Constant velocity joint with rolling radial boot

• US 7,377,854 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GKN Driveline North America Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: GKN Driveline North America Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Wormsbaecher, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): BINDA, GREGORY JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/288,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 464/145, 464/170, 464/171, 464/173, 464/906
• US Class Current: 464/171
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/223 the rolling members being guided in grooves in both coupling parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/843 enclosed covers
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/845 allowing relative movement of joint parts due to the flexing of the cover
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 464/906 Torque transmitted via radially spaced balls

Abstract

A direct torque flow constant velocity joint having a rolling radial boot is provided and includes a DTF CVJ connector, a shroud assembly and a rolling radial boot. The DTF CVJ connector includes an outer joint part and an inner joint part, such that the shroud assembly is connected to the inner joint part and substantially surrounds the outer joint part of the DTF CVJ. The shroud assembly includes a circumferential clamp portion so that a rolling radial boot is connected between it and the outer joint part of the DTF CVJ. The rolling radial boot is covered by the shroud assembly and seals the DTF CVJ. The shroud assembly also protects the boot from external debris.

Claims

1. A direct torque flow constant velocity joint with a rolling radial boot comprising:

a DTF connector comprising;

a shaft;

an outer joint part coupled to said shaft, said outer joint part having a bore, a plurality of ball tracks located in said bore and a circumferential channel;

a plurality of balls; and

an inner joint part, said inner joint part having an outer surface, a corresponding plurality of ball tracks located on said outer surface and a drive unit side, wherein said inner joint part is coupled within said bore of said outer joint part by said plurality of balls arranged within said tracks of said outer joint part and said inner joint part is selectively attachable to a supplied drive unit;

a shroud assembly, said shroud assembly having a clamp portion and said shroud assembly coupled to said drive unit side of said inner joint part of said DTF connector;

a rolling radial boot coupled between said circumferential channel of said outer joint part of said DTF connector and said clamp portion of said shroud assembly, said rolling radial boot having a first end and a second end, said first end coupled to said circumferential channel of said outer joint part, and said second end clamped to said clamp portion of said shroud assembly; and

an arched guide member, selectively clamping said first end of said rolling radial boot to said outer joint part, wherein said rolling radial boot is guided over said arched guide member during rotational articulation of said DTF connector.

2. The direct torque flow constant velocity joint with a rolling radial boot according to claim 1 wherein said DTF connector is a DTF circlip CVJ connector.

3. The direct torque flow constant velocity joint with a rolling radial boot according to claim 1 wherein said inner joint part of said DTF connector includes an inner bore and a spline making a DTF indirect connector for selectively attaching to a supplied drive unit.

4. The direct torque flow constant velocity joint with a rolling radial boot according to claim 1 wherein said rolling radial boot is made from a pliable urethane material.

5. The direct torque flow constant velocity joint with a rolling radial boot according to claim 1 wherein said shroud assembly is made from a plastic material.

6. The direct torque flow constant velocity joint with a rolling radial boot according to claim 4 wherein said rolling radial boot is substantially semi-spherical between said first end and said second end.

7. The direct torque flow constant velocity joint with a rolling radial boot according to claim 1 wherein said shroud assembly includes a rigid shroud and a support member, wherein said rigid shroud has an inside surface for substantially supporting said rolling radial boot during rotational articulations of said DTF connector, and said rigid shroud being cantilevered by said support member at said clamp portion.

8. The direct torque flow constant velocity joint with a rolling radial boot according to claim 7 wherein said rigid shroud is substantially toridal and said inside surface conforms along a portion of said rolling radial boot.

9. The direct torque flow constant velocity joint with a rolling radial boot according to claim 1 further including a ball cage having a plurality of windows for receiving said plurality of balls.

10. The direct torque flow constant velocity joint with a rolling radial boot according to claim 1 wherein said outer joint part includes a vent port for relieving pressure when said DTF connector is selectively coupled to a drive unit.

11. A rolling radial boot assembly comprising:

a CVJ, said CVJ having an outer joint part and an inner joint part;

a shroud assembly coupled to said inner joint part and substantially surrounds said outer joint part of said CVJ, said shroud assembly has a circumferential clamp portion; and

a rolling radial boot coupled between said outer joint part of said CVJ and said clamp portion of said shroud assembly, wherein said rolling radial boot is covered by said shroud assembly and protects the boot from external debris and provides support from

wherein said shroud assembly includes a rigid shroud and a support member, wherein said support member is coupled to said inner joint part and extends radially outward from said inner joint part; and

wherein said rigid shroud covers said boot where said rigid shroud is cantilevered by said support member and coupled to said support member at said clamp portion, said rigid shroud having an inside surface for substantially supporting said rolling radial boot during rotational articulations of said connector, and said rigid shroud is substantially torus-shaped and said inside surface conforms along a portion of said rolling radial boot.

12. The rolling radial boot assembly according to claim 11 wherein said CVJ comprises:

a shaft;

a plurality of balls;

a ball cage having a plurality of windows for receiving said plurality of balls; and

wherein said outer joint part is coupled to said shaft, said outer joint part having a bore, a plurality of ball tracks located in said bore and a circumferential channel;

wherein said inner joint part includes an outer surface, a matching plurality of ball tracks located on said outer surface and a drive unit side, wherein said inner joint part is coupled within said bore of said outer joint part by said plurality of balls arranged within said tracks of said outer joint part and said inner joint part is selectively attachable to a supplied drive unit.

13. The rolling radial boot assembly according to claim 11 wherein further including a guide member, selectively clamping a first end of said rolling radial boot to said outer joint part, wherein said rolling radial boot is guided over said guide member during rotational articulation of said CVJ.

14. A direct torque flow constant velocity joint connection having a rolling radial boot comprising:

a direct torque flow constant velocity joint connector, said direct torque flow constant velocity joint connector having an outer joint part and an inner joint part;

a drive unit coupled to said inner joint part of said direct torque flow constant velocity joint connector;

a rigid shroud coupled to said inner joint part and substantially surrounding said outer joint part of said direct torque flow constant velocity joint connector, said rigid shroud including a circumferential clamp portion;

a support member, wherein said support member is coupled to said inner joint part and extends radially outward from said inner joint part; and

a rolling radial boot coupled between said outer joint part of said direct torque flow constant velocity joint connector and said clamp portion of said rigid shroud, wherein said rolling radial boot is covered by said rigid shroud and protects the boot from external debris, said rigid shroud covers said boot where said rigid shroud is cantilevered by said support member and coupled to said support member at said clamp portion.