Patent ID: 6234908
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: F16C,F16D,Y10S

Abstract:
A drive assembly comprising:at least one constant velocity fixed joint (A) comprising:a hollow outer part (1);an inner part (3) with a spherical outer face (19) received in the outer part (1);a cage (4) arranged between the outer part (1) and the inner part (3); anda plurality of balls (5) which are held by the cage (4) in a common plane (26) and which engage running grooves (14, 15, 17, 18) in an inner face (9) of the hollow outer part (1) and in the spherical outer face (19) of the inner part (3) for the transmission of torque between the outer part (1) and the inner part (3), said constant velocity fixed joint (A) permitting only angular movements between the outer part (1) and the inner part (3) relative to one another around an articulation center (0);a rolling contact member guide (B) which permits the transmission of torque in the case of a setting movement along a setting axis (35) comprising:a plunging journal (33) with inner grooves (37) extending in its outer face (36) parallel to the setting axis (35);a plunging sleeve (38) with a bore (39) which is adjustably entered by the plunging journal (33) along the setting axis (35) and in which there are provided outer grooves (40) positioned opposite the inner grooves (37) and extending parallel to the setting axis (35);a plurality of guiding balls (41) which are rollingly received in the respective opposed inner grooves (37) and outer grooves (40); anda guiding cage (42) which holds the guiding balls (41);wherein the outer part (1) includes a first open end (10) and a second open end (11), a longitudinal outer part axis (6), a cavity which is centered on the longitudinal outer part axis (6) and which is open towards both open ends (10, 11), and first outer running grooves (14) and second outer running grooves (15) in its inner face (9) delimiting the cavity, with the first outer running grooves (14) and second outer running grooves (15) being arranged in a regular sequence around the longitudinal outer part axis (6), and furthermore, the first outer running grooves (14), while starting from the first open end (10), extending toward the second open end (11) in a curve-like and undercut-free way and the second outer running grooves (15), while starting from the second open end (11), extending towards the first open end (10) in a curve-like and undercut-free way;wherein, further, the inner part (3) arranged in the cavity of the outer part (1) comprises a longitudinal inner part axis (7), first inner running grooves (17) and second inner running grooves (18) arranged in the spherical outer face (19) and extending in planes which are distributed around the longitudinal inner part axis (7) and contain same, with each of the first inner running grooves (17) being arranged opposite a first outer running groove (14) and, while starting from the first open end (10), extending towards the second open end (11) in a curve-like and undercut-free way and with each of the second inner running grooves (18) being arranged opposite a second outer running groove (15) and, while starting from the second open end (11), extending towards the first open end (10) in a curve-like and undercut-free way,and furthermore, wherein the cage (4) comprises an inner face (21) which is centered on the longitudinal cage axis (8) and is provided with continuous, hollow-spherical portions (30), by means of which inner face (21) of the cage (4) is guided on the spherical outer face (19) of the inner part (3), and with the outer face (22) of the cage (4) being arranged at a distance from the inner face (9) of the outer part (1).