Patent ID: 6161414
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: B21D,B23P,F16C,F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of finishing cage windows (51) in a ball cage (48) for a constant velocity universal ball joint, the ball cage (48) having the shape of an annular member comprising two parallel annular edges (49, 50) and a convex outer face (54) and out of which there are punched uniformly circumferentially distributed cage windows (51) each having two circumferentially extending edges (52, 53), the method comprising the step of:deforming the circumferentially extending edges (52,53) of the cage windows (51) in a non-chip producing way such that said edges (52, 53) are smoothed and parallelized;wherein the step of deforming includes radially fixing the annular member at the annular edges (49, 50); introducing supporting members (27) into the cage windows (51) with a small amount of play; and, pressure-loading the annular edges (49, 50), such that the axial distance between the annular edges (49, 50) relative to one another and between the circumferentially extending edges (52, 53) of the cage windows (51) relative to one another is permanently reduced and wherein the circumferentially extending edges (52, 53) are smoothed and parallelized on the supporting members (27).