A constant-velocity universal joint including a generally cup-shaped outer joint member and an inner joint member that cooperate with each other to define first and second groove portions. A pinch angle by which a ball is pinched in the first groove portion is open toward an opening end of the outer joint member. A pinch angle by which the ball is pinched in the second groove is open toward a bottom wall of the outer joint member. An absolute value of the pinch angle in the first groove portion is larger than an absolute value of the pinch angle in the second groove portion in a reference state in which centerlines of the outer joint member and the inner joint member lie in a straight line.

A joint assembly comprising a hollow outer joint member including a wall forming an open end and a closed end, the outer joint member having a plurality of tracks in its inner surface. An inner joint member received in the outer joint member and plurality of torque-transmitting elements, whereby the plurality of torque-transmitting elements rotationally engage with the inner joint member and the tracks of the outer joint member. Each track comprises two opposing side walls and a torque-transmitting element engages these side walls of the outer joint member and is configured to move in an axial direction along the side walls. Furthermore, a boot covering the open end of the outer joint member and at least one restrictor configured to engage at least one of the plurality of torque-transmitting elements to militate against undesired displacement of the inner joint member with respect to the outer joint member.

A joint assembly comprising a hollow outer joint member including a wall forming an open end and a closed end, the outer joint member having a plurality of tracks in its inner surface. An inner joint member received in the outer joint member and plurality of torque-transmitting elements, whereby the plurality of torque-transmitting elements rotationally engage with the inner joint member and the tracks of the outer joint member. Each track comprises two opposing side walls and a torque-transmitting element engages these side walls of the outer joint member and is configured to move in an axial direction along the side walls. Furthermore, a boot covering the open end of the outer joint member and at least one restrictor configured to engage at least one of the plurality of torque-transmitting elements to militate against undesired displacement of the inner joint member with respect to the outer joint member.

A constant velocity joint assembly includes an outer race having a first bore defined by an inner surface of the outer race. A ball cage has an outer surface and a second bore defined by an inner surface of the ball cage. The ball cage is axially received in the first bore of the outer race. At least one of the inner surface of the outer race or the inner surface the ball cage includes a first portion having a cylindrical contour and a second portion having a spherical contour.

A constant velocity joint assembly includes an outer race having a first bore defined by an inner surface of the outer race. A ball cage has an outer surface and a second bore defined by an inner surface of the ball cage. The ball cage is axially received in the first bore of the outer race. At least one of the inner surface of the outer race or the inner surface the ball cage includes a first portion having a cylindrical contour and a second portion having a spherical contour.

A constant velocity joint comprises an outer joint part with outer ball tracks; an inner joint part with inner ball tracks; wherein an outer ball track and an inner ball track respectively form a pair of tracks with one another, in each of which a torque-transmitting ball\ is guided; a ball cage with circumferentially distributed cage windows in which the torque-transmitting balls are accommodated; wherein in any angular position of the constant velocity joint an opening angle is formed between an outer tangent to the outer ball track and an inner tangent to the inner ball track; wherein at an articulation angle of zero degrees the opening angle is greater than zero degrees, wherein a central articulation angle range is defined with articulation angles less than fifteen degrees, wherein the opening angle increases by at least two degrees within the central articulation angle range and is less than twelve degrees for all articulation angles within the central articulation angle range.

A constant velocity joint comprises an outer joint part with outer ball tracks; an inner joint part with inner ball tracks; wherein an outer ball track and an inner ball track respectively form a pair of tracks with one another, in each of which a torque-transmitting ball\ is guided; a ball cage with circumferentially distributed cage windows in which the torque-transmitting balls are accommodated; wherein in any angular position of the constant velocity joint an opening angle is formed between an outer tangent to the outer ball track and an inner tangent to the inner ball track; wherein at an articulation angle of zero degrees the opening angle is greater than zero degrees, wherein a central articulation angle range is defined with articulation angles less than fifteen degrees, wherein the opening angle increases by at least two degrees within the central articulation angle range and is less than twelve degrees for all articulation angles within the central articulation angle range.

A universal joint (U-joint) assembly transmits torque from a drive component to a driven component across an articulating joint. The U-joint assembly includes male and female U-joint members, a central ball joint, and a retaining device configured to secure the assembly in an assembled configuration. The female U-joint member includes a cavity extending into a receptacle end thereof. The cavity terminates in a circular receptacle and includes four flat surfaces extending longitudinally therefrom at 90-degree intervals. The male U-joint member has a drive end with four multi-angled surfaces extending longitudinally from the drive end at 90-degree intervals about a periphery of the drive end. When in an assembled configuration, each of the multi-angled surfaces of the drive end of the male U-joint member opposes a corresponding one of the four flat surfaces of cavity of the female U-joint member. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A universal joint (U-joint) assembly transmits torque from a drive component to a driven component across an articulating joint. The U-joint assembly includes male and female U-joint members, a central ball joint, and a retaining device configured to secure the assembly in an assembled configuration. The female U-joint member includes a cavity extending into a receptacle end thereof. The cavity terminates in a circular receptacle and includes four flat surfaces extending longitudinally therefrom at 90-degree intervals. The male U-joint member has a drive end with four multi-angled surfaces extending longitudinally from the drive end at 90-degree intervals about a periphery of the drive end. When in an assembled configuration, each of the multi-angled surfaces of the drive end of the male U-joint member opposes a corresponding one of the four flat surfaces of cavity of the female U-joint member. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

In a fixed type constant velocity universal joint, an axial offset amount of a curvature center of each of track grooves of outer and inner joint members is set to 0. The track grooves of the outer and inner joint members are each inclined with respect to an axis line. The track grooves adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction are inclined in opposite directions. The track grooves of the outer and inner joint members that are opposed to each other are inclined with respect to the axis line in opposite directions. A chamfered portion is formed on a track inlet end of each of the track grooves of the outer joint member. When the cage and the inner joint member are inclined with respect to the outer joint member, balls are incorporated into two cage windows at the same time through the chamfered portions.