초록 ▼

A counter track joint having an outer joint part (10), inner joint part (20), a ball cage (30) and torque transmitting balls. First outer tracks and first inner tracks form first pairs of tracks which widen in a first direction, and second outer tracks and second inner tracks form second pairs of tr

A counter track joint having an outer joint part (10), inner joint part (20), a ball cage (30) and torque transmitting balls. First outer tracks and first inner tracks form first pairs of tracks which widen in a first direction, and second outer tracks and second inner tracks form second pairs of tracks which widen in an opposed second direction. The annular cage (30) includes four first and four second circumferentially distributed cage windows which each accommodate one of the balls and which hold the balls in one plane. The second outer ball tracks (12), at one end, include widened, non-contacting assembly portions (13) for inserting balls (32) into the second cage windows from the radial outside, with all the first cage windows already having balls, and with the second cage windows axially projecting from the outer joint part (10) as a result of the joint being over-articulated.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A counter track joint comprising: an outer joint part having four first outer tracks and four second outer tracks which alternate and are uniformly circumferentially distributed; an inner joint part having four first inner tracks and four second inner tracks which alternate a

What is claimed is: 1. A counter track joint comprising: an outer joint part having four first outer tracks and four second outer tracks which alternate and are uniformly circumferentially distributed; an inner joint part having four first inner tracks and four second inner tracks which alternate and are uniformly circumferentially distributed, the first outer tracks and the first inner tracks forming first pairs of tracks which, when the joint is in the aligned condition, widen in a first direction (R1), and the second outer tracks and the second inner tracks forming second pairs of tracks which, when the joint is in the aligned condition, widen in an opposite direction (R2); eight torque transmitting balls each held in respective first and second pairs of tracks; and a ball cage having four first and four second circumferentially distributed cage windows which each accommodate one of the balls and hold the balls, as a group, in one plane by way of their centers; wherein at a first aperture of the outer joint part, the second outer tracks comprise widened non-contacting assembly regions for inserting the balls into the second cage windows from the radial outside, while the first cage windows are already fully filled with balls and with at least one of the second cage windows axially projecting from the outer joint part as a result of the joint being over-articulated. 2. A counter track joint according to claim 1, wherein the four first cage windows associated with the first pairs of tracks comprise a greater length (L1) in the circumferential direction than the four second cage windows which are associated with the second pairs of tracks and comprise a length (L2) which is adapted to the operating angle of articulation of the joint. 3. A counter track joint according to claim 2, wherein the outer joint part includes a base at its end which is axially opposed to the first aperture. 4. A joint according to claim 2, wherein the inner joint part is adapted to removably receive a driveshaft. 5. A counter track joint according to claim 2, wherein the outer joint part comprises a second aperture at its end which is axially opposed to the first aperture. 6. A counter track joint according to claim 5, comprising a driveshaft connected to the inner joint part and wherein the inner joint part, toward the end of the first aperture, comprises inwardly recessed track run-outs for the second inner tracks. 7. A counter track joint according to claim 1, wherein the first and second cage windows each comprise a respective circumferential length (L1, L2) adapted to the operating angle of articulation of the joint and an excess length. 8. A counter track joint according to claim 7, wherein the outer joint part includes a base at its end which is axially opposed to the first aperture. 9. A joint according to claim 7, wherein the inner joint part is adapted to removably receive a driveshaft. 10. A counter track joint according to claim 7, wherein the outer joint part comprises a second aperture at its end which is axially opposed to the first aperture. 11. A counter track joint according to claim 10, comprising a driveshaft connected to the inner joint part and wherein the inner joint part, toward the end of the first aperture, comprises inwardly recessed track run-outs for the second inner tracks. 12. A counter track joint according to claim 1, wherein the outer joint part includes a base at its end which is axially opposed to the first aperture. 13. A joint according to claim 12, wherein the inner joint part is adapted to removably receive a driveshaft. 14. A joint according to claim 1, wherein the inner joint part is adapted to removably receive a driveshaft. 15. A counter track joint according to claim 1, wherein the outer joint part comprises a second aperture at its end which is axially opposed to the first aperture. 16. A counter track joint according to claim 15, comprising a driveshaft connected to the inner joint part and wherein the inner joint part, toward the end of the first aperture, comprises inwardly recessed track run-outs for the second inner tracks. 17. In a counter track joint comprising an outer joint part having alternating and uniformly circumferentially distributed first outer tracks and second outer tracks; an inner joint part having alternating and uniformly circumferentially distributed first inner tracks and second inner tracks, the first outer tracks and first inner tracks forming first pairs of tracks which, when the joint is aligned, widen in a first direction (R1), the second outer tracks and second inner tracks forming second pairs of tracks which, when the joint is aligned, widen in an opposite direction (R2); eight balls; and a ball cage having four first and four second circumferentially distributed cage windows which each accommodate a ball and hold the balls in a common plane in the first and second pairs of tracks, a method of assembling the counter track joint comprising: providing a widened, non-contacting assembly region in the second outer tracks at an aperture of the outer joint part; over-articulating the joint about a first axis; thereafter, inserting a ball into each of the first cage windows; thereafter, over-articulating the joint about a second axis; and thereafter, inserting a ball into each of the second cage windows while second cage windows axially project from the outer joint part. 18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the first cage windows comprise a circumferential length (L1), and the second cage windows comprise a circumferential length (L2) which is adapted to the operating angle of the joint, and L1 is greater than L2. 19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the first and second cage windows comprise equal circumferential lengths (L1, L2) each adapted to the operating angle of the joint and each include an excess dimension.