Patent ID: 7347786

Claim:
A stroking ball-type constant velocity joint comprising: an inner joint member having a longitudinal axis centered with respect to said inner joint member and an outer surface defining a plurality of radially outwardly facing substantially longitudinal grooves in combination with a plurality of radially outwardly facing substantially helical grooves, said plurality of longitudinal grooves including at least one pair of substantially straight grooves extending substantially in parallel with said inner joint member longitudinal axis, said grooves of each said pair of longitudinal grooves being located on opposite sides of said inner joint member longitudinal axis, said plurality of helical grooves including at least one pair of right-hand twist grooves and at least one pair of left-hand twist grooves, the grooves of each said pair of right-hand twist grooves being located on diametrically opposite sides of said inner joint member longitudinal axis, the grooves of each said pair of left-hand twist grooves being located on diametrically opposite sides of said inner joint member longitudinal axis; an outer joint member having an inner surface disposed about said inner joint member outer surface, said outer joint member inner surface having a plurality of radially inwardly facing grooves defined in said inner surface; and a plurality of balls disposed between said inner and outer joint members, a ball of said plurality of balls disposed in each said inner joint member radially outwardly facing groove and in a corresponding one of said outer joint member radially inwardly facing grooves, torque transmission between said inner and outer joint members being through said balls.