| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20100254754 | RETAINING RING FOR A CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY USING THE SAME - A retaining ring for a constant velocity joint includes an annular, C-shaped retainer body that tapers inwardly toward the longitudinal axis from a first end opening and a first end to a second end opening and a second end, the retainer body comprising a first retainer leg and an opposed second retainer leg, the first retainer leg and the second retainer leg joined together on a proximal end and separated on respective distal ends by a gap. It also includes an axially extending annular rib disposed on the first end of the retainer body. It further includes a relief feature formed on the second end of the first retainer leg and a relief feature formed on the second end of the second leg, the relief feature on the first retainer leg and the relief feature on the second retainer leg disposed closer to the proximal end than the distal ends. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20110059802 | Constant Velocity Joint - A constant velocity joint is disclosed that includes a first rotatable shaft, the first shaft comprising an axle portion having on one end an enlarged pocket portion, the pocket portion having a plurality of circumferentially and radially spaced ball pockets and a distal end; a corresponding plurality of spherical balls disposed in the pockets; and a second rotatable shaft comprising a joint housing, the joint housing having a central bore with a corresponding plurality of axially extending, circumferentially and radially spaced ball grooves disposed about the second longitudinal axis and a base, the joint housing disposed over the pocket portion with the corresponding plurality of balls disposed in the grooves, the joint providing a range of angular and axial movement of the first shaft relative to the second shaft, the distal end of the pocket portion having a convex surface configured to provide a predetermined a range of angular movement. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110059803 | Constant Velocity Joint - A boot assembly and constant velocity joint utilizing the boot assembly is provided. The constant velocity joint and boot assembly includes a first shaft, the first shaft having an axle portion extending between a first end and a second end, at least one of the first end and the second end having an enlarged joint portion. It also includes a hollow boot disposed on the first shaft having a joint end and a shaft end, the joint end disposed proximate the enlarged joint portion and the shaft end disposed proximate the axle portion. The constant velocity joint also includes a spacer, the spacer having an inner surface disposed on the axle portion and an outer surface having the shaft end of the boot disposed thereon. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110065515 | CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT AND METHOD OF MAKING - A constant velocity joint is disclosed that includes a first rotatable shaft, the first shaft comprising an axle portion having on one end an enlarged pocket end, the pocket end having a plurality of circumferentially and radially spaced ball pockets and a distal end; a corresponding plurality of spherical balls disposed in the pockets; and a second rotatable shaft comprising a joint housing, the joint housing having a central bore with a corresponding plurality of axially extending, circumferentially and radially spaced ball grooves disposed about the second longitudinal axis and a base, the joint housing disposed over the pocket end with the corresponding plurality of balls disposed in the grooves, the joint providing a range of angular and axial movement of the first shaft relative to the second shaft, each of the plurality of ball pockets having a recessed lubricant reservoir, the lubricant reservoir having a lubricant disposed therein. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110077090 | CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT - A constant velocity joint is disclosed that includes a first rotatable shaft comprising an axle portion having on one end an enlarged pocket end, the pocket end having a plurality of circumferentially and radially spaced ball pockets; a corresponding plurality of spherical balls disposed in the pockets; and a second rotatable shaft comprising a joint housing, the joint housing having a central bore with a corresponding plurality of axially extending, circumferentially and radially spaced ball grooves disposed about the second longitudinal axis and a base, the joint housing disposed over the pocket end with the corresponding plurality of balls disposed in the grooves, the joint providing a range of angular and axial movement of the first shaft relative to the second shaft, each of the plurality of ball pockets comprising a portion of the pocket having a conformity ratio C greater than about 1.04. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110086714 | CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT - A constant velocity joint includes an outer member defining an interior opening and a plurality comprising at least four grooves disposed within the interior opening and extending along a first longitudinal axis with each of the grooves being parallel to the other grooves and the first longitudinal axis, and an inner member disposed within the interior opening having a second longitudinal axis and defining a plurality of pockets corresponding to the grooves disposed radially about the second longitudinal axis with each of the plurality of pockets opposing one of the plurality of grooves. The joint further includes a plurality of drive balls corresponding to the grooves, each drive ball having a spherical shape and rotatably disposed within one of the plurality of pockets and moveably disposed within one of the plurality of grooves, wherein the outer member, inner member and plurality of drive balls comprise a constant velocity joint. | 04-14-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090017921 | Self-retained constant velocity joint - A self-retained constant velocity joint has a ring-shaped cage disposed substantially concentrically to and spaced radially from a race of the joint. A plurality of grooves in and distributed circumferentially about the race preferably includes longitudinal, clockwise and counter-clockwise grooves that extend substantially axially and communicate radially through the arcuate surface. A ball is located in each groove and extends through respective windows in the cage. Preferably, the windows associated with the clockwise and counter-clockwise grooves extend circumferentially further than the windows associated with the longitudinal grooves. The cage carries an arcuate face that is one of a convex and concave profile and radially opposes the arcuate surface that is the other of the convex and concave profiles. The radial distance between the face and surface is such that axial movement between the race and cage is limited by intermittent contact of the face with the surface. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090017922 | Fixed-center constant velocity joint - A fixed-center constant velocity joint has a race located concentrically to a rotational first axis, and a ring-shaped cage located concentrically to a rotational second axis. Both the race and the cage are centered to a common center point lying on the first and second axes regardless of the angular state of the joint. A spherical surface carried by the race radially opposes a spherical face carried by the cage for angular movement with respect to the center point. The surface and face are in close or contacting relationship to prevent telescoping movement with respect to the first and second axes. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090143150 | FIXED CENTER CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT WITH DIFFERENT FUNNEL OFFSETS - A fixed center constant velocity joint includes a first group of funnels and a second group of funnels arranged radially about a longitudinal axis in alternating relationship. The first group of funnels diverges in a first direction and the second group of funnels diverges in a second direction opposite the first direction along the longitudinal axis. The first group of funnels defines a first diverging width increasing in value along the longitudinal axis and the second group of funnels defines a second diverging width increasing in value at a different rate than the first diverging width to bias the joint in one of the first direction and the second direction. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090149263 | FIXED CENTER CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT - A constant velocity joint includes an outer member defining a plurality of outer member ball tracks and an inner member defining a plurality of inner member ball tracks. The outer member ball tracks and the inner member ball tracks cooperate to define a plurality of uniform funnels having a uniform width along a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of diverging funnels having a diverging width along the longitudinal axis. A drive ball is disposed within each of the uniform funnels and the diverging funnels. A cage is disposed between the outer member and the inner member, and defines a plurality of windows with one of the drive balls disposed within each of the windows. The diverging funnels urge the drive balls along the longitudinal axis to pre-load the cage, while the uniform funnels do not urge the drive balls along the longitudinal axis, thereby reducing the amount of heat generated between the cage and the drive balls. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090156319 | UNIVERSAL JOINT - A universal joint includes an outer member defining an interior opening and a plurality of grooves within the opening extending along a longitudinal axis. An inner member is disposed within the opening and includes a plurality of pockets opposing the grooves. A drive ball is disposed within each pocket and engages the opposing groove. Each of the pockets and each of the grooves opposing the pockets include a central axis passing through a ball center of the drive balls. The drive balls are supported by the pockets and define a pocket contact angle. The drive balls are also supported by the grooves and define a groove contact angle. The pocket contact angle is less than the groove contact angle to urge the drive balls upward against the grooves. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090263181 | JOINT ASSEMBLY WITH CENTERING FLANGE - A joint assembly for coupling first and second rotating parts, including a first joint member for mounting to the first rotating part, a second joint member including a centering flange having a first length disposed about an axis for mounting to the second rotating part, and at least one torque-transmitting element disposed between the first and second joint members for operatively coupling the first and second joint members. The centering flange has a contact section configured for being in a substantially interference fit with the second rotating part when mounting the centering flange to the second rotating part. The contact section has a second length substantially smaller than the first length of the centering flange such that the substantially interference fit between the centering flange and the second rotating part provides alignment between the centering flange and the second rotating part while minimizing forces necessary to mount the centering flange to the second rotating part. | 10-22-2009 |
