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Abstract

A VL constant velocity universal joint for accommodating axial displacements in a propeller shaft of a motor vehicle and for connecting a drive unit to a rear axle gearbox has at least two articulatably connected shaft portions, with a standard plunge which is usable in a damage-free way. An outer joint part has outer ball tracks and an inner joint part has inner ball tracks. A plurality of torque transmitting balls are guided in the outer and inner ball tracks associated with one another. Associated outer ball tracks and inner ball tracks form angles of intersection with respect to a central axis A of the joint. The angles are of identical size but set in opposite directions. A ball cage is provided with a plurality of cage windows each accommodating one of the balls and which hold the balls in one plane when the joint is axially displaced or articulated. The outer joint part is connected to an annular flange and the inner joint part to a connecting shaft, wherein when the outer joint part is displaced relative to the inner joint part, the effective guiding length of the ball tracks in one of the two joint parts is shorter than that of the ball tracks in the other one of the two joint parts. Stop means are provided which become effective at the end of the standard plunge to prevent the balls from leaving the ball tracks with the shorter length. The stop means comprise nominal deformation means which are deformable when the standard plunge is exceeded.

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First Claim