GB2129524A

GB2129524A - Universal joint

Info

Publication number: GB2129524A
Application number: GB08326752A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ward Richard Cusati
Original assignee: Torrington Co
Current assignee: Timken US LLC
Priority date: 1982-10-08
Filing date: 1983-10-06
Publication date: 1984-05-16
Also published as: FR2534334A1; NO833324L; BR8305361A; IT1169803B; DE3336454A1; ES284909Y; ES284909U; GB8326752D0; JPS5969528A; IT8322825A0

Abstract

Each of the arms (12, 14) of the universal joint yokes have a plastic a bearing (40). Each plastic bearing is provided with a central bore for receiving a trunnion (54) which extends into the bore from the hub (30) of the universal joint. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Universal joint This invention relates to universal joints. More particularly, this invention is a universal joint including a plastic bearing inserted into aligned holes in arms of the yokes of the universal joint.

In some currently utilised universal joints, such as universal joints used in some automobile steering mechanisms, individual plastic thrust washers are located between the surfaces of the hub of the universal joint and each arm of each yoke of the joint. These thrust washers reduce rubbing friction between hub and arms and also act as dirt shields or seals. The torque is transmitted by the yoke arms to the universal joint hub through needle bearings mounted on trunnions extending from the hub.

According to the present invention there is provided a universal joint comprising a yoke having bifurcated arms with aligned bores and a plastic bearing inserted into each bore, each of the bearings having a longitudinal bore extending from the inside of the bearing at least partially therethrough for receiving trunnions.

The invention as well as its many advantages will be further understood by reference to the following detailed description and drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploited perspective view of a universal joint incorporating one preferred embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a view, partly in section, showing a portion of the universal joint of Figure 1 after it has been assembled.

In the various figures like parts are referred to by like numbers.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1 the universal joint includes a yoke with bifurcated arms 12 and 14. The arms 12 and 14 are provided with aligned bores 16 and 18 respectively.

A second yoke having bifurcated arms 22 and 24 provided with aligned bores 26 and 28, respectively, also form part of the universal joint.

A hub 30 fits between the arms of the two yokes which are located rotationally at 90 degrees to each other as shown.

A bore 32 extends through hub 30 perpendicular to the surface 34 of the hub. A similar bore 36 extends through hub 30 perpendicular to surface 38 of the hub. The axis of bore 32 is perpendicular to the axis of bore 36. The two axes of the bores intersect in the hub 30.

The universal joint also includes plastic bearings 40,42,44 and 46. Bearing 40 has a shoulder, such as the radially extending annular shoulder 48, which connects the larger diameter portion 50 to the smaller diameter portion 52. The structure of bearings 42,44 and 46 is the same as the structure as bearing 40.

The universal joint also includes a trunnion 54 provided with an axially centrally located annular groove 56. The shorter trunnions 58 and 60 are provided with V-shaped grooves 62 and 64 respectively. Each of the bearings, such as bearing 40, is provided with a longitudinally extending bore, such as bore 66, which may extend partially through the bearing from the inside surface 67 (see Figure 2) of the bearing but preferably extends entirely through the bearing.

To assemble the universal joint shown in Figure 1 the bearings 40 and 42 are inserted in the holes 16 and 18, respectively, of arms 12 and 14, respectively, and the bearings 44 and 46 are placed in the aligned holes 26 and 28, respectively, in arms 22 and 24, respectively. The hub 30 is then located in the yokes with the bore 36 of the hub aligned with bores 16 and 18 in arms 12 and 14 and the bore 32 aligned with bores 26 and 28 in arms 22 and 24. The trunnion 54 may then be inserted, for example, through the hole 66 in bearing 40 from the outside of the universal joint, through bore 36, and through bore 68 in bearing 42. The trunnions 58 and 60 are then inserted from the outside of the universal joint through bores 70 and 72 of bearings 44 and 46, respectively, and into bore 32.The V-shaped grooves 62 and 64 on trunnions 58 and 60, respectively, fit about the cylindrical surface formed by annular groove 56 on trunnion 54 to complete the assembling of the universal joint.

Referring more particularly to Figure 2, it can be seen that when the universal joint is assembled, each bearing, such as bearing 40, is located in the bore 16 of the arm 14 of the yoke so that the shoulder 48 engages the inside surface 49 of the arm 14. The smaller diameter longitudinal portion 52 of the bearing 40 extends through the yoke arm bore 16.

Similarly, the shoulders of each of the other bearings 42,44 and 46 engage the inside surface of each corresponding arm with the smaller longitudinal portion extending through the corresponding yoke arm bore.

This invention eliminates the need for costly conventional needle bearings. It also eliminates the need for individual bearings which are separate from the thrust washers. Since the bearings are provided with the open-ended bores permitting the insertion of the trunnions from the outside of the arms of the yokes the assembly of the universal joint is much easier than the assembly of the conventional universal joints which include closed ended needle bearings.

The bearings can be moulded from a variety of plastics which possess self-lubricating qualities.

Also the bearings can be produced with grease retaining pockets if additional grease capacity is required.

1. A universal joint comprising a yoke having bifurcated arms with aligned bores and a plastic bearing inserted into each bore, each of the bearings having a longitudinal bore extending from the inside of the bearing at least partially therethrough for receiving trunnions.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1 in which the bore in each bearing extends entirely through the bearing.

3. An assembly according to Claim 1 or 2 in which each bearing has a shoulder engaging the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Universal joint This invention relates to universal joints. More particularly, this invention is a universal joint including a plastic bearing inserted into aligned holes in arms of the yokes of the universal joint. In some currently utilised universal joints, such as universal joints used in some automobile steering mechanisms, individual plastic thrust washers are located between the surfaces of the hub of the universal joint and each arm of each yoke of the joint. These thrust washers reduce rubbing friction between hub and arms and also act as dirt shields or seals. The torque is transmitted by the yoke arms to the universal joint hub through needle bearings mounted on trunnions extending from the hub. According to the present invention there is provided a universal joint comprising a yoke having bifurcated arms with aligned bores and a plastic bearing inserted into each bore, each of the bearings having a longitudinal bore extending from the inside of the bearing at least partially therethrough for receiving trunnions. The invention as well as its many advantages will be further understood by reference to the following detailed description and drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploited perspective view of a universal joint incorporating one preferred embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a view, partly in section, showing a portion of the universal joint of Figure 1 after it has been assembled. In the various figures like parts are referred to by like numbers. Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1 the universal joint includes a yoke with bifurcated arms 12 and 14. The arms 12 and 14 are provided with aligned bores 16 and 18 respectively. A second yoke having bifurcated arms 22 and 24 provided with aligned bores 26 and 28, respectively, also form part of the universal joint. A hub 30 fits between the arms of the two yokes which are located rotationally at 90 degrees to each other as shown. A bore 32 extends through hub 30 perpendicular to the surface 34 of the hub. A similar bore 36 extends through hub 30 perpendicular to surface 38 of the hub. The axis of bore 32 is perpendicular to the axis of bore 36. The two axes of the bores intersect in the hub 30. The universal joint also includes plastic bearings 40,42,44 and 46. Bearing 40 has a shoulder, such as the radially extending annular shoulder 48, which connects the larger diameter portion 50 to the smaller diameter portion 52. The structure of bearings 42,44 and 46 is the same as the structure as bearing 40. The universal joint also includes a trunnion 54 provided with an axially centrally located annular groove 56. The shorter trunnions 58 and 60 are provided with V-shaped grooves 62 and 64 respectively. Each of the bearings, such as bearing 40, is provided with a longitudinally extending bore, such as bore 66, which may extend partially through the bearing from the inside surface 67 (see Figure 2) of the bearing but preferably extends entirely through the bearing. To assemble the universal joint shown in Figure 1 the bearings 40 and 42 are inserted in the holes 16 and 18, respectively, of arms 12 and 14, respectively, and the bearings 44 and 46 are placed in the aligned holes 26 and 28, respectively, in arms 22 and 24, respectively. The hub 30 is then located in the yokes with the bore 36 of the hub aligned with bores 16 and 18 in arms 12 and 14 and the bore 32 aligned with bores 26 and 28 in arms 22 and 24. The trunnion 54 may then be inserted, for example, through the hole 66 in bearing 40 from the outside of the universal joint, through bore 36, and through bore 68 in bearing 42. The trunnions 58 and 60 are then inserted from the outside of the universal joint through bores 70 and 72 of bearings 44 and 46, respectively, and into bore 32.The V-shaped grooves 62 and 64 on trunnions 58 and 60, respectively, fit about the cylindrical surface formed by annular groove 56 on trunnion 54 to complete the assembling of the universal joint. Referring more particularly to Figure 2, it can be seen that when the universal joint is assembled, each bearing, such as bearing 40, is located in the bore 16 of the arm 14 of the yoke so that the shoulder 48 engages the inside surface 49 of the arm 14. The smaller diameter longitudinal portion 52 of the bearing 40 extends through the yoke arm bore 16. Similarly, the shoulders of each of the other bearings 42,44 and 46 engage the inside surface of each corresponding arm with the smaller longitudinal portion extending through the corresponding yoke arm bore. This invention eliminates the need for costly conventional needle bearings. It also eliminates the need for individual bearings which are separate from the thrust washers. Since the bearings are provided with the open-ended bores permitting the insertion of the trunnions from the outside of the arms of the yokes the assembly of the universal joint is much easier than the assembly of the conventional universal joints which include closed ended needle bearings. The bearings can be moulded from a variety of plastics which possess self-lubricating qualities. Also the bearings can be produced with grease retaining pockets if additional grease capacity is required. CLAIMS

3. An assembly according to Claim 1 or 2 in which each bearing has a shoulder engaging the inside surface of the corresponding arm.

4. An assembly according to Claim 3 in which the shoulder is a radial annular shoulder connecting one longitudinal portion of the bearing with a smaller diameter longitudinal portion of the bearing with the smaller longitudinal portion extending through the yoke arm bore.

5. A universal joint comprising a hub having first and second bores extending therethrough, the bores being intersecting and perpendicular to each other, a first yoke having bifurcated arms with aligned bores in each of which a plastic bearing is inserted, each of the bearings having a passage extending from the inside of the bearing at least partially therethrough, such passages being aligned with opposite ends of the first bore and receiving the opposed ends of a trunnion extending through the first bore, and a second yoke having bifurcated ends with aligned bores in each of which a plastic bearing is inserted, each of the bearings inserted in the second yoke having a passage extending from the inside of such bearing at least partially therethrough the passages in the bearings in the second yoke being aligned with opposite ends of the second bore and each receiving a separate trunnion which extends into the second bore.

6. A universal joint constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.