Universal joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9879732-B2
Application number	US-201514870669-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2015
Priority date	Sep 30, 2014
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

A universal joint includes a joint cross having a plurality of bearing journals, each bearing journal being supported in a bearing bushing by a plurality of trunnion bearing rolling elements, the universal joint also including a seal assembly configured to seal the journal cross against the bearing bushing. The bearing bushing includes a sleeve for slidingly supporting at least one seal lip of the seal assembly, the sleeve has an axially inner region facing the rolling elements, and the axially inner region has a radially inner portion and a radially outer portion. The radially inner portion is axially offset from the radially outer portion towards the rolling elements by an offset amount.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A universal joint including a joint cross, the joint cross having a plurality of bearing journals, each bearing journal being supported in a bearing bushing by a plurality of trunnion bearing rolling elements, the universal joint also including a seal assembly configured to seal the journal cross against the bearing bushing,
wherein the bearing bushing includes a sleeve for slidingly supporting at least one seal lip of the seal assembly, the sleeve including an axially inner region facing the rolling elements, the axially inner region having a radially inner portion and a radially outer portion,
wherein the radially inner portion is axially offset from the radially outer portion towards the rolling elements by an offset amount, and
wherein the sleeve is fixed against rotation relative to the bearing bushing and the seal assembly is fixed against rotation relative to the bearing journal and wherein the at least one seal lip of the seal assembly contacts the sleeve and is configured to slide along the sleeve when the bearing journal rotates in the bearing bushing.

2. The universal joint according to claim 1 , wherein the offset amount is from 0.25 mm to 4.0 mm.

3. The universal joint according to claim 1 , wherein the radially outer portion and the radially inner portion are annular and form first and second plateaus.

4. The universal joint according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is press fitted against a cylindrical receiving surface of the bearing bushing.

5. The universal joint according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is formed as a deep-drawn component.

6. The universal joint according to claim 1 , wherein the seal assembly includes only one seal body mounted on each arm of the joint cross in a statically sealing manner, wherein the seal body includes at least one first radially oriented seal lip slidingly mounted on the bearing bushing or on the sleeve in a dynamically sealing manner, wherein the seal body includes at least one second radially oriented seal lip slidingly mounted on the bearing bushing or on a housing in a dynamically sealing manner, and wherein the seal body, at least one first radially oriented sealing lip and at least one second radially oriented sealing lip are formed as one piece.

7. The universal joint according to claim 6 , wherein the seal body is comprised of polyurethane or of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

8. The universal joint according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes a first arm extending in axial direction and a doubly folded section at an end of the first arm comprising a radially inner fold and a radially outer fold, wherein the first seal lip and a third seal lip are configured to slidingly engage the radially inner fold and the radially outer fold.

9. The universal joint according to claim 1 ,
wherein the offset amount is from 0.25 mm to 4.0 mm,
wherein the radially outer portion and the radially inner portion are annular and form first and second plateaus,
wherein the sleeve is press fitted against a cylindrical receiving surface of the bearing bushing,
wherein the sleeve is formed as a deep-drawn component,
wherein the seal assembly includes only one seal body mounted on each arm of the joint cross in a statically sealing manner,
wherein the seal body includes at least one first radially oriented seal lip slidingly mounted on the bearing bushing or on the sleeve in a dynamically sealing manner,
wherein the seal body includes at least one second radially oriented seal lip slidingly mounted on the bearing bushing or on a housing in a dynamically sealing manner,
wherein the seal body, at least one first radially oriented sealing lip and at least one second radially oriented sealing lip are formed as one piece, and
wherein the seal body is comprised of polyurethane or of a thermoplastic elastomer.

10. The universal joint according to claim 1 , wherein the radially inner portion includes an axially innermost surface and the radially outer portion includes an axially innermost surface and wherein the axially innermost surface of the radially inner portion is axially offset from the axially innermost surface of the radially outer portion by the offset amount.

11. The universal joint according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve directly contacts the plurality of trunnion bearing rolling elements.

12. The universal joint according to claim 1 , wherein the radially inner portion directly contacts the plurality of trunnion bearing rolling elements.

13. A universal joint including a joint cross, the joint cross having a plurality of bearing journals, each bearing journal being supported in a bearing bushing by a plurality of trunnion bearing rolling elements, the universal joint also including a seal assembly configured to seal the journal cross against the bearing bushing,
wherein the bearing bushing includes a sleeve for slidingly supporting at least one seal lip of the seal assembly, the sleeve including an axially inner region facing the rolling elements, the axially inner region having a radially inner portion and a radially outer portion, wherein the radially inner portion is axially offset from the radially outer portion towards the rolling elements by an offset amount, and
wherein the sleeve is U-shaped in radial section and includes a base and first and second arms, wherein the base faces the rolling elements of the trunnion bearing, and wherein the first arm is press-fit in a cylindrical receiving surface of the bearing bushing, and wherein the radially inner portion and the radially outer portion comprise part of the base.

14. The universal joint according to claim 13 , wherein the second arm includes a radially outer-lying surface configured to slidingly support a third seal lip of the seal body in a dynamically sealing manner.

15. A universal joint comprising:
a joint cross having first, second, third and fourth bearing journals,
first, second, third and fourth bearing bushings, the first bearing journal being supported in the first bearing bushing by a first plurality of rolling elements to form a first trunnion bearing, the second bearing journal being supported in the second bearing bushing by a second plurality of rolling elements to form a second trunnion bearing, the third bearing journal being supported in the third bearing bushing by a third plurality of rolling elements to form a third trunnion bearing, and the fourth bearing journal being supported in the fourth bearing bushing by a fourth plurality of rolling elements to form a fourth trunnion bearing,
a plurality of unitary seal elements comprising first, second third and fourth unitary seal elements, the first seal element sealing the joint cross against the first bearing bushing, the second seal element sealing the joint cross against the second bearing bushing, the third seal element sealing the joint cross against the third bearing bushing, and the fourth seal element sealing the joint cross against the fourth bearing bushing,
wherein the first unitary seal element includes a first seal lip and a second seal lip;
wherein the first bearing bushing includes a sleeve including an axially inner region facing the first plurality of rolling elements, the axially inner region having a radially inner portion and a radially outer portion,
wherein the first seal lip and the second seal contact the sleeve and are configured to slide on the sleeve and rotate with the first bearing journal relative to the sleeve when the first bearing journal rotates; and
wherein an axially innermost surface of the radially inner portion is axially offset from an axially innermost surface of the

Assignees

• Katsaros Padelis
• Wendt Volker
• Skf Ab

Inventors

• Katsaros Padelis
• Wendt Volker

Classifications

• F16D3/41

  with ball or roller bearings · CPC title

• F16D2300/08

  Details or arrangements of sealings not provided for in group F16D3/84 · CPC title

• F16C33/768

  between relatively stationary parts, i.e. static seals · CPC title

• F16C25/08

  self-adjusting · CPC title

• F16J15/3256

  comprising two casing or support elements, one attached to each surface, e.g. cartridge or cassette seals · CPC title