Universal joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9618053-B2
Application number	US-201414276347-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2014
Priority date	May 13, 2014
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

A universal joint assembly includes a hollow upper shaft having an inner surface, a lower shaft extending at least partially within the upper shaft, and a cage receiving at least a portion of the lower shaft, the cage positioned within the hollow upper shaft. The assembly further includes at least one upper tilt pin extending through the upper shaft and the cage, at least one groove formed in the inner surface of the upper shaft, and a lower tilt pin extending through the cage and the lower shaft. The lower tilt pin extends into the at least one groove.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:

1. A universal joint assembly comprising:
a hollow upper shaft having an inner surface;
a lower shaft extending at least partially within the upper shaft;
a cage receiving at least a portion of the lower shaft, the cage positioned within the hollow upper shaft;
at least one upper tilt pin extending through the upper shaft and the cage;
a first groove and a second groove formed in the inner surface of the upper shaft but not extending through the upper shaft; and
a lower tilt pin extending through the cage and the lower shaft, the lower tilt pin having a first end extending into the first groove and a second end extending into the second groove.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first groove and the second groove are oriented 180° apart.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends extend beyond an outer edge of the cage.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one upper tilt pin is a first upper tilt pin and a second upper tilt pin.

5. A universal joint assembly comprising:
a hollow upper shaft having an inner surface;
a lower shaft extending at least partially within the upper shaft;
a cage receiving at least a portion of the lower shaft, the cage positioned within the hollow upper shaft;
at least one upper tilt pin extending through the upper shaft and the cage;
at least one groove formed in the inner surface of the upper shaft and does not extend through the upper shaft, the at least one groove having a groove sidewall; and
a lower tilt pin extending through the cage and the lower shaft, the lower tilt pin extending into the at least one groove and having a lower tilt pin sidewall spaced from the groove sidewall, in response to a high torque condition the lower tilt pin sidewall contacts the groove sidewall to prevent further rotation of the upper shaft relative to the lower shaft.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the at least one groove comprises a first groove and a second groove formed in the inner surface of the upper shaft, the lower tilt pin having a first end extending into the first groove and a second end extending into the second groove.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first groove and the second groove are oriented 180° apart.

8. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first and second ends extend beyond an outer edge of the cage.

9. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the at least one upper tilt pin is a first upper tilt pin and a second upper tilt pin.

10. The assembly of claim 5 wherein a rocking clearance for the lower tilt pin is provided by the groove sidewall spaced from the lower tilt pin sidewall.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Bodtker Joen C
• Brzezinski Gregory D

Classifications

• F16D3/12 Primary

  specially adapted for accumulation of energy to absorb shocks or vibration (by making use of fluid elements F16D3/80) · CPC title

• F16D3/42 Primary

  with ring-shaped intermediate member provided with bearings or inwardly-directed trunnions · CPC title

• F16D3/38

  with a single intermediate member with trunnions or bearings arranged on two axes perpendicular to one another (F16D3/36 takes precedence) · CPC title