MULTIPLE HOMO-KINETIC LINK COUPLING COMPOSED OF AT LEAST TWO SINGLE HOMO-KINETIC LINK COUPLINGS

摘要

A universal joint consists of a plurality of constant velocity universal joints each having an outer joint element and an inner joint element with mutually opposed axially extending grooves in said elements. Balls are disposed in the grooves to transmit a torque between the joint elements and a cage is between the inner and outer joint elements of a universal joint to retain and guide the balls therebetween. Either the inner or outer joint elements of the constant velocity universal joints are connected to each other. Control means are provided for guiding the cages of two adjacent universal joints with respect to each other in such a manner that upon bending of the universal joint the axes of the cages will be bent at angles having a predetermined relationship to each other. The axes angles are subdivisions of the angle through which the universal joint is bent and may be equal to each other.