Constant velocity joint and method of making same
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
14 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification