GB2409882A - Constant velocity joint and joint socket sleeve - Google Patents

Constant velocity joint and joint socket sleeve Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2409882A
GB2409882A GB0506741A GB0506741A GB2409882A GB 2409882 A GB2409882 A GB 2409882A GB 0506741 A GB0506741 A GB 0506741A GB 0506741 A GB0506741 A GB 0506741A GB 2409882 A GB2409882 A GB 2409882A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
socket
sleeve
thickness
side wall
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
Application number
GB0506741A
Other versions
GB2409882B (en
GB0506741D0 (en
Inventor
Gordon C Butterfield
Michael R Morsches
John L Vitali
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Timken US LLC
Original Assignee
Torrington Co
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/976,405 external-priority patent/US6641324B2/en
Application filed by Torrington Co filed Critical Torrington Co
Publication of GB0506741D0 publication Critical patent/GB0506741D0/en
Publication of GB2409882A publication Critical patent/GB2409882A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2409882B publication Critical patent/GB2409882B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • F16D3/16—Universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts
    • F16D3/26—Hooke's joints or other joints with an equivalent intermediate member to which each coupling part is pivotally or slidably connected
    • F16D3/30—Hooke's joints or other joints with an equivalent intermediate member to which each coupling part is pivotally or slidably connected in which the coupling is specially adapted to constant velocity-ratio
    • F16D3/32—Hooke's joints or other joints with an equivalent intermediate member to which each coupling part is pivotally or slidably connected in which the coupling is specially adapted to constant velocity-ratio by the provision of two intermediate members each having two relatively perpendicular trunnions or bearings
    • F16D3/33—Hooke's joints or other joints with an equivalent intermediate member to which each coupling part is pivotally or slidably connected in which the coupling is specially adapted to constant velocity-ratio by the provision of two intermediate members each having two relatively perpendicular trunnions or bearings with ball or roller bearings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D1/00—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
    • B62D1/02—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle vehicle-mounted
    • B62D1/16—Steering columns

Abstract

A joint assembly 10 and a joint socket sleeve 14 includes a first yoke 22 including a ball portion 30, a second yoke 26 including a socket portion 34 and the socket sleeve 14. The socket sleeve has a continuous side wall 42 defining an opening 38 for receiving the ball portion. A portion 54 of the side wall is flexible. Flat surfaces 62 and/or grooves 66 are formed on the outer surface of the socket sleeve. Ribs are formed on the outer surface of the socket sleeve. The opening 38 is non-circular and in a relaxed state has diameters D1, D2 that are dissimilar.

Description

CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT AND JOINT SOCKET SLEEVE
The invention relates to joint assemblies and, more particularly, to a socket sleeve for a joint assembly.
Typically, a joint assembly, such as a constant velocity joint, is provided in a vehicle steering system.
In general, a joint assembly includes a first yoke including a ball portion and a second yoke including a socket portion. The ball is received in the socket, and the opposite end of each yoke is connected to a separate rotating element, such as a shaft in the steering system.
The present invention provides a joint assembly and a joint socket sleeve which alleviates one or more problems with existing joint assemblies. The socket sleeve provides an interface to reduce potential friction and wear on the socket and the ball portion and provides a low friction, bearing surface for the ball portion. In some aspects of the invention, the socket sleeve reduces the torque required to rotate the joint by reducing the interference between the ball portion and the bearing surface of the socket sleeve. In some aspects of the invention, the socket sleeve eliminates hydraulic lock during installation into the socket and at a 0 operating angle of the joint assembly. In some aspects of the invention, the socket sleeve also allows a larger variation and a larger tolerance in the inner diameter of the socket and in the outer diameter of the ball portion.
According to the present invention, there is provided a joint assembly comprising a first yoke including a ball portion having a ball outer surface, a second yoke defining a socket, and a sleeve positioned in the socket, the sleeve having a continuous side wall defining an opening for receiving the ball portion, the sleeve having a sleeve inner surface, the opening being non-circular such that the opening, in a relaxed state, has at least first and second diameters that are distinct from one another, such that a portion of the sleeve inner surface does not engage the ball outer surface.
For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. l is a cross-sectional side view of a joint assembly including a joint socket sleeve; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the joint socket sleeve shown in Fig. 1.
A joint assembly lO, such as a constant velocity joint assembly, including a joint socket sleeve 14 is illustrated in Fig. l. The joint assembly lO includes a housing 18 and a pair of yokes 22 and 26. The yoke 22 includes a ball portion 30, and the other yoke includes a socket portion 34. The yokes 22 and 26 are connected in a typical manner to rotating shafts (not shown) of a steering system (not shown). In order for the joint assembly lO to be rotated without a wobble, the engagement between the ball portion and the socket 34 (and the socket sleeve 14) provide a constraint to the joint assembly 10. It should be understood that the joint assembly 10 and the socket sleeve 14 may be used in other applications.
As shown in Fig. 1, the socket sleeve 14 is positioned in the socket 34 and defines an opening 38 for receiving the ball portion 30. As shown in more detail in Fig. 2, to the socket sleeve 14 includes a substantially continuous side wall 42 defining the opening 38 and having an outer surface 46 and an inner surface 50. As discussed below in more detail, the socket sleeve 14 provides a reduced friction interface between the ball portion 30 and the socket 34. The socket sleeve 14 is preferably formed of a self-lubricating bearing material including a lubricant, such as, for example, molybdenum disulphide.
The side wall 42 includes at least one flexible portion 54 and, in the illustrated construction, includes four circumferentially-spaced flexible portions 54.
Portions 58 are provided between adjacent flexible portions 54. In the illustrated construction, the flexible portions 54 have a reduced thickness, compared to the portions 58.
Flat surfaces 62 are provided on the outer surface 46 of each flexible portion 54, and grooves 66 are formed in the flat surfaces 62. Radiallyoutwardly extending ribs 70 are provided on the outer surface 46.
In an unflexed position (shown in Fig. 2), a first diameter D1 is provided between opposite flexible portions 54, and the flexible portions 54 may be flexed to increase the distance therebetween. A second diameter D2 is provided between opposite portions 58. The second diameter D2 is greater than the first diameter D1 when the flexible portions 54 are in the unflexed position (shown in Fig. 2) . Preferably, the second diameter D2 is larger than the outer diameter (OD) of the ball portion 30, and the first diameter D1 is smaller than the OD of the ball portion 30.
To assemble the joint assembly lo, the socket sleeve 14 is positioned in the socket 34. The flat surfaces 62 are spaced from the inner surface of the socket 34, and the outer surface of the portions 58, such as the ribs 70, engage the inner surface of the socket 34. The flat surfaces 62 and the grooves 66 allow air to escape from the socket 34 during installation of the socket sleeve 14 and during operation of the joint assembly lo, and, therefore, there is no hydraulic lock when the socket sleeve 14 is installed. The ribs 70 accommodate variations in the inner diameter (ID) of the socket 34, allowing larger tolerances in the ID of the socket 34.
The ball portion 30 is then inserted into the opening 38 of the socket sleeve 14. As discussed above, the OD of the ball portion 30 is preferably smaller than the second diameter D2 and larger than the first diameter D1. To accommodate the ball portion 30, the flexible portions 54 are flexed. The spacing between the flat surface 62 and the inner surface of the socket 34 accommodate the flexing of the flexible portions 54.
During operation of the steering system (not shown) and the joint assembly 10, the ball portion 30 engages only a portion of the inner surface 50 of the socket sleeve 14 on the flexible portions 54. This reduced contact and S reduced interference between the ball portion 30 and the inner surface 50 of the socket sleeve 14 reduces the torque required for rotation of the components of the steering system.
Because the outer diameter of the ball portion 30 is smaller than the second diameter D2 of the socket sleeve 14, press fit parts are not required. The flexible portions 54, including the flat surfaces 62 and the grooves 66, provide a "lash-freer interference and react more like cantilevered springs than a press fit. The flexible portions 54 also accommodate variations in the OD of the ball portion 30, allowing larger tolerances in the OD of the ball portion 30.
Also, during operation of the joint assembly 10, air is allowed to escape from the joint assembly 10 because the flat surfaces 62 are sufficiently deep and spaced from the inner surface of the socket 34. Also, air is allowed to escape between the ball portion 30 and the inner surface 50 of the socket sleeve 14 because the ball portion 30 does not engage the entire circumference of the inner surface 50. For these reasons, there is no hydraulic lock at a 0 operating angle of the joint assembly 10.

Claims (8)

1. A joint assembly comprising a first yoke including a ball portion having a ball outer surface, a second yoke defining a socket, and a sleeve positioned in the socket, the sleeve having a continuous side wall defining an opening for receiving the ball portion, the sleeve having a sleeve inner surface, the opening being non-circular such that the opening, in a relaxed state, has at least first and second diameters that are distinct from one another, such that a portion of the sleeve inner surface does not engage the ball outer surface.
2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the side wall includes at least one flexible portion having a first thickness, and at least one other portion having a second thickness, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness.
3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the socket has a socket inner surface, wherein the at least one portion of the side wall having the second thickness is engaged with the socket inner surface, and wherein the at least one portion of the side wall having the first thickness is spaced from the socket inner surface.
4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the at least one portion of the side wall having the second thickness includes at least one radiallyoutwardly extending rib engageable with the socket inner surface.
5. An assembly according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the at least one portion of the side wall having the first thickness is flexible.
S
6. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the at least one portion of the side wall having the first thickness is substantially flat.
7. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the opening extends along an axis, and wherein the at least one portion of the side wall having the first thickness includes an axially-extending external groove.
8. A joint assembly, according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB0506741A 2001-10-12 2002-09-27 Constant velocity joint and joint socket sleeve Expired - Fee Related GB2409882B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/976,405 US6641324B2 (en) 2001-10-12 2001-10-12 Joint assembly and joint socket sleeve
GB0222502A GB2380766B (en) 2001-10-12 2002-09-27 Constant velocity joint and joint socket sleeve

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0506741D0 GB0506741D0 (en) 2005-05-11
GB2409882A true GB2409882A (en) 2005-07-13
GB2409882B GB2409882B (en) 2005-09-14

Family

ID=34680425

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0506741A Expired - Fee Related GB2409882B (en) 2001-10-12 2002-09-27 Constant velocity joint and joint socket sleeve

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2409882B (en)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2409882B (en) 2005-09-14
GB0506741D0 (en) 2005-05-11

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20080927