PRODUCING A CAGE FOR A CONSTANT-VELOCITY BALL JOINT

Abstract

A cage for a constant-velocity ball joint is annular and has cage windows arranged spaced apart from one another along a circumferential direction for guiding balls of the constant-velocity ball joint; wherein each cage window has at least on one side a ball guiding surface facing in an axial direction. The cage can be produced by: a) providing a cage having cage windows; b) applying at least one compressive force via an outer circumferential surface of the cage, facing in a radial direction, in a first region of at least one ball guiding surface of at least one cage window; c) deforming the cage in the first region of the at least one ball guiding surface, so that the at least one ball guiding surface is displaced inwardly in the radial direction with respect to an adjacent second region of the cage.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A method for producing a cage for a constant-velocity ball joint, wherein the cage is annular and has cage windows for guiding balls of the constant-velocity ball joint that are arranged spaced apart from one another along a circumferential direction; wherein each cage window has at least on one side a ball guiding surface facing in an axial direction, the method comprising: a) providing a cage having cage windows; b) applying at least one compressive force via an outer circumferential surface of the cage, facing in a radial direction, in a first region of at least one ball guiding surface of at least one cage window; and c) deforming the cage in the first region of the at least one ball guiding surface, so that the at least one ball guiding surface is displaced inwardly in the radial direction with respect to an adjacent second region of the cage.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, between steps a) and b) or after step c), in a further step i), a calibrating mandrel is arranged in at least one cage window; wherein, at least during step c) or in an upsetting operation following step i), the at least one ball guiding surface comes to lie against the calibrating mandrel.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein, in step c), the cage is deformed in the first region of the at least one ball guiding surface in such a way that the at least one ball guiding surface is additionally displaced in the axial direction with respect to the adjacent second region of the cage.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one cage window has, on each of both sides lying opposite one another, a ball guiding surface, wherein, in step c), both ball guiding surfaces are at least displaced inwardly in the radial direction with respect to the second regions of the cage that are adjacent.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein a wall thickness of the cage in the first region of the ball guiding surface remains constant during step c).

16. A cage for a constant-velocity ball joint, wherein the cage is annular and has cage windows which are arranged spaced apart from one another along a circumferential direction and are intended for guiding balls of the constant-velocity ball joint; wherein each cage window has at least on one side a ball guiding surface facing in an axial direction; wherein the cage has in a first region of the ball guiding surface a smallest inside diameter and a smallest outside diameter in a cross section transverse to an axis of rotation of the cage, wherein the cage has in the first region of the ball guiding surface a wall portion that is displaced inwardly in the radial direction with respect to an adjacently arranged second region.

17. The cage of claim 16, wherein the smallest inside diameter differs from an inside diameter of a second region of the cage that is arranged directly alongside by at most 1%.

18. The cage of claim 16, wherein the cage extends in the axial direction between a first end face and a second end face, wherein the cage has between the ball guiding surface and each end face in the axial direction lands running in the circumferential direction, wherein at least a part of at least one land that extends in the axial direction is displaced inwardly in the radial direction in a first region with respect to a second region of the cage that is adjacent.

19. The cage of claim 18, wherein the land between the ball guiding surface and at least one end face is entirely displaced inwardly in the radial direction in the first region with respect to a second region of the cage that is adjacent.

20. A system comprising a constant-velocity ball joint and a cage, wherein the cage is annular and has cage windows which are arranged spaced apart from one another along a circumferential direction and are intended for guiding balls of the constant-velocity ball joint; wherein each cage window has at least on one side a ball guiding surface facing in an axial direction; wherein the cage has in a first region of the ball guiding surface a smallest inside diameter and a smallest outside diameter in a cross section transverse to an axis of rotation of the cage, wherein the cage has in the first region of the ball guiding surface a wall portion that is displaced inwardly in the radial direction with respect to an adjacently arranged second region, wherein the constant-velocity ball joint is a constant-velocity slip ball joint, in which the cage is arranged displaceably along an axial direction.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The present subject matter will be discussed in more detail below on the basis of the figures. It is pointed out that the invention is not intended to be restricted by the exemplary embodiments shown. In particular, unless explicitly stated otherwise, it is also possible for partial aspects of the substantive matter explained in the figures to be extracted and combined with other constituent parts and findings from the present description and/or figures. The same reference signs denote identical objects, and so where appropriate explanations from other figures can be used in a supplementary manner In the figures, in each case schematically:

[0046] FIG. 1: shows a known cage in a perspective view;

[0047] FIG. 2: shows a cross section of the cage as shown in FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 3: shows a known calibrating method for a cage;

[0049] FIG. 4: shows a cage produced by the calibrating method as shown in FIG. 3 in a cross section;

[0050] FIG. 5: shows the cage as shown in FIG. 4 in a perspective view;

[0051] FIG. 6: a cage produced by the method in cross section;

[0052] FIG. 7: shows a detail from FIG. 6;

[0053] FIG. 8: shows the cage as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in a perspective view and

[0054] FIG. 9: a further variant of the embodiment of the cage in a perspective view.

DESCRIPTION

[0055] The constant-velocity slip ball joint 2 comprising the cage 1 is not shown in the figures. In this connection, reference is made to WO 2014/121832 A1, which was mentioned at the beginning and in which a constant-velocity slip ball joint 2 with a cage 1 is shown.

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a known cage 1 in a perspective view. The cage 1 is annular and has an axis of rotation 17 and also cage windows 4, which are arranged spaced apart from one another along a circumferential direction 3 and are intended for guiding balls 5 of the constant-velocity ball joint 2. Each cage window 4 has on each of both sides 6 a ball guiding surface 8 facing in an axial direction 7. The cage 1 has a spherically (for example ball-like) formed outer circumferential surface 11 and also a spherically formed inner circumferential surface 28.

[0057] The cage 1 extends in the axial direction 7 between a first end face 22 and a second end face 23, wherein the cage 1 has, between the ball guiding surface 8 and each end face 22, 23 in the axial direction 7, lands 24 running in the circumferential direction 3.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a cross section 16 of the cage 1 as shown in FIG. 1. The balls 5 are arranged in the cage windows 4 and contact the cage 1 at the ball guiding surfaces 8, in particular at the contact point 26 in the vicinity of the inner circumferential surface 28. The cage 1 has at least in the region of the cage guiding surfaces 8 a wall thickness 15 in the radial direction 10.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a known calibrating method for a cage 1. After the punching of the cage windows 4, shown here as kidney-shaped, into the cage 1, a calibrating process is carried out. In the process, a calibrating mandrel 14 is arranged in the cage window 4, and subsequently the complete cage 1 is upset by a compressive force 9 acting in an axial direction 7. This upsetting of the cage 1 brings about a flow of material in the cage 1, by which a ball guiding surface 8 in the cage window 4 is enlarged inwardly in a radial direction 10 (see FIG. 4). Furthermore, a distance 27 between the ball guiding surfaces 8 lying opposite one another can be exactly set by the upsetting operation.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows a cage 1 produced by the calibrating method as shown in FIG. 3 in a cross section 16. FIG. 5 shows the cage 1 as shown in FIG. 4 in a perspective view. FIGS. 4 and 5 are described together below.

[0061] The calibrating method has the effect that the material of the cage 1 in the first region 12 of the ball guiding surfaces 8 arranged on the sides 6 of the cage 1 facing in the axial directions 7 is displaced inwardly in the radial direction 10. This bulging on the inner circumferential surface 28 is not definable in terms of the structural design because a relatively uncontrolled flow of material takes place. As a result of the calibrating method, the wall thickness 15 in the first region 12 of the ball guiding surface 8 is enlarged (inwardly in the radial direction 10). Correspondingly, the cage 1 has a smallest inside diameter 18 in the first region 12 of the ball guiding surfaces 8. In the second regions 13, adjacent to the first region 12, the cage 1 has a greater inside diameter 21.

[0062] The enlargement of the ball guiding surface 8 inwardly in the radial direction 10 has the effect that (premature) damage in the region of the ball guiding surface 8 close to the inner circumferential surface 28 can be prevented.

[0063] FIG. 6 shows a cage 1 produced by the method in cross section. FIG. 7 shows a detail from FIG. 6. FIG. 8 shows the cage 1 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in a perspective view. FIGS. 6 to 8 are described together below.

[0064] The cage 1 is annular and has cage windows 4, which are arranged spaced apart from one another along a circumferential direction 3 and are intended for guiding balls 5 of the constant-velocity ball joint 2. Each cage window 4 has on each side 6 a ball guiding surface 8 facing in an axial direction 7. By applying a compressive force 9 via an outer circumferential surface 11 of the cage 1, facing in a radial direction 10, in a first region 12 of the ball guiding surfaces 8 of the cage windows 4, the cage 1 is deformed in the first region 12, so that the ball guiding surfaces 8 are displaced inwardly in the radial direction 10 with respect to the respectively adjacent second regions 13 of the cage 1.

[0065] Here, too, the cage 1 has a spherically formed outer circumferential surface 11 and also a spherically formed inner circumferential surface 28.

[0066] During step c) of the method, and in particular also during an upsetting operation following step i), a wall thickness 15 (measured in the radial direction 10) of the cage 1 in the first region 12 of the ball guiding surface 8 remains constant. Therefore, no flow of material into the first region 12 of the ball guiding surface 8 takes place, but instead the material present in the first region 12 is displaced in the radial direction 10 with respect to the adjacent second regions 13.

[0067] After step c), the cage 1 has in the first region 12 of the ball guiding surface 8 a smallest inside diameter 18 and a smallest outside diameter 19 in a cross section 16 transverse to an axis of rotation 17 of the cage 1. The smallest inside diameter 18 differs from an inside diameter 21 of a second region 13 of the cage 1 that is arranged directly alongside. The same applies to the smallest outside diameter 19 (in comparison with an outside diameter of a second region 13 of the cage 1 that is arranged directly alongside).

[0068] The cage 1 extends in the axial direction 7 between a first end face 22 and a second end face 23, wherein the cage 1 has, between the ball guiding surface 8 and each end face 22, 23 in the axial direction 7, lands 24 running in the circumferential direction 3. At least a part 25 of the land 24 that extends in the axial direction 7 is displaced inwardly in the radial direction 10 in a first region 12 with respect to a second region 13 of the cage 1 that is adjacent (in the circumferential direction 3 and/or in the axial direction 7 toward the end face 22, 23) (here the part 25 extends in the axial direction 7 over the entire land 24).

[0069] The distance 27 between the ball guiding surfaces 8 in the axial direction 7 can be set directly by step c) or by an upsetting operation, which is carried out after a step i), possibly after step c). The distance 27 may also be set by mechanical working after step c) or after the upsetting operation.

[0070] FIG. 9 shows a further variant of the embodiment of the cage 1 in a perspective view. Reference is made to the statements made with respect to FIG. 8. As a difference from the cage 1 shown in FIG. 8, here only a part 25 of the lands 24 that extends in the axial direction 7 is displaced inwardly in the radial direction 10 in a first region 12 with respect to a second region 13 of the cage 1 that is adjacent in the circumferential direction 3 and in the axial direction 7 toward the end face 22, 23. In comparison with the variant of the embodiment in FIG. 8, here the part 25 only extends in the axial direction 7 from the cage window 4 up to the end faces 22, 23, while at the end face 22, 23 itself the land 24 is not displaced inwardly in the radial direction 10.

[0071] The method allows a defined re-forming of the cage 1 in partial regions, so that a ball guiding surface 8 can be arranged further inward in the radial direction 10. This displacement prevents damage to the cage 1 during operation of a constant-velocity ball joint, because the contact point 26 of the ball 5 with the ball guiding surface 8 is then arranged at a greater distance from the inner circumferential surface 28.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0072] 1 Cage [0073] 2 Constant-velocity ball joint [0074] 3 Circumferential direction [0075] 4 Cage window [0076] 5 Ball [0077] 6 Side [0078] 7 Axial direction [0079] 8 Ball guiding surface [0080] 9 Compressive force [0081] 10 Radial direction [0082] 11 Outer circumferential surface [0083] 12 First region [0084] 13 Second region [0085] 14 Calibrating mandrel [0086] 15 Wall thickness [0087] 16 Cross section [0088] 17 Axis of rotation [0089] 18 Smallest inside diameter [0090] 19 Smallest outside diameter [0091] 20 Wall portion [0092] 21 Inside diameter [0093] 22 First end face [0094] 23 Second end face [0095] 24 Land [0096] 25 Part [0097] 26 Contact point [0098] 27 Distance [0099] 28 Inner circumferential surface