Patent ID: 6808456
Filing Date: 2004-10-26
Classification: F16D,Y10S

Abstract:
A constant velocity joint comprising:an outer race coupled to a first shaft and having a socket with a part-spherical inner surface; an inner race coupled to a second shaft and having a part-spherical outer surface directly engaging said part-spherical inner surface to provide relative angular movement of said races about a common joint center of said races; and torque-transmitting structure acting between said races to prevent relative rotation of said races for effecting transmission of torque between said shafts, said torque-transmitting structure having a single functional ball groove formed in said inner surface of said outer race, a single complementing functional ball groove formed in said outer surface of said inner race opposite the ball groove of the outer race to define a single functional ball track, a single torque-transmitting ball disposed in said ball track and urged by said grooves under torque load toward an axial end of said socket, and a retainer acting directly on said ball to maintain said ball within said ball track.