Development of Compact - High Angle DOJ for SUVs

NTN has developed a compact, light-weight plunging type constant velocity joint for high angle applications (30° maximum). The newly developed compact DOJ maintains the basic performance of current DOJ's, including the 30° maximum angle. The new design, however, has the advantages of 4% reduction in outer diameter (one size smaller joint) and 6% weight reduction.

In recent years, plunging type constant velocity joints that provide high operation angles have become necessary for the in-board (differential) side of halfshafts used in SUVs. In recent years, demand for this type of application has been increasing, primarily in North America and Europe. In the past, NTN has been recommending the DOJ, which provides 30° to meet this need. Unfortunately, to get the 30° in the DOJ, the outer diameter had to be increased; sometimes causing packaging issues in the application. The newly developed products have the same basic structure as previous DOJ's. By using FEM, mechanical system analysis, etc., the internal design was optimized to attain smaller size and lighter weight all while maintaining the required strength and durability. Now, NTN can meet the market demand for high angles with a smaller package size that will give more flexibility to our customers.

At NTN, constant velocity joints are positioned as one of the company's strategic products and business development is moving forward with the aim of achieving the world's No.1 share in this market by 2010. NTN has already deployed the compact, light weight, high-efficiency "E series" of constant velocity joints (EBJ, EUJ, EDJ, ETJ, EPTJ) and with the addition of the newly developed compact 30° DOJ's, NTN has made all its constant velocity joints smaller and lighter.

With the demand steadily increasing for smaller and lighter constant velocity joints with the objective of improving vehicle fuel economy and raising the degree of freedom for drive system layout, NTN is developing customers globally with its "E series" of constant velocity joints which includes this newly developed joint.

[Features]

1. Compact and light weight (1 size smaller than previous products)
• Attains about 4% smaller outer race external diameter than previous "30° DOJ's".
• Attains about 6% lighter weight than previous "30° DOJ's"
2. Maximum operation angle
• Although the new products are smaller, they attain the same maximum operation angle of 30° as previous models.

[Product Features]