Abstract:
A non-rotating and axially secured connection between an inner joint part of a constant velocity joint and a driveshaft has an inner joint part at its outer circumference with tracks for receiving torque-transmitting balls or tripod arms for sliding on rollers, as well as a central bore with inner teeth. The driveshaft is inserted into the bore and is provided with corresponding outer teeth. At the end of the inner joint part facing the shaft end, the bore, with its inner teeth, changes into a through-hole with a smaller diameter. At the end of the driveshaft in front of the outer teeth, a cylindrical portion is provided carrying an axial securing mechanism.

Description:
This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/498,223 filed Jul. 5, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,329, which is a divisional of 08/157,724 filed Nov. 24, 1993 (now abandoned). 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a non-rotating and axially secured connection between an inner joint part of a constant velocity joint. The inner joint part, at its outer circumference includes tracks for receiving torque-transmitting balls or tripod arms for sliding on rollers. Also, the inner joint part includes a central bore with inner teeth. A driveshaft, provided with corresponding outer teeth, is inserted into the bore. The invention also relates to a method of producing the inner joint part and the connection. 
     Connections of this type have so far been designed in such a way that the inner joint part is provided with a through-hole with continuous inner teeth. For this purpose, a pressing produced for the inner joint part by a non-chip-forming deformation operation is initially provided with opposed cup-shaped regions for the through-hole, whereupon the end wall located therebetween is roughly stamped out. Subsequently, the through-hole is produced by turning, and finally, in the bore prepared in such a way the teeth are produced by broaching. The free end of the respective shaft is provided with outer teeth which have approximately the same length as the inner teeth of the inner joint part and which are followed by a stop collar. An annular groove is produced at the end of the shaft. The inner joint part is slid onto the shaft end and axially secured thereon by means of a securing ring inserted into the annular groove. The outer teeth at the shaft end may be produced in a non-chip-forming way by curling. With this type of connection and the method of producing it, it is particularly disadvantageous that the operation of producing the inner teeth at the inner joint part takes place in three consecutive process stages. (See FIGS. 5 a  through  5   f ). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to improve a connection of the above-mentioned type in such a way that the method of producing the parts is simplified without adversely affecting the safety of the connection. In addition to the above, the invention simplifies the method of assembling the parts to form the finished connection. 
     The objective is achieved by, at the end of the inner joint part facing the shaft end, the bore, with its inner teeth, changes into a through-hole with a smaller diameter. At the end of the driveshaft, in front of the outer teeth, a cylindrical portion is provided carrying an axial securing means. An inner joint part with the above-described characteristics can be produced in a smaller number of process stages in a simplified way. The pressing produced by non-chip-forming deformation is provided with a bore which extends over a substantial part of its axial length and which includes finished pressed-in inner teeth. In a further process stage the pressing may then be punched continuously on a smaller inner diameter so that the inner joint part is already complete after a second process stage. The resulting position of change in diameter between the bore and through-hole constitutes a first means for axially securing the parts in a first direction. The respective driveshaft is produced in a way which has not changed, e.g. the shaft teeth may be curled in a part which has been upset for example, and subsequently, the means for receiving or constituting the second axial securing means are prepared at the free shaft end. This may be achieved in a conventional way by cutting an annular groove which holds a securing ring. 
     According to a second advantageous design, the shaft end is provided with a central hollow space which forms a cylindrical projection. The projection axially secures the shaft relative to the inner joint part. The projection may be radially beaded open so that it rests against an end face of the inner joint part, thus constituting the securing means. In a preferred embodiment, the counter face of the inner joint part, a radial end face or a conical aperture is provided with teeth into which the cylindrical projection is pressed in a form-fitting way. To achieve a non-rotating connection, the teeth at the open end of the through-aperture do not have to correspond in any way to the inner teeth of the inner joint part. The latter embodiment in particular is distinctly cheaper than a design involving the production of an annular groove and the use of a separate securing ring. The design of the connection is simplified and the length of the means for achieving a non-rotating connection is changed only slightly, so that the amount of transferable torque is reduced only slightly, although the latter may be compensated for by increasing the axial length of the inner joint part. Production of the reciprocal axial securing means is more advantageous so that it is possible to reduce costs. 
     From the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and subjoined claims, other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention and of the production and connecting methods are explained below as compared to the state of the art and illustrated in the drawing wherein: 
     FIGS. 1 a  through  1   d  illustrate a first embodiment of a method of producing the connection in accordance with the invention in two process stages at the inner joint part of a tripod joint, the adapted driveshaft, and the connection composed of the two parts. 
     FIGS. 2 a  through  2   d  illustrate a modified embodiment of the method of producing the connection in accordance with the invention in two process stages at the inner joint part of a tripod joint, the adapted driveshaft, and the connection composed of the two parts. 
     FIG. 2 e  illustrates a tripod joint in cross section incorporating an inner joint member according to the method shown in FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b  and in FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b , respectively. 
     FIGS. 3 a  through  3   d  illustrate a first embodiment of a method of producing the connection in accordance with the invention in two process stages at the inner joint part of a ball joint, the adapted drive shaft and the connection composed of the two parts. 
     FIGS. 4 a  through  4   d  illustrate a modified embodiment of the method of producing the connection in accordance with the invention in two process stages at the inner joint part of a ball joint, the adapted drive shaft and the connection composed of the two parts. 
     FIG. 4 e  illustrates a complete constant velocity ball joint incorporating an inner joint part and a drive shaft according to FIG. 4 d  in axial view. 
     FIGS. 5 a  through  5   f  illustrate a connection according to the state of the art involving the conventional method of producing the inner joint part in four process stages, the driveshaft adapted thereto and the resulting connection including a securing ring. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Below, FIGS. 1 a  to  1   d  will be described jointly. Any details corresponding to one another have been given the same reference numbers. 
     FIG. 1 a  is a longitudinal section of a pressing of an inner joint part  20  of a tripod joint. A central annular part  1  and one of three radially extending circumferentially distributed tripod arms  2  are shown. The tripod arm  2  includes a part-spherical outer face. An axial bore  3  with inner teeth  4  is pressed into the central inner part  1 . An end wall  5  remains at the end of the bore  3  as a result of the pressing process. At the opposite end of the end wall  5  a pressed-in region  6  is provided with an internally conical circumferential face  7 . A workpiece if this kind can be produced in a single-stage deformation process. 
     FIG. 1 b  shows the same details as FIG. 1 a.  However, in a further process stage, the previously mentioned end wall  5  is removed by a stamping or punching operation. It is replaced by a through-hole  8  whose inner diameter is smaller than that of the bore  3  with the inner teeth  4 . At the opposite end of the inner teeth  4 , the through-hole  8  is followed by the original pressed-in region  6  with the conical inner face  7 . The inner joint part is thus completed as a result of the second deformation operation. 
     FIG. 1 c  shows a driveshaft  9  which, at a certain distance from its free end, carries outer teeth  10  which may be helical for example. The length of the outer teeth  10  substantially corresponds to the length of the inner teeth  4 . If the outer teeth  10  are shorter than the inner teeth  4 , they have to be provided on a collar region  11 , as illustrated in the embodiment. The collar region  11  is followed by a cylindrical portion  12  whose outer diameter is adapted to the free inner diameter of the through-hole  8  at the inner joint part. The free end of the driveshaft  9  is provided with an axial recess  13  which forms an annular projection  14  at the shaft end. 
     FIG. 1 d  shows how the driveshaft  9  is axially inserted into the inner joint part. The teeth engage and the end of the collar  11  stops against the position of change of diameter between the inner teeth  4  and the through-hole  8 . In a final deformation stage, the original annular projection  14  is expanded and beaded open in such a way that it rests against the conical face  7  of the inner joint part and itself assumes a conical shape. In this way, the inner joint part is axially secured relative to the driveshaft. In a further process stage, which is not carried out in this case and the results of which are therefore not identifiable, it is possible, prior to deforming the cylindrical projection  14 , to provide the conical face  7  with toothed elements or notches of a different kind into which the projection may be pressed in a form-fitting way. The fit between the through-hole  8  and the cylindrical portion  12  should preferably be dimensioned such that, if bending loads occur between the driveshaft and inner joint part, the two faces are in contact with one another and accommodate supporting forces. 
     In FIG. 2, the reference numbers of any details corresponding to those of FIG. 1 have been increased by  20 . The process stages for producing the inner joint part and thus the results of the first and second deformation processes as illustrated in FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  very largely correspond to those of FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b.    
     FIG. 2 a  shows the inner joint part  40  including a central annular part  21  and one of three circumferentially distributed tripod arms  22 . The annular part has a bore  23  with inner teeth  24 . There exists only a slight difference in that the pressed-in region  26  positioned at the opposite end of the end wall  25  with reference to the inner teeth  24 , does not include an internally conical face but a cup-shaped face  27 . The cup-shaped face  27  serves to prepare a slightly modified stamping or punching operation producing an internally cylindrical continuous through-hole  28  without steps or a conical face. 
     FIG. 2 c  shows a driveshaft  29  which is adapted to the inner joint part according to FIG. 2 b  and which also includes a collar  31  carrying outer teeth  30 . In the adjoining region, the diameter of the shaft end is reduced and forms a cylindrical portion  32  whose outer diameter is adapted to the inner diameter of the through-hole  28 . The outer end of the cylindrical portion  32  is provided with an annular groove  35 . 
     FIG. 2 d  shows the finish-assembled connection, with the driveshaft  29  being inserted into the inner joint part  40  far enough to allow the stepped transition between the collar  31  and the cylindrical portion  32  to stop against the position of change of diameter between the inner teeth  24  and the through-hole  28  in the inner joint part. The teeth engage one another. The fit between the cylindrical portion  32  and the through-hole  28  should be dimensioned such that if any bending forces occur between the driveshaft and inner joint part, the faces contact one another and accommodate the bending forces. The annular groove  35  contains a securing ring  36  which rests against an end face  37  at the inner joint part, thus constituting an axial securing means between the inner joint part and shaft end. 
     In FIG. 2 e  a complete tripod joint in cross section is shown incorporating an inner joint member  20 ,  40  according to FIGS. 1 b  and  2   b.  Also shown is an outer joint member  80 , including three circumferentially distributed grooves  81 , and roller assemblies  82  slid on the arms  2 ,  22  of the inner joint member  20 ,  40 . The drive shaft is not assembled so that the inner teeth  4 ,  24  as well as the through hole  8 ,  28  of a smaller diameter can be recognized. 
     In FIGS. 3 a  through  3   d  the reference numbers of any corresponding details are in accordance to those of FIGS. 1 a  through  1   d , but provided with a′. The FIG. “ 3 ” deviate from the corresponding FIG. “ 1 ” in that there is no tripod arm on the inner joint member  120 , but one of the ball grooves  18  shown in axial section, which is formed in a non-chip-forming or a machining method step. 
     In FIGS. 4 a  through  4   d  the reference numbers of any corresponding details are in accordance to those of FIGS. 2 a  through  2   d , again provided with a′. The FIG. “ 4 ” deviate from the corresponding FIG. “ 2 ” in that there is no tripod arm on the inner joint member  140 , but a ball groove  38  shown in axial section, which is formed in a non-chip-forming or in a machining method step. 
     In FIG. 4 e  there is a complete constant velocity ball joint wherein an inner joint member  140 , an outer joint member  121  and a ball cage  122  is shown. Ball grooves  38  of the inner joint member  140  correspond to ball grooves  39  of the outer joint member  121 . In each pair of axially inclined ball grooves  38 ,  39  there is a torque transmitting ball  123 . The inner joint member  140  is secured to the end of the drive shaft  29 ′ by means of a securing ring  36 ′. This securing ring  36 ′ may as well be replaced by the beaded cylinder part  14 ′ of FIG. 3 d.    
     In FIG. 5, the reference numbers of any details corresponding to those of FIG. 2 are again increased by 20. However, FIG. 5 deviates from FIGS. 1 and 2 in that it shows an inner joint part designed and produced in accordance with the state of the art. 
     FIG. 5 a  shows a complete pressing of an inner joint part with an annular part  41  and one of three tripod arms  42 . At opposite ends there are provided identical and equally deep pressed-in regions  46 ,  46 ′ of a relatively small depth between which regions remains a solid central end wall  45 . 
     FIG. 5 b  shows the subsequent process stage in the course of which, as a result of a stamping or punching operations a through-hole  48  is produced with a small diameter which connects the two pressed-in regions. The entire aperture consists of a central cylindrical portion and two approximately conical portions. 
     FIG. 5 c  shows an expanded and continuous internally cylindrical aperture  43  produced by turning in a further third process stage. 
     FIG. 5 d  shows inner teeth  44  produced by broaching, i.e. a fourth process stage, in the above-mentioned inner aperture  43 . In a further process stage, chamfers  47  are produced at the end of the inner aperture  43 . 
     FIG. 5 e  shows the shaft end of a driveshaft  49  which carries outer teeth  50  and an annular groove  55 . This design is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2 d.  Towards the shaft end, the outer teeth  50  finish by comprising a collar  59  whose outer diameter is greater than that of the outer teeth. 
     FIG. 5 f  shows the finish-assembled connection of the previously described parts. The shaft end of the driveshaft  49  is inserted into the inner joint part far enough to allow the collar  59  to stop against the second end face  58  of the inner joint part  60 . At the opposite end, i.e. towards the free shaft end, a securing ring  56  is inserted into the annular groove  55  and rests against the outer and face  57  of the inner joint part  60  to provide axial security. 
     While the above detailed description describes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the invention is susceptible to modification, variation, and alteration without deviating from the scope and fair meaning of the subjoined claims.