Constant velocity universal joint with lubricant reservoir

Details Constant velocity universal joint with lubricant reservoir Constant velocity universal joint with lubricant reservoir

1997-09-16

2001-01-16

Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)

Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro

Coupling accommodates drive between members having...

Coupling transmits torque via radially spaced ball

C464S015000, C464S906000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06174240

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a constant velocity universal joint having a hollow outer part whose inner face is provided with outer tracks distributed around a first longitudinal axis. A first attaching element is securely connected to the outer part, and which closes the outer part and comprises a sliding face on which the first longitudinal axis is positioned perpendicularly. An inner part has an outer face with inner tracks circumferentially distributed around a second longitudinal axis to correspond to the outer tracks, and whose outside comprises a spherical guiding face and a separate spherical control face. A second attaching element is connected to the inner part in a rotationally fixed way. Balls are accommodated in the pairs of outer tracks and inner tracks, and have a cage which, by means of a hollow spherical supporting face, is guided on the spherical guiding face of the inner part and which comprises windows for guiding the balls. A control element by means of a contact face, is radially adjustably supported with reference to the first longitudinal axis, on the sliding face of the first attaching element associated with the outer part, and comprises a hollow spherical seat face. The inner part, by means of its control face, is supported on the seat face and with the cage, with its outer face, is held at a distance from the inner face of the outer part and with the control element comprising a central aperture. Further a sealing sleeve is provided which, at one end, is secured to the outer part and at the other end to the second attaching part.
This type constant velocity universal joint is described in DE 39 04 655 C1, wherein, in the center of the inner part, opposite the aperture of the control element, there is provided a small recess to prevent any contact between the two parts.
It is the object of the invention to ensure advantageous sliding conditions for the faces sliding on one another, even under impact loads, i.e. to improve the lubrication of the faces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, the above objective is achieved in that the first attaching element has a first chamber which is open towards the contact face of the control element. The inner part and/or a second attaching element connected to the inner part has a second chamber open towards the seat face, and both chambers communicate with one another through an aperture and are filled with lubricant.
The advantage of this embodiment is that in the region of the faces sliding on one another, i.e. of the control face and the seat face on the one hand and of the sliding face and the contact face on the other hand, there is made available a sufficiently large lubricant reservoir in an encapsulated form. The lubricant reservoir achieves adequate lubrication for the service life of the joint, and it is ensured that only a permissible amount of lubricant, i.e. as much lubricant as is required for lubricating said faces, can escape from this region. During articulation, portions of the guiding face and of the control face come into contact with the lubricant contained in the reservoir as formed, so that continuous lubrication is ensured. In this way, it is possible to achieve sliding conditions located in the region of fluid friction, with the lubrication film being maintained even under impact loads. The same applies to the control element with its contact face which, relative to the sliding face of the second attaching element only, carries out small radial movements.
According to a further, particularly advantageous embodiment it is proposed that the second attaching element is provided in the form of a tubular shaft and that the second chamber is formed by part of the interior of the tubular shaft. In this way, it is possible to make available a relatively large reservoir. The tubular shaft can be used to provide the second chamber. The size can be varied in that the second chamber located in the interior of the second attaching element provided in the form of a tubular shaft can be separated from the remaining space in the tubular shaft by a separating element. The location of the separating element can be varied, i.e. depending on the application in question, the separating element can be positioned in such a way that a sufficiently large chamber is formed. The separating element is preferably provided by a plug. The plug is preferably made of plastics and is pressed in and held as a result of its elastic properties. The size of the second chamber can be determined by the position of the plug in the interior.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1199662 (1916-09-01), Campbell
patent: 1294583 (1919-02-01), Whisler
patent: 1847677 (1932-03-01), Strenbergh
patent: 1980846 (1934-11-01), Bradley
patent: 2579356 (1951-12-01), Anderson
patent: 2822880 (1958-02-01), Gregory
patent: 3488979 (1970-01-01), Croset
patent: 3785172 (1974-01-01), Parsons
patent: 4777008 (1988-10-01), Shirasu
patent: 5368523 (1994-11-01), Mazziotti

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