Universal joint using free balls - has radial drillings in socket with screwed plugs forming adjustable ball seats

摘要

The ball-type universal joint has an inner ball head with radial grooves and an external socket with a corresponding number of seats for the balls transmitting the torque. The seats (9) are formed by radial drillings through the socket (4) and accommodating screwed plugs (9b). Up to half the dia. of the balls (7) is accommodated in the drillings (9a), in which they turn freely. The plugs can have screwdriver slots orspanner heads for adjustment of their positions in the bores, and they can have hemispherical heads (9c) on the ends towards the balls, or recesses. This avoids the need for a separate ball cage.