Patent ID: 6733395
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: F16D,Y10S

Abstract:
A constant velocity joint assembly comprising:an outer joint member; an inner joint member disposed at least partially within said outer joint member; said outer and inner joint members having abutting contact surfaces supporting said inner and outer joint members for relative pivotal movement about a fixed center point of said inner and outer joint members; said outer and inner joint members having a plurality of circumferentially spaced ball grooves formed in said contact surfaces and diverging toward one end of said outer joint member; a plurality of torque-transmitting balls disposed in said ball grooves; and a ball retainer disposed within said outer joint member having an inner seat portion and a ball-engaging portion, said ball-engaging portion engaging said balls, said inner joint member having an end portion engaging said inner seat portion of said ball retainer and supporting said ball retainer for relative pivotal movement about a pivot point common with said fixed center point of said outer and inner joint members, and wherein said inner seat portion is spring-biased toward said end portion of said inner joint member.