The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 12, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 17, 1998
Jun Jim Lu, Saginaw, MI (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A disc style cross groove universal joint including an outer joint member open on front and back sides having a plurality of inward facing outer ball grooves and an inner joint member inside of the outer joint member having a plurality of outward facing inner ball grooves. The inner and outer ball grooves define crossed pairs having a bearing ball therebetween. In a center position of the inner joint member in the outer joint member, the bearing balls are evenly angularly spaced. A cage has a plurality of windows for the bearing balls. An outboard side edge of each cage window is separated from the center of the bearing ball therein by a long span dimension in the center position of the inner joint member. An inboard side edge of each cage window is separated from the center of the bearing ball therein by a short span dimension in the center position of the inner joint member. The short span dimension is calculated to stop the bearing balls and immobilize the inner joint member during an inward stroke of the latter before the bearing balls can escape through the back side of the outer joint member.