Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Coupling accommodates drive between members having... – Tripod coupling
Patent
1997-12-24
2000-03-07
Browne, Lynne H.
Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro
Coupling accommodates drive between members having...
Tripod coupling
464123, F16D 3205
Patent
active
060333111
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a constant velocity ratio universal joint of the tripode type, comprising a first joint member having a rotational axis and three tracks circumferentially spaced about its rotational axis and extending lengthwise thereof; a second joint member having a rotational axis and three arms having respective axes and extending into the tracks in the first joint member; and a respective roller carried by each arm, each roller having an axis and an external circumferential surface which is a surface of revolution about the roller axis and which is engagable with opposite sides of the respective track in the first joint member, the roller being constrained on its respective arm for rotation about the arm axis and movement lengthwise thereof and being able to tilt in its respective track.
Such a tripode joint will hereafter be referred to as a tripode joint of the kind specified.
Hitherto in tripode joints of the kind specified, the external circumferential surface of each roller has been a substantially part-spherical surface, while the opposed sides of each track in the first joint member, engaged by the external circumferential surface of the respective roller, have been part-cylindrical surfaces. The radius of curvature of the part-spherical roller surface has been substantially the same as the radius of curvature of the part-cylindrical track surfaces, although in practice there has been a slight disconformity between the radii of curvature of the track sides and the external circumferential roller surface, so that the area of contact between roller and track side is reduced.
One problem which arises in conventional tripode joints as above described is that when a joint rotates in the articulated condition (i.e. with the rotational axes of the two joint members inclined to one another), axial forces arise between the joint members. Such forces are third order forces, i.e. they are at a frequency of three times the rotational speed of the joint. They increase as the angle of articulation of the joint increases.
The effect of such forces is particularly apparent when the joints are used in the drive shafts of front wheel drive motor vehicles, such joints usually being used as the inboard joints to accommodate, because of their ability for the two joint members to plunge, i.e. move axially relative to one another, the chances in overall length of the drive shafts which occur with vehicle suspension movement. One problem associated with such use of the joints is that of "shudder" wherein the axial forces created by the joint are transmitted to the vehicle structure and can be felt by the vehicle's occupants under certain conditions as a shuddering vibration. Shudder is particularly a problem when a vehicle is accelerating, because the front of the vehicle rises which with most drive train installations increases the angle of articulation of the inboard universal joints of the drive shafts and this, combined with the high torque being transmitted by the joints, exacerbates the problem. The problem tends to be increased in modern passenger cars, where packaging requrements make increased installed articulation angles on the inboard universal joints more likely to be encountered.
There are universal joints wherein shudder is less of a problem than for previously known tripode universal joints of the kind specified, and some such joints are generally of tripode type but with more complex roller assemblies. Such complexity makes the joints expensive to manufacture.
It is broadly the object of the present invention to provide a tripode constant velocity ratio universal joint of the kind specified wherein the above described problem of shudder is overcome or reduced, but at relatively reduced expense compared with the more complex joints involving the presence of additional components.
According to the invention, we provide a tripode constant velocity ratio universal joint of the kind specified, wherein the axes of the arms of the second joint member are inclined to a plan
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4881923 (1989-11-01), Orain
patent: 5135438 (1992-08-01), Poulin et al.
patent: 5203741 (1993-04-01), Turner et al.
patent: 5645487 (1997-07-01), Lloyd et al.
patent: 5713797 (1998-02-01), Guimbretiere
patent: 5772517 (1998-06-01), Guimbretiere
Binda Greg
Browne Lynne H.
GKN Automotive AG
Renke Robert P.
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