US3593541A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Constant velocity universal joint
Assignee: NTN Corp
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Filing: 1969-04-10
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Granted: 1971-07-20
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Expires: 1989-04-10
Abstract
Abstract An improved essentially constant speed universal joint comprises two shafts with interfitted ends, each carrying a frustospherical boss provided with stud shafts. The spherical portions of the bosses are mounted in spherically surfaced recesses in adjacent wall elements. The stud shafts are provided with wheels, preferably crowned, which roll on tracks carried by the wall elements, preferably grooves concentric with the spherical recesses therein, in which the crowned wheels are centered. The shaft ends are interfitted by male and female elements fixed to the respective shafts, which provide a simple, strong and lubrication-promoting structure. Securing means, confined to a region radially outwardly of the tracks, wheels an stud shafts, and preferably in the form of a sleeve, or of elements integral with the wall elements, secures the assembly in a simple, permanently effective manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Masao Kuroda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:54
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D3/00; F16D3/16; F16D3/20; F16D3/202; F16D3/205; F16D3/2052; F16D3/26; F16D3/30; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S464/00; Y10S464/904; Y10S464/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
310 words
A substantially constant velocity universal joint comprising, in combination: a. a first shaft; b. a second shaft; c. said shafts having adjacent ends one of which is a male end in the form of a convex surface of revolution and the other of which is a female end in the form of a concave surface of revolution, said surfaces of revolution being fixedly carried by said respective shafts and said concave surface of revolution slidingly and tiltably embracing said convex surface of revolution so that the two shafts are fitted together at their said adjacent ends; d. a pair of drive means carried by said first and second shafts respectively, each of said drive means comprising: 1. a boss element of frustospherical form having a longitudinal axis with two transverse axes at right angles to its longitudinal axis and to each other, one of said transverse axes being a pivot axis and the other being a stud shaft axis, and each said boss elements having along its longitudinal axis an aperture splined to the respective shaft and having along its stud axis two radially extending stud shafts, 2. needle bearings carried by each of said stud shafts, and 3. wheels mounted on said needle bearings respectively, said wheels being symmetrical about their median planes; e. an intermediate coupling means having two opposed mutually spaced wall elements, said wall elements each having two concave spherically surfaces recesses therein socketing the spherical surfaces of said boss elements and having wheel tracks for said wheels at opposite sides of said recesses; whereby on mounting of said drive means and fitted shafts therein, tilting of said shafts out of axial alignment may be affected about the pivot axes of said bosses, and f. means bridgingly securing said wall elements together and confined to a region radially outwardly of said tracks, wheels and stud shafts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
310 words
A substantially constant velocity universal joint comprising, in combination: a. a first shaft; b. a second shaft; c. said shafts having adjacent ends one of which is a male end in the form of a convex surface of revolution and the other of which is a female end in the form of a concave surface of revolution, said surfaces of revolution being fixedly carried by said respective shafts and said concave surface of revolution slidingly and tiltably embracing said convex surface of revolution so that the two shafts are fitted together at their said adjacent ends; d. a pair of drive means carried by said first and second shafts respectively, each of said drive means comprising: 1. a boss element of frustospherical form having a longitudinal axis with two transverse axes at right angles to its longitudinal axis and to each other, one of said transverse axes being a pivot axis and the other being a stud shaft axis, and each said boss elements having along its longitudinal axis an aperture splined to the respective shaft and having along its stud axis two radially extending stud shafts, 2. needle bearings carried by each of said stud shafts, and 3. wheels mounted on said needle bearings respectively, said wheels being symmetrical about their median planes; e. an intermediate coupling means having two opposed mutually spaced wall elements, said wall elements each having two concave spherically surfaces recesses therein socketing the spherical surfaces of said boss elements and having wheel tracks for said wheels at opposite sides of said recesses; whereby on mounting of said drive means and fitted shafts therein, tilting of said shafts out of axial alignment may be affected about the pivot axes of said bosses, and f. means bridgingly securing said wall elements together and confined to a region radially outwardly of said tracks, wheels and stud shafts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein e. the perimeters of said wheels are transversely crowned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
needle bearings carried by each of said stud shafts, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
needle bearings carried by each of said stud shafts, and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein g. the perimeters of said wheels have arcuately crowned surfaces, and h. said wheel tracks are in the form of arcuate grooves transversely substantially complementary to but of somewhat greater radius than the crowning of said arcuately crowned wheel surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
wheels mounted on said needle bearings respectively, said wheels being symmetrical about their median planes; e. an intermediate coupling means having two opposed mutually spaced wall elements, said wall elements each having two concave spherically surfaces recesses therein socketing the spherical surfaces of said boss elements and having wheel tracks for said wheels at opposite sides of said recesses; whereby on mounting of said drive means and fitted shafts therein, tilting of said shafts out of axial alignment may be affected about the pivot axes of said bosses, and f. means bridgingly securing said wall elements together and confined to a region radially outwardly of said tracks, wheels and stud shafts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
wheels mounted on said needle bearings respectively, said wheels being symmetrical about their median planes; e. an intermediate coupling means having two opposed mutually spaced wall elements, said wall elements each having two concave spherically surfaces recesses therein socketing the spherical surfaces of said boss elements and having wheel tracks for said wheels at opposite sides of said recesses; whereby on mounting of said drive means and fitted shafts therein, tilting of said shafts out of axial alignment may be affected about the pivot axes of said bosses, and f. means bridgingly securing said wall elements together and confined to a region radially outwardly of said tracks, wheels and stud shafts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein g. the perimeters of said wheels are provided with crowned substantially cylindrical surfaces, h. said wheel tracks are in the form of plane surfaces, and i. said stud shafts are provided with means for retaining said wheels thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
A joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein g. said concave surface of revolution is in the form of a bore having an annular surface at its entrance end formed by revolving an arc about the centerline of the shaft, and h. said convex surface of revolution has a form generated by revolving about the centerline of the shaft a curve approximately cycloidal with respect thereto and contacting the arc referred to in clause (g).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein g. said wall elements are in the form of a pair of plates, and h. said securing means (f) is in the form of a sleeve member embracing and retaining said platEs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
A joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein g. said bridging means (f) forms an integral body with said coupling means (e), and h. said boss elements have sufficiently short lengths along their longitudinal axes to enable them to be passed between the said wall elements of said integral body and be then rotated into engagement in the spherically surfaced recesses in said wall elements prior to the assembly of said shafts therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2574226A
Cited
US2755641A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-19 | 1975-01-18 | 1975-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-19 | 1979-01-18 | 1979-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-19 | 1983-01-18 | 1983-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |