Counter Track Joint Cage Offset for High Articulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing counter track joints are limited by their articulation angle, leading to ball displacement and potential failure under high load, and have a weakened cage cross-section due to large mounting bores, which affects service life and loadability.
Innovation Solution
A counter track joint arrangement with a cage offset and asymmetrical ball track offsets, allowing for larger articulation angles and deeper ball tracks, enhancing loadability and service life by maintaining ball contact with the joint outer part and providing a thicker cage cross-section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the articulation angle is increased beyond 45°, then the joint can accommodate larger steering angles, but the balls leave the track pairs and the joint fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the first and second track pairs with different angle of aperture orientations. The first track pairs have angles opening towards the base of the joint, while the second track pairs have angles opening towards the opening side. This asymmetric arrangement allows balls to remain engaged in track pairs at articulation angles exceeding 45°, resolving the contradiction between achieving large steering angles and maintaining ball retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dimensional change by offsetting the cage from the joint center plane. The cage center is positioned at a distance of 0.5-2.0mm from the joint center plane, creating an asymmetric cage arrangement. This dimensional offset allows the joint to accommodate larger articulation angles while maintaining proper ball guidance and engagement, enabling articulation angles beyond the traditional 45° limit without ball disengagement.
2Ease of manufacture
If a large mounting bore is used in the cage, then the inner race can be mounted, but the cage cross-section is weakened affecting service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by moving the cage offset in the axial direction away from the joint center plane. This dimensional change allows the cage to maintain structural integrity with a smaller mounting bore while still accommodating the inner race. The offset position (0.5-2.0mm from joint center plane) provides sufficient space for race mounting without compromising the cage cross-sectional strength, thereby extending cage service life while maintaining ease of manufacture.
3Device complexity
If the ball track opens towards the shaft when extended, then the joint structure is simplified, but the ball track depth is greatly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by configuring different track pairs with different opening directions. The first track pairs have angles opening towards the base while the second track pairs have angles opening towards the opening side. This asymmetric configuration allows certain ball tracks to maintain adequate depth while still achieving the desired structural simplicity. The asymmetric arrangement optimizes the balance between structural complexity and ball track depth for improved service life.
Data Source
AI summary
A joint arrangement in the manner of a counter track joint, wherein a cage is provided which is arranged between a joint outer part and joint inner part, which has a cage outer sphere with an outer sphere centripetal point and a cage inner sphere with an inner sphere center point and which has a plurality of cage windows which each hold at least one ball, wherein at least the outer sphere center point and the inner sphere center point of the cage are arranged offset with respect to the joint center plane.