GB2294526A

GB2294526A - Constant-velocity universal joint

Info

Publication number: GB2294526A
Application number: GB9421848A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clifford Grundy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-10-29
Filing date: 1994-10-29
Publication date: 1996-05-01
Also published as: GB9421848D0

Abstract

A constant velocity universal joint has two half bodies 1 and a centre body 3 which houses a gearing cluster, each gear having at its outer extremity a control disc located in a bored insert 7 in each body half. As the halves of the joint assume an angle, the control discs rotate the gears inside their housings, forcing the plane in which the bushes 2 are located to maintain an angle of half that between the two bodies, thus achieving constant velocity. The half bodies 1 have orthogonally arranged jaws which slidingly engage grooves in bushes of the centre body 3. Facilities are provided by aligning the two halves of the joint, to exert pressure on the outer end of one of the centralising arms 6 or 7, to exit the opposite centralising arm plus its housing 4 and ultimately the insert 7, enabling easy and rapid dismantling of the joint for repair or fitting of new parts. <IMAGE>

Description

CONSTANT VELOCITY UNIVERSAL JOINT.

This invention relates to a constant velocity universal joint.

Constant velocity universal joints are well-known power transmission devices employed in shaft drives, when it is necessary to transmit rotary motion from a driving shaft to a driven shaft which is at an angle to the driving shaft.

Existing constant velocity joints are, however, expensive, large in diameter and cannot be directly substituted for conventional Hooke type universal joints where such substitution would be desirable.

According to the present invention there is provided a constant velocity universal joint which can be produced in parameters interchangeable with the whole range of Hooke's type joints available; which is relatively inexpensive and can be dismantled easily for overhaul and worn part replacement if that is required.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the complete constant velocity universal joint with both halves in alignment; Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section of the constant velocity universal joint at its maximum angle of 45 degrees with the centralising inner components shown in full; Figure 3 shows a transverse section through the centre of the constant velocity universal joint; Figure 4 shows an "exploded" representation of the joint with the right hand half body rotated through 90 degrees.

Referring to Figure 2, the two identical halves of the body 1 are recessed at each side as indicated by the dotted semi-circular line; the centre of these recesses being offset away from the true centre of the whole joint to make possible assembly and dismantling of the joint. Through the common true centres of the two half bodies 1 are transverse bores machined to slideably encompass the spherical centre body 3.

The "jaws" formed by the boring and recessing of the half bodies, shown in Figures 1 and 3, pass through the bushes 2. Figure 1 illustrates also the annular ring which is an integral part of the centre body 3. The annular ring is interrupted where the four bushes 2 protrude and are slideably engaged by the jaws of the half bodies 1.

Referring again to Figure 2, the cross bore through the centre body 3 contains two half ball housings containing the circularly geared intermeshing inner extremities of the centralising arms 5 and 6. The outer extremities of the centralising arms 5 and 6 incorporate discs with radiussed edges which are able to oscillate in the bores of discs to accommodate the angle at which the joint is operating.

When the joint is rotating between two shafts at an angle, the centralising arms 5 and 6 hold the centre body 3 with its bushes 2 at half the angle at which the joint is operating, thereby ensuring a constant velocity output at the driven side of the joint.

Dismantling the joint is achieved by aligning the two half bodies 1 and applying moderate pressure to the outer end of one of the centralising arms 5 or 6. Such pressure will eject the opposite ball housing and subsequently the disc 7, when the centralising arms 5 and 6, the ball housing 4 and the disc 7 will exit the joint assembly. The two half bodies 1 can then be rotated so as to release the bushes 2 and enable the two half bodies 1 and the centre body 3 to be separated and thus complete the dismantling of the joint.

Claims

1. A constant velocity universal joint in the form of two cylindrical halves and which can transmit rotary motion through a maximum angle of 45 degrees, the internal centralising gearing arrangement enabling the constant velocity capability to be encompassed within parameters which make the universal joint directly interchangeable with all sizes of conventional Hooke's type universal joints.

2. A constant velocity universal joint as claimed in Claim 1 wherein for the purpose of repair or replacement parts, the facility is provided for rapid dismantling and re-assembly.

3. A constant velocity universal joint which will accept the same shaft sizes relative to outside diameter, as conventional Hooke's type universal joints.