Patent ID: 6988950

Claim:
An energy absorbing plunging constant velocity joint comprising: an outer joint part having innerly a normal axial range, an extended axial range, and a plurality of outer bores circumferentially spaced between a plurality of longitudinally extending tracks, each track having a bottom spaced between two oppositely disposed longitudinal sidetracks; an inner joint part disposed within said outer joint part having a plurality of spider sides circumferentially spaced between a plurality of trunions, each triunion having a top and an inner race; a plurality of rollers, wherein each roller has an inner bore mounted on a respective one of said inner race of said trunion, whereby angular and axial displacement occur between the inner joint part and the outer joint part; and one or more energy absorption surfaces distal to the normal axial range and located in the extended axial range upon said outer joint part, wherein the energy absorption surface on the outer joint part interferes with said inner joint part or at least one of the plurality of rollers when said outer joint part is operated beyond said normal axial range in the extended axial range, wherein one of the energy absorption surfaces is a circlip.