Ball Type Constant Velocity Joint with Split Ball Tracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ball type constant velocity joints are limited by a maximum joint angle of 46 to 50 degrees, which restricts their ability to accommodate larger steering angles, and they experience high contact pressure between the balls and the outer race, leading to inefficiencies and potential jamming.
Innovation Solution
The ball track of the outer race is divided into a radial track and a linear track, and the inner race's ball track is divided into a linear track and a radial track, with their rotation centers aligned on the same vertical center axis, allowing for a maximum joint angle of 54 degrees and reducing contact pressure by altering the ball's position relative to the tracks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ball track is a single continuous track in conventional design, then the structure is simple, but the maximum joint angle is limited to 46-50 degrees
Solution Approach 1:
The ball track of both the outer race and inner race are divided into two separate sections: a radial track and a linear track. This segmentation allows the ball to transition between different track orientations, enabling the joint to achieve larger rotation angles (up to 54 degrees) while maintaining proper contact geometry throughout the range of motion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the rotation centers of outer and inner race tracks are offset, then the joint can accommodate angular misalignment, but contact pressure between ball and outer race increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radial and linear tracks are positioned at different locations with different orientations. The radial track handles the primary load transmission, while the linear track accommodates the angular displacement. This local differentiation of track functions allows angular accommodation while distributing contact pressure more favorably across the ball-race interface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the ball track is divided into radial and linear sections, then the maximum joint angle increases to 54 degrees, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the ball track into distinct radial and linear sections, each section can be manufactured using optimized processes suited to its specific geometry. The radial tracks can be formed by conventional radial machining, while the linear tracks can be created using linear guidance techniques, potentially simplifying the overall manufacturing complexity despite the increased joint angle capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a ball type constant velocity joint for a vehicle. The ball type constant velocity joint includes an inner race installed at an end of a shaft, an outer race installed outside the inner race, a plurality of hails for transmitting rotational power of the inner race to the outer race, and a cage having windows for supporting the balls, wherein a ball track of the outer race is divided into two sections consisting of an outer race radial track and an outer race linear track contiguous to the outer race radial track, and when a joint angle is not created, a rotation center of the outer race radial track and a rotation center of the inner race linear track are positioned at the same point on a vertical center axis and have the same vertical offset amount.