Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A transmission comprising a driving element, a driven element, a floating intermediate shaft, two friction-free slidable homokinetic joints respectively connecting opposed ends of the intermediate shaft to the driving element and the driven element, each joint comprising means for limiting axial movements employing a continuous end-of travel contact, and elastically yieldable means for centering the intermediate shaft in a mean axial position relative to the two joints, each of said joints being a tripod joint comprising three radial arms on which arms rollers are rotatively mounted with interposition of needles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A transmission comprising a driving element, a driven element, a floating intermediate shaft, two friction-free slidable homokinetic joints respectively connecting opposed ends of the intermediate shaft to the driving element and the driven element, each joint comprising means for limiting axial movements employing a continuous end-of travel contact, and elastically yieldable means for centering the intermediate shaft in a mean axial position relative to the two joints, each of said joints being a tripod joint comprising three radial arms on which arms rollers are rotatively mounted with interposition of needles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 1, wherein the centering means include means for biasing the transmission to assume its maximum length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tripod joints each comprise a tulip element and the centering means comprise coil springs compressed between an inner end of the tulip element of each joint and the corresponding end of the shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for limiting axial movements limit extension movements and comprise an elastically yieldable shock-absorber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
A transmission as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein each tripod joint comprises a tulip element and the tripod element includes a shaft and the rollers engage the tulip element, and the means for limiting axial movements limit extension movements and comprise, for each joint, a concave abutment member which extends the tulip element, and a check member which has a part-spherical surface cooperative with the abutment member, said check member being mounted to be axially and radially floating on the shaft of the tripod element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
142 words
A transmission as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the tripod joints comprises a tulip element, the tripod element includes a shaft, the rollers engage the tulip element, and the means for limiting axial movements limit extension movements and comprise, for each joint, a concave abutment member which extends the tulip element, a check member which has a part-spherical surface cooperative with the abutment member, and means maintaining said check member in a fixed axial position on the shaft of the tripod element in the vicinity of the tripod element with a radial clearance, the check member having three recessed sectors which define three arms which are capable of penetrating between petal portions of the tulip element and have lateral surfaces which are inclined relative to the axis of the shaft of the tripod element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 6, wherein each arm has a surface which faces the tripod element and has a hollow in the form of a trough in which a roller of the rollers carried by the tripod element penetrates.