GB2115521A - Universal joints - Google Patents
Universal joints Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2115521A GB2115521A GB08302893A GB8302893A GB2115521A GB 2115521 A GB2115521 A GB 2115521A GB 08302893 A GB08302893 A GB 08302893A GB 8302893 A GB8302893 A GB 8302893A GB 2115521 A GB2115521 A GB 2115521A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- balls
- joint
- joint member
- central supporting
- universal joint
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 230000000063 preceeding effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000005060 rubber Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000314 lubricant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- F16D3/00—Yielding couplings, i.e. with means permitting movement between the connected parts during the drive
- F16D3/84—Shrouds, e.g. casings, covers; Sealing means specially adapted therefor
- F16D3/843—Shrouds, e.g. casings, covers; Sealing means specially adapted therefor enclosed covers
- F16D3/845—Shrouds, e.g. casings, covers; Sealing means specially adapted therefor enclosed covers allowing relative movement of joint parts due to the flexing of the cover
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- F16D3/00—Yielding couplings, i.e. with means permitting movement between the connected parts during the drive
- F16D3/16—Universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts
- F16D3/20—Universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts one coupling part entering a sleeve of the other coupling part and connected thereto by sliding or rolling members
- F16D3/22—Universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts one coupling part entering a sleeve of the other coupling part and connected thereto by sliding or rolling members the rolling members being balls, rollers, or the like, guided in grooves or sockets in both coupling parts
- F16D3/221—Universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts one coupling part entering a sleeve of the other coupling part and connected thereto by sliding or rolling members the rolling members being balls, rollers, or the like, guided in grooves or sockets in both coupling parts the rolling members being located in sockets in one of the coupling parts
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
- Sliding-Contact Bearings (AREA)
- Transmission Devices (AREA)
- Friction Gearing (AREA)
Abstract
A universal joint comprises an outer member 1 and an inner member 3, the inner member having balls 5 arranged in radially displaceable manner in openings 7 therein and engaging grooves 6 in the outer member for torque transmission, the balls being supported by a central supporting member 9, e.g. a further ball disposed within an interior space of the inner joint member. The balls have point contact with the central supporting member, and when the joint articulates the balls are able to roll along the grooves in the outer member to minimize friction. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Universal joint
This invention relates to a universal joint
comprising an outer joint member and an inner joint member, the inner member having at least
three equally circumferentially distributed balls
arranged in radially displaceable manner in
openings in the inner joint member and engaging
in grooves in the outer joint member for torque
transmission between the joint members. The
balls may be complete balls, or could possibly be
of truncated form having diametrically opposed
flats which engage the sides of the openings in the
inner joint member.
One example of such a joint is disclosed in
British Patent Specification 1 378 691. However,
that joint has a disadvantage in that, during
articulation of the joint, the efficiency of the joint is
reduced by sliding friction of the balls along the
tracks in the outer joint member. Further, the
overall dimensions of the joint are closely
constrained by the size of balls used, which in turn
is determined by the torque to be transmitted.
It is the object of the present invention to
provide a joint in which one or more of these
disadvantages is overcome or reduced.
The invention provides a universal joint of the
kind specified wherein said balls engage a central
supporting member disposed within an interior
space of the inner joint member and held by said
balls, said balls having point contact with said
central supporting member and the contact points
lying in the common central plane of the balls.
This construction enables a joint to be designed
in which, for a given size of torque transmitting
ball, different sizes of central supporting member
can be used to achieve different overall joint
dimensions. Further, provided the central
supporting member is capable of rotation when
the joint articulates the torque transmitting balls
will roll rather than slide along the grooves in the
outer joint member, and thereby reducing
frictional losses.
When the joint is articulated, the central
supporting member carries out a slightly eccentric
movement to the bending centre of the joint (i.e.
the point of intersection of the axes of rotation of
the inner and outer joint members). This at least
partially compensates for the balls' centre
displacement caused by articulation of the joint.
The magnitude of displacement depends on the
angle of articulation.
The central supporting member preferably is of
spherical form.
The openings in the inner joint member may be provided by drilled bores of inside diameter corresponding to the outside diameter of the torque transmitting balls, the axes of such bores
intersecting the rotational axis of the inner joint
member. Provided that such bores are of sufficient
depth, they together form the interior space which accommodates the central supporting member.
This simplifies manufacture.
There may be provided resilient supporting
members, e.g. of plastics or rubber between the
balls, to reduce noise in operation by eliminating
any free play present.
Such joints may be used as drive couplings, control couplings, or for certain automotive shaft
applications.
The invention will now be described by way of
example with reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which;
Figure 1 is an axial section through a joint
according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a transverse section through the
joint;
Figure 3 is a simplified transverse section
showing the inner joint member of the joint;
Figure 4 is a diagram showing the principle of
operation of the joint.
Referring firstly to figure 1 and 2, this shows a
universal joint comprising an outer member 1 which is of hollow form defining an internal cavity
2 which receives an inner joint member 3 formed
on the end of a drive shaft 4. Torque is transmitted
between the joint members by a plurality of balls 5
which engage in grooves 6 in the interior of the
outer joint member and are received in openings 7
in the inner joint member. The grooves 6 in the
outer joint member are straight and parallel to the
axis of rotation of the outer joint member. The
diameter of each of the openings 7 in the inner joint member corresponds to the diameter of the balls 5, such that the balls 5 are radially
displaceable in their openings 7.
The balls 5 are supported by point contact with
a central supporting member in the form of a ball
9. The ball 9 occupies an interior space 10 created
by the intersection of the drilled openings 7 in the
inner joint member. The point contact between
the central ball 9 and the torque transmitting balls
5 is shown in figure 2 at 12.
Aflexible sealing boot 11 connected between
the drive shaft 4 and outer joint number 1 seals
the joint to retain lubricant therein and exclude
dirt.
The arrangement of the torque transmitting
balls 5 and central supporting ball 9 is shown in
more detail in figures 3 and 4. The central ball 9
has its position within the interior space 10 of the
inner joint member determined by its contact at
12 with the balls 5. Thus the amount by which the
balls 5 extend out of the opening 7 in the inner
joint member to engage grooves 6 in the outer
joint member is determined by the size of ball 9.
When the joint is articulated at an angle /3, as
shown in figure 4, one of the balls 5 moves in the
direction indicated by arrow 13 and another in the
direction indicated by arrow 14. During this
movement, the balls 5 roll along the groove 6,
each ball rotating in the direction indicated by the
arrow thereon. The central supporting ball 9 is
also caused to rotate in the sense as shown by the
arrows thereon, so that the major resistance to
joint articulation is due to rolling friction rather
than sliding friction. The efficiency of the joint is
thus increased.
Referring back to figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, these show resilient supporting elements, e.g. of plastics or rubbers material, between the balls of the joint. This compensates for any play between the balls, and reduces noise.
Claims (5)
1. A universal joint comprising an outer joint
member and an inner joint member, the inner joint member having at least three equally circumferentially distributed balls arranged in radially displaceable manner in openings in the inner joint member and engaging in grooves in the outer joint member for torque transmission between the joint members, wherein said balls engage a central supporting member disposed within an interior space of the inner joint member and held by said balls, said balls having point contact with said central supporting member and said contact points lying in the common central plane of the balls.
2. A universal joint according to claim 1 wherein said central supporting member is of spherical form.
3. The universal joint according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said openings in the inner joint member are drilled bores of diameter corresponding to the diameter of said balls and whose axes intersect the rotation axis of the joint to form said interior space.
4; A universal joint according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein resilient supporting members are provided between said balls.
5. A universal joint substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE3206435A DE3206435C2 (en) | 1982-02-23 | 1982-02-23 | Angularly movable cardan shaft coupling |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8302893D0 GB8302893D0 (en) | 1983-03-09 |
| GB2115521A true GB2115521A (en) | 1983-09-07 |
| GB2115521B GB2115521B (en) | 1985-08-14 |
Family
ID=6156455
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08302893A Expired GB2115521B (en) | 1982-02-23 | 1983-02-02 | Universal joints |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS58152932A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR8207612A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3206435C2 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2522094A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2115521B (en) |
| IT (2) | IT1158486B (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2578013A1 (en) * | 1985-02-22 | 1986-08-29 | Gkn Automotive Components Inc | UNIVERSAL JOINT AND COUPLING COMPRISING IT, IN PARTICULAR FOR TRANSMITTING A COUPLE |
| US4685897A (en) * | 1985-02-22 | 1987-08-11 | Gkn Automotive Components Inc. | Universal joint for tilt steering wheel |
| US4753626A (en) * | 1985-02-22 | 1988-06-28 | Gkn Automotive Components Inc. | Constant velocity universal joint and apparatus embodying the same |
| FR2611379A1 (en) * | 1987-02-27 | 1988-09-02 | Keeper Kk | CARDAN JOINT MOUNTED IN A WATERTIGHT NITROGEN SPACE |
| US4832657A (en) * | 1987-09-08 | 1989-05-23 | Gkn Automotive Inc. | Constant velocity universal joint for transmitting a torque at various angles |
| US5334096A (en) * | 1991-01-21 | 1994-08-02 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Uniform motion type universal joint with no generation of high frequency vibrating component |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2171492B (en) * | 1985-02-22 | 1989-08-31 | Gkn Automotive Components Inc | Universal joint |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE1185868B (en) * | 1961-02-24 | 1965-01-21 | Daimler Benz Ag | Angularly movable shaft coupling, especially for motor vehicles |
| JPS4427295Y1 (en) * | 1965-02-11 | 1969-11-14 | ||
| JPS5234699B1 (en) * | 1971-05-25 | 1977-09-05 | ||
| FR2250916B3 (en) * | 1973-11-08 | 1977-05-06 | Schmid Leopold | |
| JPS584397B2 (en) * | 1975-09-11 | 1983-01-26 | 株式会社富士通ゼネラル | Kanshi Souchi |
| DE2634581C2 (en) * | 1976-07-31 | 1978-10-12 | Uni-Cardan Ag, 5204 Lohmar | Angularly movable cardan shaft coupling |
| DE2816765A1 (en) * | 1978-04-18 | 1979-10-31 | Willi Zeidler | Ball and socket sync. shaft union - has balls projecting into groove around disc, ring, or ball housed at centre |
| JPS5623053A (en) * | 1979-08-01 | 1981-03-04 | Hitachi Ltd | Communication system of loop shape |
| DE3005054C2 (en) * | 1980-02-11 | 1982-01-28 | Leopold F. 7000 Stuttgart Schmid | Tripod joint with positive control for the three rollers that transmit the torque |
-
1982
- 1982-02-23 DE DE3206435A patent/DE3206435C2/en not_active Expired
- 1982-11-22 JP JP57203820A patent/JPS58152932A/en active Pending
- 1982-12-20 IT IT05264/82A patent/IT1158486B/en active
- 1982-12-20 IT IT8207156U patent/IT8207156V0/en unknown
- 1982-12-30 BR BR8207612A patent/BR8207612A/en unknown
-
1983
- 1983-02-02 GB GB08302893A patent/GB2115521B/en not_active Expired
- 1983-02-23 FR FR8302962A patent/FR2522094A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2578013A1 (en) * | 1985-02-22 | 1986-08-29 | Gkn Automotive Components Inc | UNIVERSAL JOINT AND COUPLING COMPRISING IT, IN PARTICULAR FOR TRANSMITTING A COUPLE |
| US4634402A (en) * | 1985-02-22 | 1987-01-06 | Gkn Automotive Components Inc. | Universal joint capable of accommodating thrust loads |
| US4685897A (en) * | 1985-02-22 | 1987-08-11 | Gkn Automotive Components Inc. | Universal joint for tilt steering wheel |
| US4753626A (en) * | 1985-02-22 | 1988-06-28 | Gkn Automotive Components Inc. | Constant velocity universal joint and apparatus embodying the same |
| FR2611379A1 (en) * | 1987-02-27 | 1988-09-02 | Keeper Kk | CARDAN JOINT MOUNTED IN A WATERTIGHT NITROGEN SPACE |
| US4832657A (en) * | 1987-09-08 | 1989-05-23 | Gkn Automotive Inc. | Constant velocity universal joint for transmitting a torque at various angles |
| US5334096A (en) * | 1991-01-21 | 1994-08-02 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Uniform motion type universal joint with no generation of high frequency vibrating component |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2115521B (en) | 1985-08-14 |
| IT8205264A0 (en) | 1982-12-20 |
| FR2522094A1 (en) | 1983-08-26 |
| DE3206435C2 (en) | 1984-03-22 |
| GB8302893D0 (en) | 1983-03-09 |
| IT8207156V0 (en) | 1982-12-20 |
| JPS58152932A (en) | 1983-09-10 |
| BR8207612A (en) | 1983-10-25 |
| DE3206435A1 (en) | 1983-09-08 |
| IT1158486B (en) | 1987-02-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |