Patent ID: 6398657
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: F16D,Y10S

Abstract:
A constant velocity fixed joint in the form of a six-ball joint comprising:an outer joint part (12) forming a bell-shaped member which comprises a first longitudinal axis (18), a base (13), an aperture (14) and outer ball tracks; an inner joint part (15) forming a hub which comprises a second longitudinal axis (19) and inner ball tracks; and a ball cage (16) positioned between the outer joint part and the inner joint part and comprising circumferentially distributed cage windows (33) each of said windows (33) adapted to receive a ball (17), said cage windows (33) holding the balls (17) in one plane, said plane defining the central plane of the ball cage; wherein the outer ball tracks have centerlines which are curved and extend in planes through the first longitudinal axis (18), and comprise circumferentially alternately arranged three first outer ball tracks (21) and three second outer ball tracks (22), said planes defining central planes of the outer ball tracks; wherein the inner ball tracks have center lines which are curved and extend in planes through the second longitudinal axis (19), and comprise circumferentially alternately arranged three first inner ball tracks (23) and three second inner ball tracks (24); wherein the first outer ball tracks (21) and the first inner ball tracks (23), together, form three first track pairs and the second outer ball tracks (22) and the second inner ball tracks (24), together, form three second track pairs; wherein the track pairs each accommodate a torque transmitting ball, (17) and tangents at the balls in the points of contact with the track pairs lying in planes through the longitudinal axes or in planes being parallel thereto, form control angles with one another; wherein the three first track pairs form control angles which open towards the aperture (14) in the outer joint part; wherein the three second track pairs form control angles which open towards the base of the outer joint part; wherein the outer joint part (12) comprises a substantially internally spherical guiding face (31) for the ball cage, the ball cage (16) comprises an externally spherical sliding face (32) which is in sliding contact with the guiding face (31) and ensures axial positioning; and wherein the guiding face (31) in the outer joint part is widened by two recesses (34) which start from the joint aperture (14) and extend approximately in parallel and cylindrically into the joint interior, whichâ€”with reference to one (I) of the second outer ball tracks (22)â€”are positioned between the two (II) first outer ball tracks (21) immediately adjoining said one (I) of the second outer ball tracks and the two (III) second outer ball tracks (22) again immediately adjoining said two (II) first outer ball tracks, and whose cross-sectional contour, while observing an assembly play, is defined by a radial elevational contour of the ball cage (6) when the latter, by means of the central plane of the ball cage, is positioned perpendicularly on the central plane through said one (I) of the second outer ball tracks (22) and brought into simultaneous contact with the two (II) first outer ball tracks (21) immediately adjoining said one (I) of the second outer ball tracks, wherein said ball cage (6) is offset from a symmetric central position in the aperture (14) towards said one (I) of the second outer ball tracks by an offset (OFF).