Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Coupling accommodates drive between members having... – Coupling transmits torque via radially spaced ball
Patent
1999-01-06
2000-10-17
Browne, Lynne H.
Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro
Coupling accommodates drive between members having...
Coupling transmits torque via radially spaced ball
F16D 316
Patent
active
061323160
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to fixed (i.e. non-plunging) constant-velocity-ratio universal joints, of the kind which comprises: in its interior a plurality of at least partially arcuate tracks circumferentially spaced about said axis and whose centre lines extend in meridian planes relative to said axis, there being lands defined between said tracks and integral with the outer joint member, the lands having radially-inwardly directed surfaces; rotational axis, the inner joint member being provided on its exterior with a plurality of tracks whose centre lines lie in meridian planes with respect to the rotational axis of the inner joint member and which face the tracks in the outer joint member in opposed pairs, there being lands defined between the tracks on the inner joint member, the last-mentioned lands having radially-outwardly directed surfaces; outer and inner joint members for torque transmission between the members; having openings in which respective balls are received and constrained so that their centres lie in a common plane; the cage having external and internal surfaces each of which cooperates with the land surfaces which face it to locate the cage and the inner joint member axially; and/or the internal and external surfaces of the cage, being such that when the joint is articulated the common plane containing the centres of the balls (the bisector plane) is caused substantially to bisect the angle between the rotational axes of the joint members.
Such a joint will hereinafter be referred to as "a joint of the kind specified".
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
There are several types of joint of the kind specified, differing from one another, inter alia, in respect of the arrangement and configuration of the tracks in the joint members and/or of the internal and external surfaces of the cage whereby the common (bisector) plane is guided as aforesaid thereby giving the joint constant-velocity-ratio operating characteristics. What such different types of joints have in common, however, is that the cage is located axially in the joint by cooperation between the external cage surface and the surfaces of the lands facing such cage surface.
Theoretically, in a joint of the kind specified, these cooperating surfaces should be part-spherical and there should be a very close conformity between the shape of the external surface of the cage and the complementary surfaces on the lands on the outer joint member with which it cooperates (sufficient clearance being provided only for a film of lubricant therebetween). In practice such close conformity is very difficult to achieve within the normal allowable tolerances.
When torque is being transmitted by the joint, the forces acting in the joint cause the cage to be urged towards one end of the joint; which end will depend on the respective directions of the offsets of the tracks in the inner and outer joint members from said common plane when the joint is in its unarticulated position. If the cooperating surfaces on the cage and the lands of the outer joint member, which in theory should be part-spherical, are not ground accurately, the forces acting in the joint can cause the cooperating surfaces on the cage and the lands to tend to become jammed together with a wedging action. Thus for example if the inwardly facing surfaces of the lands on the outer joint member are, in longitudinal cross-section through the joint, of a larger radius of curvature than the cooperating outwardly facing surface of the cage, the joint may run with the cage continually in a condition of incipient jamming. The result is generation of heat and rapid wear.
This problem can be overcome by designing one or both surfaces of the cooperating pair to be not truly part-spherical about the rotational axis of the component whereon it is provided, but instead a surface of revolution about said axis of an arc whose centre of curvature is not on such axis but is offset therefrom. The aim is to achieve cooperating surfaces which contact one another in end regions only of the componen
REFERENCES:
patent: 5288273 (1994-02-01), Krude
patent: 5451185 (1995-09-01), Krude et al.
patent: 5509857 (1996-04-01), Flaugher
patent: 5947826 (1999-09-01), Seguin
British Patent Office Search Report, GB 9622697-2 dated Jan. 20, 1997.
British Patent Office Search Report, GB 9622698-0 dated Dec. 20, 1996.
Browne Lynne H.
Dunwoody Aaron
GKN Automotive AG
LandOfFree
Constant-velocity-ratio universal joints does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Constant-velocity-ratio universal joints, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Constant-velocity-ratio universal joints will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-463220