US 12,305,718 B2
Universal joint with improved stiffness
Edi Bondioli
Assigned to Lea Lusetti, Suzzara (IT); Carlo Bondioli, Suzzara (IT); and Claudio Bondioli, Borgo a Virgilio (IT)
Appl. No. 17/774,769
Filed by Lea Lusetti, Suzzara (IT); Carlo Bondioli, Suzzara (IT); and Claudio Bondioli, Borgo a Virgilio (IT)
PCT Filed Nov. 3, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/080765
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 5, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/089514, PCT Pub. Date May 14, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 102019000020574 (IT), filed on Nov. 7, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0397159 A1, Dec. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. F16D 3/38 (2006.01); F16C 3/03 (2006.01); F16D 3/40 (2006.01); F16D 3/84 (2006.01)
CPC F16D 3/387 (2013.01) [F16C 3/03 (2013.01); F16D 3/40 (2013.01); F16D 3/841 (2013.01); F16D 2300/06 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A universal joint comprising:
a first fork comprising a first sleeve with a first longitudinal axis, a first member for connecting to a first shaft, and a first pair of arms diametrically opposite to each other with respect to said first longitudinal axis and extending in a direction opposite the first sleeve;
a second fork comprising a second sleeve with a second longitudinal axis, a second member for connecting to a second shaft, and a second pair of arms diametrically opposite to each other with respect to said second longitudinal axis and extending in a direction opposite the second sleeve;
a spider comprising: a first pair of trunnions coaxial with each other and inserted into a first pair of aligned and opposite seats provided in the first pair of arms; and a second pair of trunnions coaxial with each other, orthogonal to the first pair of trunnions, and inserted into a second pair of aligned and opposite seats provided in the second pair of arms; wherein a respective needle bearing is provided between each trunnion and the respective seat;
wherein: the first sleeve is connected to the first pair of arms through a first collar extending from the first sleeve and having a concave shape and an end edge, from which the first pair of arms extends; and the second sleeve is connected to the second pair of arms through a second collar extending from the second sleeve and having a concave shape and an end edge, from which the second pair of arms extends; and each collar has an inner concave surface of substantially spherical shape, with a center located on an axis of the respective aligned pair of seats of the respective pair of arms.