Patent ID: 6152826
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
An impact universal joint to transmits force efficiently from a power tool to a workpiece through an angular misalignment, the impact universal joint comprising a non-truncated spherical swivel head,three equally spaced-apart lugs extending outwardly from the spherical swivel head and formed in an equatorial plane about a circumference of the spherical swivel head, each lug having a pair of opposite convex driving faces,a body axially connected to the swivel head,an opening formed in the body distal from the swivel head,a socket having a cavity formed therein, the cavity receiving and cooperating with the swivel head,the cavity having a plurality of spaced-apart channels formed therein dividing the cavity into respective segments, each channel having a pair of side walls, wherein the side walls of each respective channel of the cavity receive the respective lug of the swivel head between the side walls thereof,the socket having connecting means formed therein distal from the swivel head,an axially resilient retaining means connected to the socket at an interface between the socket and the swivel head, the resilient retaining means retaining the swivel head within the socket and providing a low level load to hold the swivel head in a desired position with respect to the socket,wherein driving force applied to the body is transmitted axially and radially to the socket.