Constant Velocity Ball Joint

Abstract

To provide a constant velocity ball joint that is uniform as long as force can be transmitted to a ball, in the case that a joint always inclines during swiveling.SOLUTION: A constant velocity ball joint (1) is equipped with at least, an outside joint part (2), an inside joint part (6), and a large number of balls (9) transmitting torque. The outside joint part (2) has a rotation shaft (3), a plurality of outside ball tracks (4), and a plurality of outside center axes (5). The inside joint part (6) has a plurality of inside ball tracks (7), and a plurality of inside center axes (8). The balls (9) are associated with the plurality of outside ball tracks (4) and the plurality of inside ball tracks (7), and are guided in the plurality of outside ball tracks (4) and the plurality of inside ball tracks (7).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a constant velocity ball joint, in particular a sliding type constant velocity ball joint. The (sliding type) constant velocity ball joint (hereinafter also referred to as joint) is used in particular in a left-right or front-rear shaft configuration for automobiles. The constant velocity ball joint can also be used in any other application where a constant velocity ball joint has been used up to now. [Background technology]

[0002] Constant velocity ball joints are used in particular for motor vehicles, not only in the area of ​​longitudinal axis configurations, but also in lateral axis configurations. The longitudinal axis serves to transmit the driving force from the gearbox to the axles. In particular here, the gearbox is arranged in the front area of ​​the motor vehicle, and the longitudinal axis configuration, which extends along the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, serves to transmit the driving force from this gearbox to the rear axles. In the longitudinal axis configuration, the deflection angle of the joint must usually be relatively small, in particular 0 to 10 degrees. The lateral axis serves to transmit the driving force from the gearbox or the differential gear to the wheels, i.e. approximately parallel to the axles of the motor vehicle. The lateral axis extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle. In the lateral axis, the deflection angle of the constant velocity ball joint must usually be relatively large, in particular 0 to 32 degrees, preferably 3 to 20 degrees.

[0003] A constant velocity ball joint, for example, comprises an outer joint part with a rotation axis and an outer ball track (external ball track of a sliding constant velocity ball joint), an inner joint part with an inner ball track (internal ball track of a sliding constant velocity ball joint), a number of torque-transmitting balls associated with and guided in the outer and inner ball tracks, and possibly a cage with a number of cage windows, each accommodating one or more balls. The cage can be guided via a spherical contact surface on the outer joint part or on the inner joint part (fixed joint) or on both. Alternatively, the cage can be guided via a cylindrical contact surface on the outer joint part (sliding joint).

[0004] In the case of a sliding joint, the inner joint part can be displaced relative to the outer joint part by a total displacement distance along the axis of rotation. In the case of a sliding joint, the total displacement distance (i.e. the maximum distance by which the inner joint part can be displaced relative to the outer joint part) is in particular at least 5 millimeters.

[0005] At least some of the outer ball tracks and at least some of the inner ball tracks may have a track tilt angle (in any orientation) relative to the axis of rotation, or alternatively may have no track tilt angle, i.e. extend axially or parallel to the axis of rotation. When the constant velocity ball joint is in a straight position or arrangement (i.e. when the inner joint part is not tilted relative to the outer joint part), in the case of a sliding joint, the inner joint part can be displaced along a common axis of rotation relative to the outer joint part, thereby maintaining said axes of rotation coaxially aligned with each other.

[0006] In particular, the base of the ball tracks (i.e. in the case of each outer ball track, the area of ​​each ball track which is maximally spaced from the axis of rotation and in the case of each inner ball track, the area of ​​each ball track which is minimally spaced from the axis of rotation of the inner joint part) or the centre line of each ball track along the displacement distance (the path of the centre point of the ball as it moves along the ball track) is respectively spaced (approximately) at a constant radial distance from the axis of rotation. However, constant velocity ball joint designs are also known in which the base or centre line of the ball tracks is not spaced at a constant distance from the axis of rotation, in particular where the distance from the axis of rotation is the same for (only) opposing ball tracks but is not constant over the displacement distance or along the ball tracks.

[0007] When the inner joint part tilts, it is pivoted from a straight position (where the rotation axis of the outer joint part and the rotation axis of the inner joint part are arranged coaxially with each other) to a tilted position (deviation from "0" degrees) between the rotation axis of the outer joint part and the rotation axis of the inner joint part.

[0008] When the inner joint part is displaced relative to the outer joint part, the balls move (e.g. roll, slide, slide, etc.) in the ball tracks guided by the tracks, whereby ideally the cage moves relative to the outer joint part by half the length of the displacement distance of the inner joint part.

[0009] Since a sliding type constant velocity ball joint (or a ball joint equipped with a displacement unit) has a fixed spatial capacity, there is a maximum available displacement capacity, and therefore the maximum value of the total displacement distance between the outer joint part and the inner joint part, or the maximum value of the longest displacement distance between the cage and the inner joint part, is fixed.

[0010] The role of the displacement unit in a ball joint is to provide maximum displacement while maintaining joint performance in the smallest possible space. In a ball joint where the inner joint part (ball hub) physically abuts on the inside against the cage (ball cage), the maximum distance that the rolling bodies, such as balls, can move in the outer partial track and the inner partial track (inner ball track and outer ball track) before making said physical abutment determines the amount of displacement that the joint components can make relative to each other.

[0011] For a constant velocity ball joint where each ball track runs parallel to the axis of rotation (i.e. there is no track tilt), when the joint tilts the balls are held on the angle bisector via the cage. When the joint is straight (deflection is 0 degrees) the same force acts on all balls. When the joint tilts (tilt is greater than 0 degrees) the force or force path acting on the balls is the same for all balls over one revolution of the joint, they are only out of phase.

[0012] In the following description, the "0 degree or 360 degree" position of the ball in the joint is at the top (looking along the axis of rotation towards the inner joint part) and the angle rotates counterclockwise. Thus, when the joint is at 0 degree deflection, all balls are equally stressed and there is no axial ball movement in the ball tracks. If the joint is tilted (assuming the inner joint part is tilted downwards), the ball moves backwards in the ball track of the inner joint part and forwards in the outer joint part at the "0 degree" position. When the ball reaches the "90 degree" position, it returns to the center in the inner and outer ball tracks, and when it advances to the "180 degree" position, the ball's deflection in the ball tracks is reversed and the ball moves forwards in the inner ball track and backwards in the outer ball track. When it advances to the "270 degree" position, it returns to the center position in the inner and outer ball tracks (as in the "90 degree" position). Now, as the deflection angle increases during one rotation of the joint, it can be seen that the force transmission to the ball becomes increasingly non-uniform, i.e. the force transmitted by the ball approaches a sinusoidal wave over the course of the rotation, where the maximum transmitted force is greater for the same torque than the constant value of the force when the joint is not tilted.

[0013] US Patent No. 5,399,633 relates to a sliding constant velocity joint and seeks to solve this problem of large variations in the force transmission by proposing that the centre line of the inner ball track has a concave path, thus increasing the vertical distance of the centre line from the axis of rotation of the inner joint part to the ends of the ball track.

[0014] Especially in the field of mass production of automobiles, there are increasing requirements that all components must fulfill with regard to available construction space, weight and / or cost, so there is a constant need for further development of this type of joint. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0015] [Patent Document 1] Austrian Patent No. 277675 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0016] Against this background, the object of the present invention is to at least partially solve the problems outlined with respect to the prior art, in particular to provide a constant velocity ball joint in which the transmission of forces to the ball is as uniform as possible when the joint is tilted throughout a pivot. [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] This object is achieved by a constant velocity ball joint according to the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are detailed in the dependent claims. The features individually set out in the claims can be combined with one another in any desired manner which is technically suitable and can be supplemented by the facts illustrated in the present description, in which further variants of the invention are highlighted.

[0018] A constant velocity ball joint, an outer joint part having an axis of rotation, a plurality of outer ball tracks and a plurality of outer centerlines; an inner joint part having a plurality of inner ball tracks and a plurality of inner centerlines; A number of balls that transmit torque, a ball associated with a plurality of outer ball tracks and a plurality of inner ball tracks and guided within the plurality of outer ball tracks and the plurality of inner ball tracks; A constant velocity ball joint having at least the above features is proposed.

[0019] When the constant velocity ball joint is aligned, the outer centerlines extend at a constant distance from the axis of rotation. The inner joint portion and the inner centerlines extend along the axis of rotation between the first and second front sides. At least one of the inner centerlines extends at a varying second distance from the axis of rotation between a first end at the first front side and a second end at the second front side. The maximum of the second distance is located at a distance from the first and second ends.

[0020] Preferably, all of the centre lines extend as described above.

[0021] Thus, in particular, at least one inner centerline has a convex path, with the second spacing of the centerlines beginning at its maximum and decreasing toward the ends.

[0022] Please refer to the above embodiments regarding the joints, the joint description proposed here can fully encompass these embodiments.

[0023] It has been shown that for such constant velocity ball joints, when the joint is tilted, the stresses induced on the ball are highest in the "0 degree" and "180 degree" regions. In particular, the particular shape of the inner centerline proposed here allows for a significant equalization of the stresses on the ball.

[0024] In particular, the at least one inner centerline has the shape of a circular arc, an ellipse, a hyperbola or a shape that can be freely defined and in which the individual partial shapes are each tangentially connected to one another. In particular, the at least one centerline has a curved path, where the curvature may be constant or, alternatively, the curvature may vary. The curvature may be minimal or maximal in the region of a maximum value or at a certain distance from the maximum value.

[0025] In particular, at least one of the inner centerlines is formed from a number of partial shapes, at least one of the partial shapes comprising a straight line, in particular, the other partial shapes may be formed from curved paths, in particular, the individual partial shapes are each tangentially connected to one another.

[0026] In particular, the second spacing at each end is less than the maximum value.

[0027] In particular, the at least one inner centerline extends in a monotonically decreasing manner between the maximum and each respective end, where monotonically decreasing means that the second spacing of the inner centerlines simply decreases starting from the maximum toward each respective end, or may even be constant, at least in some regions.

[0028] In particular, at least one interior centerline extends in a strictly monotonically decreasing manner between a maximum value and each of the ends, where strictly monotonically decreasing means that the interior center second spacing begins at a maximum value and becomes successively smaller toward each of the ends, without any portion where the second spacing is constant.

[0029] In particular, the second intervals at these ends are different from each other, or alternatively, the second intervals are of the same size.

[0030] In particular, the maximum is located at a first distance from the first end and at a second distance from the second end, these distances being the same or different from each other.

[0031] In particular, the maximum radius of the at least one inner centerline corresponds to at least 1.0 times the pitch diameter of the ball, preferably at least 1.2 times, particularly preferably at least 1.56 times.

[0032] The pitch diameter of a ball is the diameter on which the ball centre point would be located (if the joint were straight).

[0033] In particular, the maximum radius of the at least one inner centre line corresponds to at most 50 times, in particular at most 20 times, preferably at most 10 times or at most 6.5 times the pitch diameter of the ball.

[0034] In an exemplary constant velocity ball joint, the pitch circle diameter (PCD) is 60 millimeters, the ball diameter is 16.5 millimeters, and the maximum radius is 85 millimeters or 170 millimeters.

[0035] In particular, the constant velocity ball joint further comprises at least a cage having a number of cage windows each accommodating one or more of the plurality of balls.

[0036] In particular, the cage is guided with a spherical inner circumference on the spherical outer circumference of the inner joint part, where there may be play between the circumferences, and thus the cage can only be displaced to a limited extent along the axis of rotation relative to the inner joint part, in particular up to a maximum displacement of one millimeter.

[0037] Since the cage is guided by the inner joint part, the balls are guided only by the cage relative to the inner joint part, so that if the constant velocity ball joint is configured, for example, as a sliding joint, the balls are only displaced relative to the outer joint part and not relative to the inner joint part.

[0038] In particular, when a constant velocity ball joint is arranged straight, the multiple inner centerlines and multiple outer centerlines extend only parallel to a plane containing the axis of rotation (i.e., there is no track tilt angle that describes the inclination of the centerlines relative to the axial direction in the circumferential direction).

[0039] In particular, the constant velocity ball joint is a sliding joint, in particular the total displacement distance (i.e. the maximum distance the inner joint part can be displaced along the axis of rotation relative to the outer joint part) is at least 5 mm, preferably at least 10 mm.

[0040] The description of constant velocity ball joints specifically relates to the proper use or operation of constant velocity ball joints in general (i.e., not to extreme conditions that may occur during assembly or repair), which specifically means that, for example, the outer joint part, the inner joint part, the balls, and the cage, if any, are positioned in their intended orientation relative to one another, such as within a total displacement distance, for proper use.

[0041] In particular, the description of the path of the at least one inner centerline relates to the region of the inner ball track in which the balls are located when the constant velocity ball joint is properly used.

[0042] The constant velocity ball joint has at least 6 or 6+n (n=1, 2, 3, . . . ) balls.

[0043] We further propose a shaft arrangement comprising at least the constant velocity ball joint as described above, a first shaft connected to the outer joint part, and a second shaft connected to the inner joint part.

[0044] There is further provided a motor vehicle comprising at least one constant velocity ball joint as proposed herein. In particular, the present constant velocity ball joint is proposed for use in passenger cars.

[0045] In particular, in the claims and in the recitations of these claims, the indefinite articles ("a", "an") are intended to be understood as such, rather than as numerals, and therefore the correspondingly introduced terms or elements are intended to be understood as occurring at least once, but in particular as possibly occurring several times.

[0046] It should be noted that the primary (and only) purpose of the numerals used herein ("first," "second," "third," etc.) is to distinguish between multiple objects, values, or processes of the same type; that is, these numerals do not necessarily predetermine any dependency and / or ordering of these objects, values, or processes with respect to one another. If dependency and / or ordering is required, this is either stated herein or will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the specifically described embodiments.

[0047] In the following, the present invention and technical field will be described in more detail with reference to the figures. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited by the illustrated exemplary embodiments. In particular, unless specifically presented otherwise, it is also possible to extract specific subject matter illustrated in the figures and combine it with other components and findings from the present specification and / or the figures. The same reference symbols indicate the same objects. This allows, if necessary, to use supplementary descriptions from other figures. The drawings are shown in schematic form in the following figures: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0048] [Figure 1] 1 shows a known constant velocity ball joint when positioned straight, viewed along the axis of rotation. [Diagram 2] 2 shows the inner joint part of the constant velocity ball joint according to FIG. 1 in a cross-sectional side view with the inner centerline. [Diagram 3] 1 shows a first variant of the constant velocity ball joint when placed in a straight line, viewed along the axis of rotation. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a constant velocity ball joint according to FIG. 3 in a cross-sectional side view. [Diagram 5] The inner joint part of the constant velocity ball joint according to Figures 3 and 4 is shown in a cross-sectional side view with the inner centerline. [Figure 6]1 shows a second variation of the constant velocity ball joint in a cross-sectional side view when positioned in a straight line. [Figure 7] 7 shows the constant velocity ball joint according to FIG. 6, viewed along the axis of rotation. [Figure 8] 1 shows a third modified embodiment of a constant velocity ball joint in a cross-sectional side view when placed in a straight line. [Figure 9] 9 shows the constant velocity ball joint according to FIG. 8, viewed along the axis of rotation. [Figure 10] 1 shows a detailed view of the inner or outer joint part in a cross-sectional view, taken along the axis of rotation. [Figure 11] A graph is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0049] Figure 1 shows a known constant velocity ball joint 1 when arranged in a straight line, viewed along the axis of rotation 3. Figure 2 shows the inner joint part 6 of the constant velocity ball joint 1 according to Figure 1 in a cross-sectional side view with the inner centre line 8. In the following, Figures 1 and 2 are explained together.

[0050] The constant velocity ball joint 1 is a sliding joint. It comprises an outer joint part 2, which has a rotation axis 3, an outer ball track 4 and an outer centerline 5. It further comprises an inner joint part 6, which has an inner ball track 7 and an inner centerline 8. The inner joint part 6 and the outer joint part 2 co-rotate. When the constant velocity ball joint 1 is arranged straight, the rotation axes 3 of the joint parts 2, 6 are arranged coaxially with each other. When the constant velocity ball joint 1 is tilted, the rotation axes 3 of the joint parts 2, 6 are arranged pivoted with respect to each other by a deflection angle 26 (shown in FIG. 4).

[0051] The constant velocity ball joint 1 further comprises a number of torque transmitting balls 9, which are associated with and guided within the outer ball track 4 and the inner ball track 7. The constant velocity ball joint 1 further comprises an additional cage 21, which is provided with a number of cage windows 22, each of which accommodates one of the balls 9.

[0052] The cage 21 is guided with a spherical inner circumferential surface 23 (not shown) on a spherical outer circumferential surface 24 of the inner joint part 6. Since the cage 21 is guided by the inner joint part 6, each ball 9 is guided relative to the inner joint part 6 only by the cage 21.

[0053] When constant velocity ball joint 1 is arranged in a straight line, outer centerlines 5 and inner centerlines 8 extend coaxially with each other, and outer centerlines 5 are arranged at a first constant distance 10 from axis of rotation 3 (see FIG. 2). Inner joint part 6 and inner centerlines 8 extend along axis of rotation 3 and are arranged at a first constant distance 15 from axis of rotation 3.

[0054] When the constant velocity ball joint 1 is arranged in a straight line, each inner centre line 8 and each outer centre line 5 extends only parallel to the plane 25 containing the axis of rotation 3 (ie there is no track tilt angle).

[0055] Figure 3 shows a first variant of the constant velocity ball joint 1 when arranged in a straight line, seen along the axis of rotation 3. Figure 4 shows the constant velocity ball joint 1 according to Figure 3 in a cross-sectional side view. Figure 5 shows the inner joint part 6 of the constant velocity ball joint 1 according to Figures 3 and 4 in a cross-sectional side view with the inner centre line 8. In the following Figures 3 to 5 are explained together. Please refer to the explanations of Figures 1 and 2.

[0056] The constant velocity ball joint 1 is a sliding joint. It comprises an outer joint part 2, which has a rotation axis 3, an outer ball track 4 and an outer centre line 5. It further comprises an inner joint part 6, which has an inner ball track 7 and an inner centre line 8. The inner joint part 6 and the outer joint part 2 rotate together. When the constant velocity ball joint 1 is arranged straight, the rotation axes 3 of the joint parts 2, 6 are arranged coaxially with each other. When the constant velocity ball joint 1 is tilted, the rotation axes 3 of the joint parts 2, 6 are arranged pivoted with respect to each other by a deflection angle 26.

[0057] The constant velocity ball joint 1 further comprises a number of torque transmitting balls 9, which are associated with and guided within the outer ball track 4 and the inner ball track 7. The constant velocity ball joint 1 further comprises an additional cage 21, which is provided with a number of cage windows 22, each of which accommodates one of the balls 9.

[0058] The cage 21 is guided with its spherical inner circumferential surface 23 on a spherical outer circumferential surface 24 of the inner joint part 6. There is play between the circumferential surfaces 23, 24. Displacement of the cage 21 along the axis of rotation 3 relative to the inner joint part 6 is therefore only possible to a limited extent. Since the cage 21 is guided by the inner joint part 6, each ball 9 is guided relative to the inner joint part 6 only by the cage 21.

[0059] When the constant velocity ball joint 1 is arranged straight, the inner centerlines 8 and the outer centerlines 5 extend only parallel to the plane 25 containing the axis of rotation 3 (ie there is no track tilt angle).

[0060] When constant velocity ball joint 1 is arranged in a straight line, each outer centerline 5 and each inner centerline 8 is arranged at a first constant distance 10 from axis of rotation 3 .

[0061] In the proposed constant velocity ball joint 1, in contrast to the known constant velocity ball joint 1 according to figures 1 and 2, all of the inner centre lines 8 extend at a varying second distance 15 from the axis of rotation 3 between a first end 13 present at the first front side 11 and a second end 14 present at the second front side 12. The maximum value 16 of the second distance 15 is located at a distance from the first end 13 and from the second end 14.

[0062] The inner centerline 8 has a convex path, such as an arc, and the second spacing 15 of the inner centerline 8 begins at a maximum value 16 and decreases toward the ends 13,14.

[0063] The inner centerline 8 extends along a single radius 19. The radius 19 of the inner centerline 8 corresponds to approximately 2.8 times the pitch diameter 20 of the ball 9, which is the diameter on which the ball center point 29 would be located (if the joint were straight) (see FIG. 4).

[0064] The inner centre line 8 extends in a monotonically decreasing or strictly monotonically decreasing manner between the maximum 16 and the ends 13, 14 respectively.

[0065] The second interval 15 present at the ends 13, 14 is of different size. The maximum 16 is located at a first distance 17 from the first end 13 and a second distance 18 from the second end 14. The distances 17, 18 are different from each other.

[0066] Figure 6 shows in a cross-sectional side view a second variant of the constant velocity ball joint 1 when arranged in a straight line. Figure 7 shows the constant velocity ball joint 1 according to Figure 6 as seen along the axis of rotation 3. In the following, Figures 6 and 7 are explained together. Please refer to the explanations of Figures 3 to 5.

[0067] In the second variant, in contrast to the first variant, a smaller radius 19 is used. The radius 19 of the inner centerline 8 corresponds to approximately 1.4 times the pitch diameter 20 of the ball 9.

[0068] Figure 8 shows in a cross-sectional side view a third variant of the constant velocity ball joint 1 when arranged in a straight line. Figure 9 shows the constant velocity ball joint 1 according to Figure 8 as seen along the axis of rotation 3. In the following Figures 8 and 9 are explained together. Please refer to the explanations of Figures 3 to 7.

[0069] In contrast to the first and second variants, the third variant uses an intermediate radius 19. The radius 19 of the inner centerline 8 corresponds to approximately 2.3 times the pitch diameter 20 of the ball 9.

[0070] Figure 10 shows in cross section a detailed view of the inner joint part 6 or the outer joint part 2, seen along the axis of rotation 3. Please refer to the description of figures 1 to 9.

[0071] The ball 9 does not contact the ball tracks 4,7 in the area of ​​the track base 27, but rather in the area of ​​the side flanks of the ball tracks 4,7. The transmitted torque is applied to the ball 9 in a proportional manner over this area. The location of this area on the side flank is depicted by the force angle 28 shown. The ball 9 has a ball centre point 29 which moves along the centre lines 5,8 as the ball moves along the ball tracks 4,7.

[0072] Figure 11 shows a graph. On the horizontal axis, the position 30 in degrees of the ball 9 in the circumferential direction 31 during the rotation of the constant velocity ball joint 1 is shown. On the vertical axis, the force transmitted per ball 9 is shown in Newtons.

[0073] In the following description, the "0 degree or 360 degree" position 30 of the ball 9 in the joint 1 is at the top (see, for example, FIG. 3) and the angle rotates counterclockwise in the circumferential direction 31. Thus, when the joint 1 is at a 0 degree deflection angle 26, all balls 9 are equally stressed and there is no axial movement of the balls 9 (parallel to the axis of rotation 3) in the ball tracks 4, 7. If the joint 1 is tilted (assuming here that the inner joint part 6 is tilted downwards by 15 degrees, see FIG. 4), the ball 9 moves backwards in the inner ball track 7 and forwards in the outer joint part 2 at the "0 degree" position 30. When the ball 9 reaches the "90 degree" position 30 (left side of FIG. 3), it returns to the center of the inner and outer ball tracks 4, 7, and when it proceeds to the "180 degree" position 30 (bottom of FIG. 3), the deflection of the ball 9 in the ball tracks 4, 7 is reversed and the ball 9 moves forwards in the inner ball track 7 and backwards in the outer ball track 4. As the ball 9 advances to the "270 degree" position 30 (right side in FIG. 3), it returns to a central position within the inner and outer ball tracks 4, 7 (as it was in the "90 degree" position 30).

[0074] As the deflection angle 26 increases during one rotation of the joint 1, it can be seen that the force transmission to the ball 9 becomes increasingly uneven, i.e. the force 32 transmitted by the ball 9 approaches a sinusoidal wave over the course of the rotation. This oscillation is shown in figure 11 as a first curve 33. Here, the maximum transmitted force 32 is, for the same torque, greater than the constant value of the force 32 when the joint 1 is not tilted (not shown).

[0075] It has been shown that in a constant velocity ball joint 1, when the joint is tilted, maximum stresses on the balls 9 occur in the areas of the "0 degree" and "180 degree" positions 30. In particular, by having each inner centerline 7 have the particular shape proposed herein, a significant equalization of the stresses on the balls 9 can be achieved.

[0076] A second curve 34 shown in FIG. 11 illustrates the equalization of the force 32 of the constant velocity ball joint 1 by the first modified embodiment. Here, the radius 19 of the inner center line 8 corresponds to about 2.8 times the pitch circle diameter 20 of the ball 9. A third curve 35 shown in FIG. 11 illustrates the equalization of the force 32 of the constant velocity ball joint 1 by the second modified embodiment. Here, the radius 19 of the inner center line 8 corresponds to about 1.4 times the pitch circle diameter 20 of the ball 9. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1 Constant velocity ball joint 2 Outer joint part 3 Rotation Axis 4 Outer ball track (outer joint) 5 Outer centerline (of outer ball track) 6 Inner joint part 7 Inner ball track (inner joint) 8 Inner centerline (of inner ball track) 9 Ball 10 First Interval 11 1st front side 12 2nd front side 13 First end 14 Second end 15 Second Interval 16 Maximum 17 1st distance 18 2nd distance 19 radius 20 Pitch diameter 21 Cage 22 Cage Window 23 Inner surface 24 Outer surface 25 plane 26 Deflection angle 27 Truck base 28 Force angle 29 Ball Center Point 30 positions 31 Circumferential direction 32 Power 33 First curve 34 Second curve 35 The 3rd Curve

Claims

1. A constant velocity ball joint (1), an outer joint part (2) having an axis of rotation (3), a number of outer ball tracks (4) and a number of outer centerlines (5); an inner joint part (6) having a plurality of inner ball tracks (7) and a plurality of inner centerlines (8); a number of balls (9) for transmitting torque, the balls (9) being associated with the plurality of outer ball tracks (4) and the plurality of inner ball tracks (7) and being guided within the plurality of outer ball tracks (4) and the plurality of inner ball tracks (7); At least prepare, When the constant velocity ball joint (1) is arranged in a straight line, the outer centerlines (5) extend at a constant distance (10) from the axis of rotation (3); the inner joint portion (6) and the inner centerlines (8) extend along the axis of rotation (3) between a first front side (11) and a second front side (12); At least one of the inner centerlines (8) extends at a second distance (15) varying from the axis of rotation (3) between a first end (13) at the first front side (11) and a second end (14) at the second front side (12); a maximum value (16) of the second interval (15) is located at a distance from the first end (13) and the second end (14); the maximum radius (19) of said at least one inner centerline (8) corresponds to at least 1.0 times the pitch diameter (20) of said ball (9); The constant velocity ball joint (1) is a sliding joint. Constant velocity ball joint.

2. A constant velocity ball joint (1) according to claim 1, The at least one inner centerline (8) Has the shape of a circular arc, ellipse, or hyperbola; or a shape which can be freely determined and in which the individual subshapes are each tangentially connected to one another, Constant velocity ball joint.

3. A constant velocity ball joint (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The at least one inner centerline (8) It is formed from many partial shapes, In this case, at least one of the partial shapes includes a straight line. Constant velocity ball joint.

4. A constant velocity ball joint (1) according to claim 1 or 2, the second spacing (15) at each of the ends (13, 14) is smaller than the maximum value (16); Constant velocity ball joint.

5. A constant velocity ball joint (1) according to claim 1 or 2, the at least one inner centerline extends in a monotonically decreasing manner between the maximum value (16) and each of the ends (13, 14); Constant velocity ball joint.

6. A constant velocity ball joint (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The second spacings (15) at the ends (13, 14) are different from each other. Constant velocity ball joint.

7. A constant velocity ball joint (1) according to claim 1 or 2, the maximum (16) being located a first distance (17) from the first end (13) and a second distance (18) from the second end (14); The distances (17, 18) are the same or different from each other. Constant velocity ball joint.

8. A constant velocity ball joint (1) according to claim 2, the maximum radius (19) of said at least one inner centerline (8) corresponds to at most 50 times the pitch diameter (20) of said ball (9); Constant velocity ball joint.

9. A constant velocity ball joint (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The constant velocity ball joint (1) further comprises at least a cage (21) having a number of cage windows (22) each accommodating one or more of the plurality of balls (9); the cage (21) is guided with its spherical inner circumferential surface (23) on the spherical outer circumferential surface (24) of the inner joint part (6); Constant velocity ball joint.

10. A constant velocity ball joint (1) according to claim 1 or 2, When the constant velocity ball joint (1) is arranged in a straight line, the inner centerlines (8) and the outer centerlines (5) extend only parallel to a plane (25) containing the axis of rotation (3), i.e., there is no track inclination angle that describes the inclination of the centerlines with respect to the axial direction in the circumferential direction. Constant velocity ball joint.

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