Patent ID: 6159103
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: F16D,Y10S

Abstract:
A cross groove constant velocity universal joint comprising:a disc-shaped outer joint member having a front side and a back side and a plurality of inner ball grooves alternately inclined relative to an axis of rotation of said inner joint member and open through each of said front side and said back side,an inner joint member inside of said outer joint member having a plurality of outer ball grooves alternately inclined relative to an axis of rotation of said inner joint member cooperating with said outer ball grooves in defining a plurality of crossed pairs of inner and outer ball grooves,a plurality of bearing balls between respective ones of said plurality of crossed pairs of inner and outer ball grooves for transferring torque between said inner and said outer joint members,each of said bearing balls having a center position evenly angularly separated from the adjacent ones of said bearing balls around said axis of rotation of said outer joint member in a center position of said inner joint member relative to said outer joint member,a tubular cage between said inner and said outer joint members, anda plurality of windows in said tubular cage around respective ones of said plurality of bearing balls each having a pair of end edges closely confining said bearing balls in a common plane and an outboard side edge and an inboard side edge,each of said plurality of bearing balls moving from said center position thereof toward said outboard side edge of the corresponding one of saidcage windows in response to outward linear translation of said inner joint member from said center position thereof toward said front side of said outer joint member,each of said bearing balls moving from said center position thereof toward said inboard side edge of the corresponding cage window in response to inward linear translation of said inner joint member from said center position thereof toward said back side of said outer joint member,said inboard side edge of each of said cage windows being separated from said center of said bearing ball therein in said center position of said bearing ball by a short span dimension calculated to effect interference between said bearing ball and said inboard side edge before the center of said bearing ball traverses the plane of said back side of said outer joint member thereby to immobilize said inner joint member before said bearing balls can escape from between said inner and said outer ball grooves, andsaid outboard side edge of each of said cage windows being separated from the center of said bearing ball therein in said center position of said bearing ball by a long span dimension exceeding said short span dimension.