Patent ID: 7040991

Claim:
An energy absorbing plunging constant velocity joint comprising: an outer joint part defining an axis and having a plurality of outer ball tracks including an outer extended axial range; an inner joint part defining an axis and having a plurality of inner ball tracks including an inner extended axial range; a plurality of torque transmitting balls each guided in a corresponding pair of said outer and inner ball tracks through a normal and extended axial range, wherein each corresponding pair of said inner ball tracks and said outer ball tracks are angled with respect to their respective part axis, said angles being identical in size but set in opposite directions; a ball cage having a plurality of cage windows each accommodating one of said balls and which hold said balls in a plane when said torque transmitting balls are in communication with said inner ball tracks and said outer ball tracks; and one or more energy absorption surfaces distal to the normal axial range and located within the outer extended axial range upon said outer joint part or the inner extended axial range upon said inner joint part, wherein the energy absorption surface interferes with at least one of the plurality of torque transmitting balls when said joint is operated beyond said normal axial range.