A universal joint may include a joint cross having two pairs of journals arranged at right angles to one another and two joint yokes that each have opposing arms. Each journal may be rotatably mounted in the opposing arms about a journal axis in a journal bearing that has a pot-shaped outer bushing that is fixed in the respective arms and that has an outer pot base disposed opposite an end side of the journal. A convexly projecting contact region may contact the outer pot base. Further, an inner bushing may be fixed on the journal, and rolling bodies may be disposed between the inner bushing and the pot-shaped outer bushing. The convexly projecting contact region may project axially on the end side relative to a surface of the inner bushing that acts as a raceway for the rollable rolling bodies.

A structural unit for assembly to a trunnion of a universal joint bearing providing a cup, a sealing ring, which is fixed to the cup, and a shield, which is connected to the cup in a state in which the structural unit is not assembled to the trunnion. The cup includes a bottom and the sealing ring provides at least one sealing lip that points in a direction with an axial component towards the bottom.

The universal joint (5, 7) includes first and second forks (23, 25) each having a pair of arms (61) with seats (61.1) for respective trunnions (27.1) of a spider (27). The arms (61) extend from an outer edge (91.1) of a collar (91) provided to increase the stiffness of the arms and reduce bending deformations thereof under heavy load operating conditions.

A joint assembly having a first joint member drivingly connected to a second joint member by a third joint member. The first joint member of the joint assembly has a first yoke arm with a first yoke arm aperture defined by a first yoke arm aperture surface and a second yoke arm with a second yoke arm aperture defined by a second yoke arm aperture surface. The joint assembly M further includes one or more bearing cup assemblies having a bearing cup with a base portion and a tubular portion. At least a portion of the bearing cup assemblies are received and/or retained within at least a portion of the first yoke arm aperture and the second yoke arm aperture of the first joint member. One or more attachment portions extend outboard from at least a portion of an outer surface of the base portion of the bearing cup.

A method of manufacturing a universal joint includes: temporarily assembling a bearing, which supports a shaft portion of a joint spider such that the shaft portion is rotatable, with respect to a through-hole and the shaft portion by press-fitting the bearing to a first position in the through-hole of a yoke; and clinching, after the bearing is temporarily assembled, a portion of the yoke around the through-hole, and pressing the bearing deeper into the through-hole with a clinched portion formed by the clinching to press-fit the bearing to a second position located deeper than the first position in the through-hole.

A seal ring (26) configured to be employed with a cross shaft (16) including a center section (17) and four shaft sections (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) extending in four directions from the center section and formed with step faces (17a) where the center section widens out from base ends of the shaft sections outward in radial directions of the shaft sections, and with bearings (21) for mounting to leading end portions of the shaft sections. The seal ring is fitted over the shaft section and interposed between the bearing and the step face. The seal ring includes a seal lip (34) configured to contact the step face around the entire circumference, and an indentation (36) the seal lip enters by deforming when mounted to the cross shaft.

A seal for sealing between a trunnion and bearing cup of a joint member includes a main annular body. A plurality of annular lips extend radially inwardly from the main body. The lips are configured for engaging an outer bearing surface of the trunnion. A first one and a second one of the lips slope in a first direction with respect to the outer bearing surface of the trunnion and a third one of the lips slope in a second direction with respect to the outer bearing surface of the trunnion.

A sealed universal joint bearing includes a pot-shaped component having a disk-shaped base and a cylindrical wall projecting from a periphery of the base, and an inner surface of the base and an inner surface of the cylindrical wall define an interior of the pot-shaped body. At least one row of rolling elements are configured to roll along the inner surface of the cylindrical wall. A flange in the interior of the pot-shaped component has a flange surface against which end sides of the rolling elements are configured to slip during bearing operation, and the flange surface includes at least one formation configured to reduce a contact area between the flange surface and the end sides of the rolling elements.

A universal joint bearing having a cup that serves as an outer ring of the universal joint bearing. The universal joint bearing includes exactly one sealing ring that is provided for sealing a gap between the cup and a trunnion.

A structural unit for assembly to a trunnion of a universal joint bearing providing a cup, a sealing ring, which is fixed to the cup, and a shield, which is connected to the cup in a state in which the structural unit is not assembled to the trunnion. The cup includes a bottom and the sealing ring provides at least one sealing lip that points in a direction with an axial component towards the bottom.