Tripod joint with a projection or bead for securing a roller assembly to a respective arm

• US 5,573,464 A
• Filed: 08/17/1994
• Issued: 11/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lohr & Bromkamp GmbH (GKN PLC)
• Original Assignee: Lohr & Bromkamp GmbH (GKN PLC)
• Inventors: Hofmann, Norbert, Ricks, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Eileen A.
• Application Number:
  US08/292,075
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 464/111, 464/120, 464/122, 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 tripod joint has an outer joint part with three axially extending recesses and an inner joint part with three radially circumferentially distributed arms, each engaging one of the longitudinal recesses. Roller assemblies, with roller carriers and roller elements, are carried on the arms. A mechanism cooperating with the inner joint part provides a form-fitting resistance to prevent the roller assemblies from axial removal from their respective arm.

Claims

1. A tripod joint comprising:

an outer joint part provided with three axially extending longitudinal recesses with circumferentially opposed tracks;

an inner joint part with three radial circumferentially distributed arms which each engage one of the longitudinal recesses and carry roller assemblies each including a roller carrier and a roller element, said roller elements rollingly guided in the axial direction in the longitudinal recesses of the outer joint part on the tracks, with each roller carrier provided with a cylindrical inner recess and guided on a spherical arm end of a respective one of said arms so as to be pivotable and longitudinally movable relative to an axis of the respective arm, said roller element rotatably supported on the roller carrier, and said roller assemblies each including the roller carriers and the roller elements being supported on the outer joint part to prevent the roller assemblies from tilting around the longitudinal axis of the inner joint part; and

having

a radially inwardly directed edge of the inner recess of each roller carrier including at least one elastically deformable projection or an elastic deformable bead said projection or bead may be guided past the respective arm end in being elastically deformed without being destroyed, wherein said projection or bead provides a form-fitting resistance to prevent said roller assembly from axial removal from its respective arm.

2. A tripod joint according to claim 1, wherein the projections are formed on or formed so as to be intergral with the roller carrier.

3. A tripod joint according to claim 1, wherein the projections are attached to the roller carrier, especially glued on, pressed in or pressed on.

4. A tripod joint comprising:

an outer joint part with three axially extending longitudinal recesses with circumferentially opposed tracks;

an inner joint part with three radial circumferentially distributed arms which each engage one of the longitudinal recesses and carry roller assemblies each including a roller carrier and a roller element, said roller element rollingly guided in the axial direction in the longitudinal recesses of the outer joint part on tracks, each roller carrier including a cylindrical inner recess and guided on a respective one of said arms with a spherical arm end so as to be pivotable and longitudinally movable relative to an axis of the respective arm, said roller element rotatably supported on the roller carrier, and said roller assemblies each including the roller carrier and the roller element being supported on the outer joint part to prevent the roller assemblies from tilting around the longitudinal axis of the inner joint part; and

having

a radially inwardly directed edge of the inner recess of the roller carrier including at least one projection or bead which may be guided past the respective arm end in a predetermined angular position only without being destroyed and which, after the angular position has been changed, said projection or bead providing a form-fitting resistance to prevent said roller assembly from axial removal from its respective arm.

5. A tripod joint according to claim 4, wherein the projections are formed on or formed so as to be integral with the roller carrier.

6. A tripod joint according to claim 4, wherein the projections are attached to the roller carrier, especially glued on, pressed in or pressed on.