A hub built-in type drive axle includes one hub housing assuming a role of an external race of a constant velocity joint and a role of a wheel hub simultaneously, wherein the outboard constant velocity joint center is positioned within the full length of the hub housing, and a structure in which a bear housing and a boot assembly ring, including a boot, do not rotate whether the driveshaft 1 rotates is maintained so that performance may be improved, durability may be enhanced, and noise may be minimized.

A constant velocity universal joint includes an inner ring and an outer ring. A cage is disposed between an outer spherical surface of the inner ring and an inner spherical surface of the outer ring, and has windows in which respective balls are received. The cage has ball contact surface areas with which the balls come into contact, and includes soft portions that are lower in hardness than the ball contact surface areas. The soft portions are formed by local heat treatment at portions of the windows that are kept out of contact with the balls or surface portions around the windows.

A swivel connector for a retractable assembly comprises a body defining a hollow portion, an indicator block received within the hollow portion of the body and sized to be movable within the body, a support upon which the indicator block rests, the support being movable relative to the body, and a yoke to which a lifeline can be connected, the yoke being connected to the support. The yoke and support move relative to the hollow portion of the body in unison, such that movement of the yoke and body relative to each other will cause the indicator block to move relative to the body between a first position and a second position, and wherein the indicator block is visible when in at least one of said first and second positions, to indicate that the retractable has been subject to a fall.

A swivel connector for a retractable assembly comprises a body defining a hollow portion, an indicator block received within the hollow portion of the body and sized to be movable within the body, a support upon which the indicator block rests, the support being movable relative to the body, and a yoke to which a lifeline can be connected, the yoke being connected to the support. The yoke and support move relative to the hollow portion of the body in unison, such that movement of the yoke and body relative to each other will cause the indicator block to move relative to the body between a first position and a second position, and wherein the indicator block is visible when in at least one of said first and second positions, to indicate that the retractable has been subject to a fall.

A speed-reducing or -increasing apparatus, with first and second crown gears facing one another, with a cam unit that causes the first crown gear to incline with respect to the second crown gear so that the first crown gear meshes with the second crown gear, that causes the first crown gear to precess in such a manner as to move the meshing position, and couples to an input or output shaft. A rolling element is between the cam unit and the first crown gear, and the cam unit includes a first member that couples to the input or output shaft and a second member made of steel and including a rolling element rolling portion where the rolling element rolls, the second member configured to be incapable of rotating relatively to the first member, and at least part of the first member having a lower specific gravity than the second member.

A ball-CV style transmission suitable for use in a Positive Displacement Motor (PDM). A shaft provides shaft wings received into housing receptacles on a housing. A ball and a Torque Transfer Element (TTE) is interposed between each shaft wing and housing within each housing receptacle, with the ball received into opposing recesses preferably on the shaft wing and the TTE. The TTEs float within their corresponding housing receptacles so as to maintain torque transfer contact between all thrust surfaces during articulated rotation of the shaft with respect to the housing. The TTEs preferably float generally radially towards the shaft centerline as angular deflection increases during articulated rotation.

A ball-CV style transmission suitable for use in a Positive Displacement Motor (PDM). A shaft provides shaft wings received into housing receptacles on a housing. A ball and a Torque Transfer Element (TTE) is interposed between each shaft wing and housing within each housing receptacle, with the ball received into opposing recesses preferably on the shaft wing and the TTE. The TTEs float within their corresponding housing receptacles so as to maintain torque transfer contact between all thrust surfaces during articulated rotation of the shaft with respect to the housing. The TTEs preferably float generally radially towards the shaft centerline as angular deflection increases during articulated rotation.

A surgical tool including a socket having a housing and an aperture within the housing, the socket configured to receive a ball and a pin at least partially in the aperture. The ball is positioned at least partially in the socket and configured to rotate within the socket, the ball comprising an elongated opening extending through the ball. The pin is coupled to the socket and disposed at least partially in the socket on opposite sides of the socket, the pin including a first longitudinal axis and extending through the elongated opening of the ball between opposite sides of the socket. The ball is configured to partially rotate about the first longitudinal axis of the pin, and partially rotate, about a second axis perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis of the pin, in a plane aligned with the elongated opening.

The claimed invention is directed to a novel composite half shaft. More specifically, the claimed invention provides for the integration of a continuous velocity joint within the hollow tubular portion of the axle shaft, which permits for a longer lightweight composite hollow shaft. The use of the lightweight material over additional length results in an overall weight reduction. Additional benefits include reduced unsprung weight in vehicles, improved mileage for gas powered vehicles and increased range for electric vehicles. The use of composite materials in place of a solid or hollow metal axle bar results in improved noise, vibration and harshness (“NVH”) characteristics over conventional half shafts..

The claimed invention is directed to a novel composite half shaft. More specifically, the claimed invention provides for the integration of a continuous velocity joint within the hollow tubular portion of the axle shaft, which permits for a longer lightweight composite hollow shaft. The use of the lightweight material over additional length results in an overall weight reduction. Additional benefits include reduced unsprung weight in vehicles, improved mileage for gas powered vehicles and increased range for electric vehicles. The use of composite materials in place of a solid or hollow metal axle bar results in improved noise, vibration and harshness (“NVH”) characteristics over conventional half shafts..