Patent ID: 7140968
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A universal joint comprising: two joint yokes respectively centered on a longitudinal axis, each of the joint yokes including a connection portion having, respectively, two yoke arms starting from the connection portion and ending with respective eye portions that are distanced to the connection portion and offset from the longitudinal axis in opposite directions, each of the yoke arms having, respectively, a through extending bearing bore that is arranged at a right angle to the longitudinal axis on a bore axis, and wherein both yoke arms of at least one of the joint yokes are provided on the outside with a bulge on a partial circumference of the bearing bore toward the connection portion and arranged symmetrically to a parallel line to the longitudinal axis through the bore axis, which bulge is provided with a groove facing toward the bearing bore, each of the bearing bores extending through both the respective yoke arm and the bulge provided on such respective yoke arm; a journal cross having four journals that are arranged in pairs on a journal axis and define journal axes that are arranged at a right angle to each other; bearing bushings supporting the journals and respectively received in a bearing bore of one of the yoke arms, each of the bearing bushings being closed by a base to which, respectively, a retaining element is arranged, each of the retaining elements including a retaining trunnion that projects outwardly from the base of the bearing bushing and is centered on the bore axis, each of the retaining trunnions having a circumferential groove formed therein; and a securing element for each bearing bushing which, together with the retaining element, holds the bearing bushing axially in an unmovable manner relative to the corresponding yoke arm, each of the securing elements including an arc portion that forms an arc-like engagement portion that extends within the groove of the bulge formed as a circular arc groove, at least one retaining portion that extends within the circumferential groove of the retaining trunnion, and at least one connection portion that connects the at least one retaining portion to the arc portion, each of the arc portions and each of the at least one retaining portions being arranged in one plane, arranged distanced to each other, and elastically deformable towards each other.