Patent ID: 8938869
Filing Date: 2015-01-27
Classification: B25B,F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for automatic assembly of universal joints which include a yoke with snap ring grooves in yoke arms of the yoke, a trunnion body, bearings, and snap rings to secure the bearings in the yoke, the apparatus comprising: an upper parallel plate pair, including an uppermost driver plate having an upper drive member, an upper tapered-hole plate defining a tapered hole axially aligned with the upper drive member and having a narrow end of the tapered hole positioned away from the upper driver plate, and at least one spring between the plates of the upper pair; a lower parallel plate pair, including a lowermost driver plate having a lower drive member, a lower tapered-hole plate defining a tapered hole axially aligned with the upper and lower drive members and having a narrow end of the tapered hole positioned away from the lower driver plate, and at least one spring between the plates of the lower pair; a base plate on which the lower driver plate is mounted and a movable rod plate therebelow having driver rods extending through corresponding holes in the lower driver plate; upper and lower power sources configured to provide axial movement of the upper driver plate and the rod plate, respectively; and a programmed controller controlling the power sources.