Tripode joint with roller securing ring

• US 5,525,109 A
• Filed: 09/15/1994
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GKN Automotive AG (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: GKN Automotive AG (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Hofmann, Norbert, Ricks, Michael, Bergmann, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIVERA, WILLIAM ARAUZ
• Application Number:
  US08/306,702
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 464/111, 464/123, 464/124, 464/132, 464/905
• US Class Current: 464/111
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2003/2026 with trunnion rings, i.e. with tripod joints having rollers supported by a ring on the trunnion
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/2055 having three pins, i.e. true tripod joints
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 464/905 Torque transmitted via radially extending pin

Abstract

A tripode joint with an outer joint part which comprises three circumferentially distributed axis-parallel recesses forming circumferentially opposed tracks, and an inner joint part whose cross-section is star-shaped and which is provided with three circumferentially distributed arms which engage the recesses of the outer joint part, with the arms supporting roller assemblies each comprising a roller carrier and a roller, which by way of a needle bearing, is rotatably supported on the roller carrier, with the rollers being arranged relative to the respective arms so as to be axially movable relative to the arm axis and angularly movable relative to the arm axis; and with reference to the roller axis (B), there is provided only one mutually effective axial securing element between each roller carrier and the respective roller in the form of only one single securing ring which may be subjected to loads in both directions and which engages radially opposed first and second annular grooves in the inner face in the roller on the one hand and in the outer face of the roller carrier on the other hand.

Claims

1. A tripode joint comprising an outer joint part with three circumferentially distributed axis-parallel recesses forming circumferentially opposed tracks;

an inner joint part including three circumferentially distributed arms which engage the recesses of the outer joint part;

roller assemblies are supported on each arm, each roller assembly including a roller carrier and a roller which, by means of a needle bearing, is rotatably supported on the roller carrier, with the rollers being arranged relative to the respective arm so as to be axially movable relative to the arm axis and angularly movable relative to the arm axis, one mutually effective axial securing element is provided between each roller carrier and the respective roller in the form of only one single securing ring which is adapted to take mutual loads in both senses of axial direction, said ring engages radially opposed first and second annular grooves in the roller, on the one hand, and in the roller carrier, on the other hand.

2. A tripode joint according to claim 1, wherein each roller, radially outside and inside, with reference to a joint axis, includes end faces which are in supporting contact with portions of the tracks in the recesses in the outer joint part.

3. A tripode joint according to claim 1, wherein each roller carrier, radially outside, with reference to a joint axis, includes an end face which is in supporting contact with a head face of the recess and that each roller carrier, radially inside, with reference to the joint axis, includes an annular face which is in supporting contact with portions of the tracks in the recesses in the outer joint part.

4. A tripode joint according to claim 1, wherein the roller carrier, relative to the roller axis, includes only the one of the said first and second annular grooves and is otherwise cylindrical along its entire height.

5. A tripode joint according to claim 1, wherein for receiving the needle bearing, a recess is provided in the roller relative to a roller axis.

6. A tripode joint according to claim 5, wherein the recess for accommodating the needle bearing and another one of the said annular grooves are provided in the roller, which roller is otherwise cylindrical along its entire height.

7. A tripode joint according to claim 5, wherein the recess for accommodating the needle bearing and another one of said annular grooves are provided in the roller carrier, which roller carrier is otherwise cylindrical along its entire length.

8. A tripode joint according to claim 5, wherein the recess for accommodating the needle bearing in the roller relative to a roller axis runs out cylindrically as far as one end of the roller or the roller carrier and that the needle bearing is held by a head face of the recess and a further axial securing ring engaging an annular groove in the recess which is axially open at one end.

9. A tripode joint according to claim 5, wherein the recess for accommodating the needle bearing in the roller carrier relative to a roller axis runs out cylindrically as far as one end of the roller carrier or the roller and that the needle bearing is held by a head face of the recess and by said securing ring whose one annular groove is formed in the recess.

10. A tripode joint according to claim 9, wherein the securing ring includes a gap whose width is smaller than sixty (60%) percent of the diameter of a needle of the needle bearing and whose direction extends preferably at an angle relative to a radial ray from a roller axis through the gap.

11. A tripode joint according to claim 5, wherein the recess for accommodating the needle bearing in the roller carrier relative to the roller axis runs out cylindrically as far as one end of the roller or the roller carrier and that the needle bearing is held by a head face of the recess and a further axial securing ring engaging an annular groove in the recess which is axially open at one end.

12. A tripode joint according to claim 5, wherein the recess for accommodating the needle bearing in the roller relative to the roller axis runs out cylindrically as far as one end of the roller carrier or the roller and that the needle bearing is held by a head face of the recess and by said securing ring whose one annular groove is formed in the recess.

13. A tripode joint according to claim 1, wherein each roller, radially outside and inside, with reference to a joint axis, includes annular faces which are in supporting contact with portions of the tracks in the recesses in the outer joint part.

14. A tripode joint according to claim 1, wherein each roller carrier, radially outside, with reference to a joint axis, includes an end face which is in supporting contact with a head face of the recess and that each roller, radially inside, with reference to the joint axis, includes an annular face which is in supporting contact with portions of the tracks in the recesses in the outer joint part.

15. A tripode joint according to claim 1, wherein the roller, relative to the roller axis, includes only the one of the said first and second annular grooves and is otherwise cylindrical along its entire height.

16. A tripode joint according to claim 1, wherein for receiving the needle bearing, a recess is provided in the roller carrier relative to a roller axis.