Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Coupling accommodates drive between members having... – Tripod coupling
Patent
1996-07-11
1998-09-08
Dunn, Eileen A.
Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro
Coupling accommodates drive between members having...
Tripod coupling
464132, 464905, F16D 3205
Patent
active
058038132
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention concerns a constant velocity universal joint of a tripod type comprising an outer joint member having longitudinal recesses arranged in space relationship on a periphery thereof and trunnions symmetrically arranged on a tripod spider, said trunnions engaging into said recesses of the outer joint member by tripod rollers mounted on to rolling elements.
In a universal joint of this type known from DE-A-41 13 944, the rolling elements are mounted directly on the trunnion of the inner joint member, that is to say, on the tripod spider. Stop rings guided on the trunnion at the ends of the rolling elements form an axial stop for the rolling elements while axial locking is achieved by a circlip against which the stop ring bears, the circlip being guided in a circumferential groove on the free end of the trunnion. This structure necessitates a polished and surface-hardened rolling element raceway on the trunnion. Assembly involves several time-consuming and therefore costintensive work steps for the mounting of individual components. Thus, for example, the stop rings have to be pushed onto the trunnion, the circlip has to be inserted into the circumferential groove and be engaged by the profiled stop ring before the rolling elements can be inserted. Finally the tripod roller is pushed over the rolling elements.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to create a tripod type universal joint having fewer components and an optimized design space requirement so that manufacturing and assembly costs of the constant velocity universal joint are reduced.
THE INVENTION
A tripod type constant velocity universal joint comprising an outer joint member having longitudinal recesses arranged in spaced relationship on a periphery thereof, and trunnions symmetricaly arranged on a tripod spider, said trunnions engaging into said recesses of the outer joint member by tripod rollers mounted on rolling elements, is characterized in that an inner ring (2) formed without chip removal from sheet metal is arranged between each trunnion (15) and respective rolling elements (3), the inner ring (2), the tripod roller (4) and the rolling elements (3) form a roller assembly (1), and the inner ring (2) comprises stepped end flanges (5,6,10) which form separate, mutually offset axial stops for the rolling elements (3) and the tripod roller (4). The solution of the invention comprises arranging an inner ring of sheet metal between the rolling elements and the trunnion, with the inner ring forming a roller assembly with a tripod roller and the rolling elements.
GB-B-15 74 765 discloses a rolling bearing having an inner ring whose flanges bent at a right angle form a common axial stop for the rolling elements and the outer ring of the rolling bearing. This prior art structure is not suitable for use in constant velocity universal joints because in such joints provision must be made for a relative axial displacement between the rolling elements and the tripod roller. This requirement is met by the inner ring of the invention which comprises end flanges forming separate, mutually offset axial stops for the rolling elements and the tripod roller.
The inner ring in the configuration of the invention comprises flanges which form axially offset stops thus advantageously permitting a free orientation of the tripod roller within the constant velocity universal joint. Particularly during operation of the joint at large bend angles, a relatively large axial displacement takes place between the rolling elements and the tripod roller. The tripod assembly of the invention advantageously comprises fewer components than known structures so that costs are reduced. Moreover, the tripod assembly of the invention is further characterized by a smaller overall axial length. Two thin-walled flanges of the inner ring of the invention replace the prior art stop rings as well as the circlip with its additional requirement of a circumferential groove. The reduced overall axial length effects a reduction of the design space requirement
REFERENCES:
patent: 4484900 (1984-11-01), Orain
patent: 4808145 (1989-02-01), Mizukoshi
patent: 5376050 (1994-12-01), Krude et al.
Alber Pierre
Hosdez Didier
Dunn Eileen A.
INA Walzlager Schaeffler KG
LandOfFree
Tripod roller for a constant velocity universal joint does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Tripod roller for a constant velocity universal joint, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tripod roller for a constant velocity universal joint will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1277191