VEHICLE WHEEL ARTICULATED DRIVE Russian patent published in 2002 - IPC

FIELD: mechanical engineering; wheel drives of automotive vehicles. SUBSTANCE: drive has intermediate shaft with splines made on ends by means of which shaft is connected with hinge joints. Each joint is either ball type or universal and consists of housing in form of cup provided with cylindrical splined shank at one side and blind spherical hole at other side on meridians of which ellipsoidal raceways are made, and also race with outer spherical surface and central splined hole. Universal joint has housing in form of sleeve with cylindrical splined shank at one side and with blind cylindrical central hole at other side and also three uniformly spaced slots of round cross-section parallel to hole, three-journal cross on journals of which needle bearings with outer spherical races and needle rollers are mounted. EFFECT: increased service life and improved reliability, reduced cost of manufacture. 7 cl, 5 dwg