inner face of each of the yoke arms has a first recess that is open toward the free end and that ends in the corresponding bearing bore. A journal cross assembly includes a journal cross having four circular cylindrical trunnions arranged at right angles toward each other, each trunnion supporting a bearing bushing having a cylindrical envelope face and a cylindrical bore. The bearing bushings are supported on the trunnions by rolling members. The envelope face, in the area of the first recess, has a first support-free portion and, diametrically to the first support-free portion, a second support-free portion that is provided between the bearing bushing and the corresponding bearing bore.

Universal joint

A universal joint includes two joint yokes that, respectively, have two yoke arms that each start from a connection portion. Through an eye portion distanced from the connection portion, bearing bores extend in which respectively, a journal of a journal cross by means of interposition of rolling members and of a bearing bushing are supported. On the outside of the yoke arms, a bulge is respectively provided towards the connection portion and adjacent to the bearing bore and over a partial circumference of the same, which bulge has, towards the bearing bore, a groove. A circumferential groove, belonging to a retaining trunnion projecting from the base of the bearing bushing, is arranged opposite to the groove. Between the two, a securing element is arranged that engages with an engagement portion in the groove and with a retaining portion facing away from the same, in the circumferential groove of the retaining trunnion. As the groove for receiving the securing element, which serves for the retainment of the bearing bushing in the bearing bore, is not designed to extend circumferentially fully around the bearing bore, the material thickness on the free end of the yoke arms can be reduced on the outside.

Universal joint with a securing element

A joint yoke for a universal joint, as well as to a universal joint having the same. In such a universal joint, the two joke arms in the joint yoke are separated into a base portion having integrally arm portions and bridge elements. For attaching the bridge elements, headed screws are used, for which in the end faces of the arm portions threaded bores are arranged. The threaded bore which, when projected onto the bore axis of the neighboring support bore, has the largest distance from the longitudinal axis has a diameter remarkably increased compared to the other threaded bores . Compared to embodiments in which several headed screws and corresponding threaded bores are provided, which have the same diameter, an above proportional increase of the torque transmission can be achieved.

Joint yoke and universal joint comprising the same

A cross member unit ( ) has a cross member ( ) with four arms ( ). Two each are centered on axes (y, z) extending perpendicular relative to one another. The two arms ( ) of one axis (y, z) are received in one yoke arm ( ) of a joint yoke. Each arm ( ) is associated with a bearing bush ( ) rotatably supported by rolling contact members ( ). A centering element ( ), with a pressure element ( ) and a spring element ( ), are positioned in each arm. The spring element ( ) is supported against the arm ( ) and loads the bearing bush ( ) via the pressure element ( ). The bearing bushes ( ) associated with one axis (y, z) are received in the two yoke arms ( ) of a joint yoke. If the yoke arms ( ) are deformed due to rotational-speed-related centrifugal forces, the pressure elements ( ) remain in contact with the bearing bushes ( ). In this way, the cross member unit ( ) is held in a centered way relative to the joint yoke.

Cross member unit with centering element

A cross member for a universal joint has a base member (,) and four arms (,). The arms (,) extend away from a base member (,). To increase the torque bearing capacity of the cross member, the outer face of the arm (,) (if viewed in a longitudinal section) extends curve-like in a transition region (,) to the base member with a continually increasing diameter and with a decreasing radius of curvature (R). If viewed in a sectional plane extending through the axes (,), a distance (X) exists between a first tangent (,), on the outer face of the transition region, and a second tangent parallel to the first tangent (,). The first tangent (,) extends at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the axis (,). The second tangent (,), if viewed from the center (,), is positioned behind the first tangent (,). The second tangent (,) contacts the outer face of the base member (,) at a point (,) which is located on a line of symmetry (,) of the cross member. The line of symmetry (,) extends at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the axis (,). The distance (X) corresponds to {fraction (1/10)} of the smallest radius (B) of the respective arm (,). The arms (,) are induction-hardened. The hardness run-out occurs in a region of the base member (,) which is subjected to low stresses only under operational conditions.

Cross member for a universal joint for high torque loads

A bipode joint for small articulation angles and high torque transmission has a first joint part (1) and a second joint part (23). Two rollers (7, 8) are rotatably supported on arms (3) of the first joint part (1). The rollers (7, 8) engage apertures (27) which extend from a cavity (24) to the outer face of the second joint part (23). To assemble the first joint part (1) with arms (3), recesses (32) are provided which enable the first joint part (1) to be threaded in. Thus, it is possible to associate the running faces which cooperate with the rollers (7, 8) with the apertures in the second joint part, thus, overall achieving a stable embodiment for high torque transmission.

Bipode joint

A Hookes universal joint has each limb (5, 6) of its yokes provided at its free end with a removable portion (15, 115) which, when it is removed, leaves an opening to facilitate fitting of the respective journal (11, 111) of the joint cross member into the bore (9, 109) in the yoke arm. The removable portion and main part of the yoke arm have inter-engaging dovetail formations either of frusto-conical form (18, 19) or straight configuration (118, 119). When a bearing bush (13, 113) is fitted in the bore, the removable portion of the yoke arm is held in a position or orientation such that its dovetail formations cannot become disengaged. The necessity of providing the yoke arm with bores for fixing bolts, which would weaken it, is thus avoided.

Yoke for hookes universal joint wherein the yoke is divided in the

A bearing assembly for a Hookes universal joint including a bearing bush (11) with an external surface (16) for reception in a bore (12) in joint yoke (6), and a support ring (18) screw-threadedly engaged on the external surface of the bush at its ends nearest the axis of rotation of the joint yoke, for adjustment of the position of the bush in the yoke. For locking the support ring (18) in its adjusted position a locking member (23) is provided, with surfaces (24, 25) of different radii of curvature and/or offset centers of curvature so that the locking membrer can become jammed between facing cylindrical surfaces (20, 21) of the bearing bush and support ring. A spring (28, 29) is provided to bias the locking member to its jammed position, and a releasing pin (31) to release it to enable adjustment of the support ring.

Bearing assembly for hookes universal joint

In a universal joint a device is provided for sealing an annular gap between a laterally closed bearing bush of the joint and a pin on a spider located within the bush. A plurality of cylindrically shaped bearing members are located within the annular gap in the bearing bush with an annular stop plate positioned at the ends of the bearing members facing the open end of the bush. A combination support member and sealing member is located in the annular gap with parts of the support member extending through the sealing member for supporting the stop plate. The sealing member is spaced from the stop plate. The support member divides the sealing member into a first part located between the support member and the pin, and a second part located between the support member and the inside wall of the bearing bush.

Device for sealing bearing bush of a universal joint

A bearing for oscillating angular movement including inner and outer bearing parts with rollers therebetween, and with one or more swivel members between at least some of the adjacent rollers. Each swivel member comprises a central part of smaller diameter than a roller, and inwardly and outwardly extending portions having supporting faces which engage the inner and outer bearing parts. Because each swivel member occupies a smaller space circumferentially of the bearing than does an individual roller, the total number of members available to transmit loads between the inner and outer bearing parts is increased, thereby improving the capacity of the bearing. The bearings are particularly useful for Hookes universal joints.

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Dorsten, Germany

Wilfried Gille