Constant velocity joint and method of making same

• US 20040005931A1
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GKN Automotive, Inc. (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: GKN Automotive, Inc. (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Ramey, John, Wang, Shen-Ling Allen
• Granted Patent: US 6,736,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 464/145
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2003/22303 Details of ball cages
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2300/06 Lubrication details not provided for in group F16D13/74
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2300/10 Surface characteristics; Details related to material surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/223 the rolling members being guided in grooves in both coupling parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 464/906 Torque transmitted via radially spaced balls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49702 Lubricating

Abstract

An improved constant velocity joint wherein one or more of the outer ball tracks, the inner ball tracks, or the balls have textured surfaces such as dimples or raised ridges to increase lubrication of the joint and provide improved performance characteristics.

Claims

1. A constant velocity ball joint having improved performance, comprising:

an outer joint part to be connected to a first drive part, and provided with an inner aperture in which there are formed outer ball tracks;

an inner joint part to be connected to a second drive part, and which forms an inner hub member which is positioned in the inner aperture of the outer joint part and on which there are formed inner ball tracks; and

torque transmitting balls guided in the outer and inner ball tracks;

a ball cage arranged between the outer joint part and the inner joint part and which comprises circumferentially distributed cage windows in which the balls are held in a common plane;

wherein one or more of the outer ball tracks, the inner ball tracks, or the balls have textured surfaces to increase lubrication of the joint and provide said improved performance.

2. A constant velocity joint as in claim 1, wherein the textured surfaces include microgrooves.

3. A constant velocity joint as in claim 2, wherein the microgrooves comprise a plurality of dimples.

4. A constant velocity joint as in claim 3, wherein the dimples are hexagonal shaped.

5. A constant velocity joint as in claim 3, wherein the dimples are pentagonal shaped.

6. A constant velocity joint as in claim 1, wherein the textured surfaces include a tubular lattice network.

7. A constant velocity joint as in claim 6, wherein the tubular lattice network comprises a plurality of interlocking hexagons and pentagons with rounded edges.

8. A method of making a constant velocity ball joint having improved performance, comprising:

providing an outer joint part to be connected to a first drive part, the outer joint part having an inner aperture in which there are formed outer ball tracks;

providing an inner joint part to be connected to a second drive part, the inner joint part forming an inner hub member which is positioned in the inner aperture of the outer joint part and on which there are formed inner ball tracks; and

providing torque transmitting balls guided in the outer and inner ball tracks;

providing a ball cage arranged between the outer joint part and the inner joint part and which comprises circumferentially distributed cage windows in which the balls are held in a common plane;

providing a surface texture to one or more of the outer ball tracks, tile inner ball tracks, or the balls to increase lubrication of the joint and provide said improved performance.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the surface texture includes microgrooves.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the microgrooves comprise a plurality of dimples.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the dimples are hexagonal shaped.

12. A method as in claim 10, wherein the dimples are pentagonal shaped.

13. A method as in claim 8, wherein the textured surfaces include a tubular lattice network.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein the tubular lattice network comprises a plurality of interlocking hexagons and pentagons with rounded edges.