GB1493132A - Hookes joints - Google Patents

Abstract

1493132 Universal joints GKN TRANSMISSIONS Ltd 3 Feb 1975 [2 Feb 1974] 04930/74 Heading F2U In a Hooke's joint in which retaining elements 23, 24 (Fig. 2), 123, 124 (Fig. 4) are provided to retain the trunnions 20, 120 in apertures in the yoke arms 14, 15, 114, 115, one retaining element 23, 123 co-operates with its associated trunnion or with an intermediate member or the yoke arm through a wedging action so that movement of the retaining element 23, 123 perpendicular to the pivot axis 17, 117 of the trunnion 20, 120 creates a force acting in the direction of the pivot axis 17, 117 is taking up free play. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 a retaining element 24 engages in grooves (Fig. 1, not shown) at either side of the opening in the yoke arm 15 and has projections extending into a groove 32 in a trunnion bearing cup 18. The retaining element 23 also engages in grooves, in yoke arm 14 (Fig. 1, not shown) and is slidable in the grooves so that an inclined wedging surface 35 acts through a roller 36 in a groove 32 of the associated bearing cup 18 to create a force acting inwardly along axis 17. The retaining element 23 is retained in its wedging position by a portion 38 subsequently pressed out behind the roller 36. The roller 36 may be replaced by a member having an inclined surface cooperating with surface 35, and fixed in groove 32 (Fig. 3, not shown). In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 the two retaining elements, 123 and 124, are channel shaped and each has a pair of flanges engaging an inclined surface 140 of the associated yoke arm 114, 115. In assembly one retaining element is moved along the wedging surface as far as it will go and then the other is moved along to cause the stressing as before, local deformations 142 of the elements 123 and 124 engaging the bearing cups 118, and further deformations securing the elements in their adjusted positions.