Longitudinal plunging unit

Abstract

A longitudinal plunging unit for a shaft assembly used for torque transmitting purposes. The unit includes a profiled sleeve ( 11 ) with circumferentially distributed, longitudinally extending first ball grooves ( 12 ), a profiled journal ( 21 ) with circumferentially distributed, longitudinally extending second ball grooves ( 22 ), balls ( 31, 32, 33 ) which are arranged in groups of balls in pairs of first and second ball grooves ( 11, 21 ), and a ball cage ( 41 ) which is positioned between the profiled sleeve ( 11 ) and the profiled journal ( 21 ) and axially fixes the balls in their positions relative to one another, wherein in the region of the ball grooves ( 12, 22 ), the profiled sleeve ( 11 ) and the profiled journal ( 21 ) include the same torsional stiffness, such that, during the introduction of torque, they are subject to the same angles of torsion.

1 . A longitudinal plunging unit for a shaft assembly used for torque transmitting purposes, comprising: a profiled sleeve with circumferentially distributed, longitudinally extending first ball grooves; a profiled journal with circumferentially distributed, longitudinally extending second ball grooves; balls which are arranged in groups of balls in pairs of first and second ball grooves; and a ball cage which is positioned between the profiled sleeve and the profiled journal and axially fixes the balls in their positions relative to one another, wherein, in the region of the first and second ball grooves, the profiled sleeve and the profiled journal comprise the same torsional stiffness such that, during the introduction of torque, they are subject to a same angle of torsion.  
   
   
       2 . A longitudinal plunging unit according to  claim 1  wherein, in the region of the first and second ball grooves, the profiled sleeve and the profiled journal comprise the same polar inertia moment, and each comprise a material having the same modulus of transverse elasticity.  
   
   
       3 .- 6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . A longitudinal plunging unit according to  claim 1  wherein at an end of the profiled journal which projects from the profiled sleeve, there is arranged a constant velocity ball joint, and a convoluted or rolling boot is secured to an outer part of the constant velocity joint and to the profiled sleeve.  
   
   
       8 .- 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A longitudinal plunging unit according to  claim 7  wherein, in the region of the first and second ball grooves, the profiled sleeve and the profiled journal comprise the same torsional stiffness, such that, during the introduction of torque, they are subject to a same angle of torsion.  
   
   
       12 .- 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A longitudinal plunging unit for a shaft assembly used for torque transmitting purposes, comprising: a profiled sleeve with circumferentially distributed, longitudinally extending first ball grooves; a profiled journal with circumferentially distributed, longitudinally extending second ball grooves; a sleeve-shaped stop member in the profiled sleeve and providing an axial stop for the profiled journal; balls which are arranged in groups of balls in pairs of first and second ball grooves; and a ball cage which is positioned between the profiled sleeve and the profiled journal and axially fixes the balls in their positions relative to one another, wherein, in the region of the first and second ball grooves, the profiled sleeve and the profiled journal comprise the same torsional stiffness such that, during the introduction of torque, they are subject to a same angle of torsion.  
   
   
       16 . A longitudinal plunging unit according to  claim 15 , wherein at an end of the profiled journal which projects from the profiled sleeve, there is arranged a constant velocity ball joint, and a convoluted or rolling boot is secured to an outer part of the constant velocity joint and to the profiled sleeve.