A central connector for a universal joint and a universal joint utilizing said central connector. The central connector includes a substantially cylindrical body. The connector further includes a first and second pair of arms positioned orthogonal to one another. The body of the central connector also includes a male spherically concave surface between the first pair of arms, a female spherically concave surface between the second pair of arms. The body further defines an opening allowing communication between the male and female spherically concave surfaces.

A central connector for a universal joint and a universal joint utilizing said central connector. The central connector includes a substantially cylindrical body. The connector further includes a first and second pair of arms positioned orthogonal to one another. The body of the central connector also includes a male spherically concave surface between the first pair of arms, a female spherically concave surface between the second pair of arms. The body further defines an opening allowing communication between the male and female spherically concave surfaces.

A progressive cavity pump includes a torque input disposed on a rotational axis, a resilient stator cylinder, a screw rotor situated within the resilient stator cylinder, and a universal joint. The universal joint rotationally couples the screw rotor to the torque input, and includes a swivel block, a linkage, a universal joint coupler, and a fastener. The swivel block has opposite laterally extending trunnions. The linkage extends parallel to the rotational axis, and laterally captures the laterally extending trunnions. The universal joint coupler is disposed around the swivel block and adjacent the linkage. The fastener connects the universal joint to the swivel block. The fastener and the laterally extending trunnions cooperate to transmit torque about the rotational axis through the linkage, while permitting lateral translation of the universal joint coupler in a plane orthogonal to the rotational axis.

A progressive cavity pump includes a torque input disposed on a rotational axis, a resilient stator cylinder, a screw rotor situated within the resilient stator cylinder, and a universal joint. The universal joint rotationally couples the screw rotor to the torque input, and includes a swivel block, a linkage, a universal joint coupler, and a fastener. The swivel block has opposite laterally extending trunnions. The linkage extends parallel to the rotational axis, and laterally captures the laterally extending trunnions. The universal joint coupler is disposed around the swivel block and adjacent the linkage. The fastener connects the universal joint to the swivel block. The fastener and the laterally extending trunnions cooperate to transmit torque about the rotational axis through the linkage, while permitting lateral translation of the universal joint coupler in a plane orthogonal to the rotational axis.

A steering shaft according to an aspect of the present invention includes an upper shaft, a lower shaft, and a seal cap. The seal cap includes a seal which comes into close contact with an inner peripheral surface of the upper shaft and a closure which bulges upward with respect to the seal. The closure is plastically deformed downward, and thus, the seal cap is held in an upper end opening portion in a state where the seal is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the upper shaft.

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.

A connection device for an agricultural machine includes a front having an input shaft coupled with an input yoke and installed passing therethrough, a rear body having an output shaft coupled with an output yoke and installed passing therethrough, a joint part provided to allow each of the bodies to be coupled with each other and to be rotatable via center pins installed on central parts of upper and lower tip ends of each of the bodies, and a connection yoke fastening each of the input and output yokes thereto via cross-shaped bearings. In the cross-shaped bearings, a length (L) of the connection yoke fastening shafts fastened to the connection yoke is formed to be longer than the length (l) of the input and output connection yoke fastening shafts fastened to the input and output yokes.

A connection device for an agricultural machine includes a front having an input shaft coupled with an input yoke and installed passing therethrough, a rear body having an output shaft coupled with an output yoke and installed passing therethrough, a joint part provided to allow each of the bodies to be coupled with each other and to be rotatable via center pins installed on central parts of upper and lower tip ends of each of the bodies, and a connection yoke fastening each of the input and output yokes thereto via cross-shaped bearings. In the cross-shaped bearings, a length (L) of the connection yoke fastening shafts fastened to the connection yoke is formed to be longer than the length (l) of the input and output connection yoke fastening shafts fastened to the input and output yokes.

A universal joint for vehicle drivetrains and the like that eliminates the spinning of bearing caps relative to yoke years and trunnions and inhibits inadvertent spreading of opposing ears of a yoke away from each other under increasing torsional loads to reduce wear and failure of the joint. Broadly, the disclosed universal joint includes a central body having a plurality of pairs of opposite apertures, first and second yokes that are disposed about the central body over respective ones of the pairs of apertures, and a plurality of trunnions inserted through the yoke ears and into the apertures of the body to pivotally secure the yokes to the body. Each trunnion is non-rotatable relative to its respective yoke and a locking assembly inhibits movement of each opposite pair of trunnions away from each other thereby inhibiting movement of the opposite ears of each respective yoke away from each other.

A universal joint for vehicle drivetrains and the like that eliminates the spinning of bearing caps relative to yoke years and trunnions and inhibits inadvertent spreading of opposing ears of a yoke away from each other under increasing torsional loads to reduce wear and failure of the joint. Broadly, the disclosed universal joint includes a central body having a plurality of pairs of opposite apertures, first and second yokes that are disposed about the central body over respective ones of the pairs of apertures, and a plurality of trunnions inserted through the yoke ears and into the apertures of the body to pivotally secure the yokes to the body. Each trunnion is non-rotatable relative to its respective yoke and a locking assembly inhibits movement of each opposite pair of trunnions away from each other thereby inhibiting movement of the opposite ears of each respective yoke away from each other.