Fixed constant-velocity-ratio universal joint has relief groove formed between adjacent windows of ball cage and as wide as one of lands of outer joint part to accommodate introduction of ball cage

摘要

A relief groove (40) is formed between adjacent windows (34) of a ball cage (12), wherein a reduced circumference for ball cage outer surface is formed in the region of groove. The groove is as wide as one of the lands (22) of an outer joint part (10) to accommodate introduction of the ball cage into outer joint part when ball cage is rotated about a transverse axis by 90 degrees with respect to outer joint part axis : The ball cage is arranged between inner (11) and outer joint parts. Balls (13) are arranged between the facing tracks (20,24) of outer and inner joint parts for torque transmission between the joint parts. The balls are received and constrained within the windows of the ball cage to state by which the centers of the balls lie in a common plane (19). An independent claim is also included for an assembly method for fixed constant-velocity-ratio universal joint.