Fixed type constant velocity universal joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016252137-A1
Application number	US-201415032728-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2014
Priority date	Nov 5, 2013
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Six track grooves formed in a spherical inner peripheral surface of an outer joint member are each formed into an arc shape having a curvature center at a joint center. The track grooves are inclined in a circumferential direction of the outer joint member with respect to a joint axial line, and are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with their inclination directions opposite to each other. Six track grooves formed in a spherical outer peripheral surface of an inner joint member are formed so as to be mirror-image symmetrical with the track grooves paired therewith of the outer joint member with respect to a joint center plane at an operating angle of 0°. An inclination angle of each of the track grooves of the outer joint member with respect to the joint axial line is set to 8° or more and 16° or less.

First claim

1 . A fixed type constant velocity universal joint, comprising:
an outer joint member having a spherical inner peripheral surface in which six track grooves are formed so as to extend in an axial direction of the outer joint member; an inner joint member having a spherical outer peripheral surface in which six track grooves are formed so as to be paired with the six track grooves of the outer joint member; balls configured to transmit torque,
the balls being interposed between the six track grooves of the outer joint member and the six track grooves of the inner joint member, which are paired with each other; and
a cage comprising pocket portions configured to hold the balls,
the cage having:
a spherical outer peripheral surface fitted to the spherical inner peripheral surface of the outer joint member; and
a spherical inner peripheral surface fitted to the spherical outer peripheral surface of the inner joint member,

wherein the six track grooves of the outer joint member are each formed into an arc shape having a curvature center that is prevented from being offset in the axial direction with respect to a joint center, wherein the six track grooves of the outer joint member are inclined in a circumferential direction of the outer joint member with respect to a joint axial line and are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with their inclination directions opposite to each other, wherein the six track grooves of the inner joint member are formed so as to be mirror-image symmetrical with the six track grooves paired therewith of the outer joint member with respect to a joint center plane at an operating angle of 0°, wherein the fixed type constant velocity universal joint is assembled for use in a propeller shaft, and wherein an inclination angle γ of each of the six track grooves of the outer joint member with respect to the joint axial line is set to 8° or more and 16° or less.

2 . The fixed type constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1 , wherein a relational expression of L=2×(R+d/2)×sin(θ/2) is satisfied, where L is an effective length of each of the six track grooves of the outer joint member, R is a pitch circle radius of the balls, d is a diameter of each of the balls, and θ is an operating angle of the fixed type constant velocity universal joint when the propeller shaft is assembled into an automobile.

3 . The fixed type constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1 , wherein the curvature center of the each of the six track grooves of the outer joint member and a curvature center of each of the six track grooves of the inner joint member are arranged on the joint axial line.

4 . The fixed type constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1 , wherein the curvature center of the each of the six track grooves of the outer joint member and a curvature center of each of the six track grooves of the inner joint member are arranged at positions offset in a radial direction of each of the outer joint member and the inner joint member with respect to the joint axial line.

5 . The fixed type constant velocity universal joint according to claim 1 , wherein the balls are held in contact with the six track grooves of the outer joint member and the six track grooves of the inner joint member at a contact angle of from 30° to 45°.

Assignees

• Hirukawa Hiroyasu
• Fujio Teruaki
• Ntn Toyo Bearing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hirukawa Hiroyasu
• Fujio Teruaki

Classifications

• F16D3/224 Primary

  the groove centre-lines in each coupling part lying on a sphere · CPC title

• Y10S464/906

  Torque transmitted via radially spaced balls · CPC title

• F16D2003/22309

  Details of grooves · CPC title

• F16D2003/22303

  Details of ball cages · CPC title

• F16D3/223

  the rolling members being guided in grooves in both coupling parts · CPC title