Abstract: A tripod type constant-velocity universal joint includes an outer ring having three axially-extending track grooves in its inner periphery, a tripod member mounted in the outer ring and having three trunnions extending into the track grooves, and guide blocks supported on the trunnions in the track grooves, respectively. Rolling elements are disposed in raceway grooves on opposite sides of each guide block between the guide block and the outer ring. The rolling elements are retained by retainers and a moving amount restricting mechanism restricts the moving amount of the retainers to half the moving amount of the guide blocks. Each retainer has retaining plate portions retaining the rolling elements on each side of the guide block, and a plate portion coupling together the retaining plate portions. Each restricting mechanism includes a lever pivotably supported on the plate portion and having guide grooves into which protrusions are slidably fitted.

Abstract: A tripod type constant velocity universal joint of a single roller type is provided, which can be used in a vehicle operating at high angles without causing an increase in costs by lowering the level of vibration even at a high operating angle. A tripod type constant velocity universal joint is composed of an outer joint member with three track grooves, extending in its axial direction, on the inner circumferential surface of the outer joint member, a tripod member with three radially projecting leg shafts around the circumference of the tripod member, and rotatable rollers mounted on each leg shaft through a plurality of needle rollers and positioned in the track grooves of the outer joint member, the outer circumferential surfaces of the rollers being guided by roller guide surfaces provided on both sides of the track grooves. In this construction, grooves extending along the track grooves are provided on the roller guide surfaces where the rollers contact.

Abstract: A tripod type constant-velocity universal joint is provided in which a tripod member is prevented from coming out of an outer ring. A guide block is supported on each trunnion of the tripod member mounted in the outer ring. Rolling elements are mounted between raceway grooves formed in both side faces of the guide blocks and raceway grooves formed in both sides of track grooves of the outer ring so that rolling elements will make a pure rolling movement over the entire moving range of the guide block. A lever is mounted to a plate portion of each retainer for retaining the rolling elements. Pins are inserted in a pair of guide grooves formed in the lever. One of the pins is secured to the outer ring and the other pin is secured to the guide block. A stopper ring is mounted to the open end of the outer ring, so that the stopper ring will prevent the rolling elements from coming out of the raceway grooves, thereby preventing the tripod member from coming out of the outer ring.

Abstract: A tripod type constant velocity universal joint which includes an outer member having three axially extending track grooves formed in an inner circumferential surface thereof, each of the track grooves having roller guide surfaces on a pair of opposing side walls thereof, a tripod member having three radially projecting trunnions, and rollers rotatably carried on the trunnions, respectively, through a series of cylindrical rolling elements, the rollers being accommodated in the track grooves, respectively, so that the rollers are movable axially of the outer member with each said roller rolling along one of the opposing roller guide surfaces. The cylindrical rolling elements roll directly on an outer circumferential surface of the trunnion. Each said roller has an annular radial projection at each axial end thereof.

Abstract: In order to simply the structure and reduce the size of a tripod type constant-velocity universal joint in which the moving amount of the retainers is restricted to half the moving amount of the guide blocks, raceway grooves 3, 8 are formed in both sides of a guide block 6 supported on each trunnion 5 of a tripod member 4 and in the sides of each track groove 2 of the outer ring, a plurality of rolling elements 9 mounted between the raceway grooves 3 and 8 are retained by retainers 10, and the retainers 10 on both sides of each guide block 6 are coupled together by a coupling plate 13. A pair of inclined grooves 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b that are inclined in opposite directions to each other are provided on the inner surface 11 of the outer wall of each track groove 2 of the outer ring and on the outer surface 12 of each guide block 6, and balls 23 received in the cross portions of the pair of inclined grooves 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b are supported by each coupling plate 13 so as to be movable as the retainers 10 move.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint including an outer joint member formed with three track grooves having roller guide surfaces arranged in circumferentially opposed relation to each other; a tripod member having three radially projecting leg shafts; a plurality of rollers inserted in the track grooves; and a ring fitted directly on each of the leg shafts to support the rollers for rotation, the rollers being movable along the roller guide surfaces axially of the outer joint member, wherein each roller includes a set of annular roller portions and a plurality of balls interposed between outer raceway surfaces formed in rows in an inner periphery of the annular roller portions and two rows of inner raceway surfaces formed in an outer periphery of the ring, and wherein the inner peripheral surface of the ring is cylindrical and the outer peripheral surface of the leg shaft is spherical.

Abstract: A tripod type constant-velocity joint includes raceway grooves formed in side faces of each track groove formed in an inner periphery of an outer ring, and in side faces of each guide block supported by each of three trunnions of a tripod member. A plurality of rolling elements mounted between the raceway grooves are retained by retainers. The retainers have a structure such that a plurality of pockets are formed in plate members, and a plurality of claws extending in opposite directions are provided on a periphery of each pocket, so that the retainers can be formed by performing pressing operations.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint comprises an outer joint member 10 formed with three track grooves 12 having roller guide surfaces 14 arranged in circumferentially opposed relation to each other, a tripod member 20 having three radially projecting trunnions 22, rollers 34 inserted in the track grooves 12, and rings 32 fitted on the trunnions 22 to support the rollers 34 for rotation, the rollers 34 being movable along the roller guide surfaces 14 axially of the outer joint member 10, wherein the roller 34 is composed of a set of annular roller portions 34a and 34b and a plurality of balls 36 are interposed between outer raceway surfaces formed in rows each in the inner periphery of the annular roller portion 34 and two rows of inner raceway surfaces formed in the outer periphery of the ring 32.

Abstract: A tripod type constant-velocity universal joint is provided in which a tripod member is prevented from coming out the outer ring. A guide block is supported on each trunnion of the tripod member mounted in the outer ring. Rolling elements are mounted between raceway grooves formed in both side faces of the guide blocks and raceway grooves formed in both sides of track grooves of the outer ring so that they will make a pure rolling movement over the entire moving range of the guide block. A lever is mounted to a plate portion of each retainer for retaining the rolling elements. Pins are inserted in a pair of guide grooves formed in the lever. One of the pins is secured to the outer ring and the other pin is secured to the guide block. A stopper ring is mounted to the open end of the outer ring, so that the stopper ring will prevent the rolling elements from coming out of the raceway grooves, thereby preventing the tripod member from coming out of the outer ring.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint comprises an outer joint member 10 formed with three track grooves 12 having roller guide surfaces 14 arranged in circumferentially opposed relation to each other, a tripod member 20 having three radially projecting trunnions 22, rollers 34 inserted in the track grooves 12, and rings 32 fitted on the trunnions 22 to support the rollers 34 for rotation, the rollers 34 being movable along the roller guide surfaces 14 axially of the outer joint member 10, wherein the roller 34 is composed of a set of annular roller portions 34a and 34b and a plurality of balls 36 are interposed between outer raceway surfaces formed in rows each in the inner periphery of the annular roller portion 34 and two rows of inner raceway surfaces formed in the outer periphery of the ring 32.

Abstract: A tripod type constant-velocity joint is proposed which is lower in cost and lighter in weight. Raceway grooves are formed in side faces of each track groove formed in the inner periphery of an outer ring and in side faces of each guide block supported by each of three trunnions of a tripod member. A plurality of rolling elements mounted between the raceway grooves are retained by retainers. The retainers have such a structure that a plurality of pockets are formed in plate members and a plurality of claws extending in opposite directions are provided on the periphery of each pocket so that it can be formed by pressing. It is thus possible to achieve reduced cost and lighter weight for a tripod type constant-velocity joint.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint is provided, which can ensure a smooth torque transmission, extend the useful life thereof, maintain the constant velocity, and damp vibrations and abnormal sounds. The constant velocity universal joint having at least two sets of link mechanisms. The link mechanism has: link hubs installed in an input shaft and an output shaft, respectively; end link members rotatably each coupled with the link hubs installed in the respective input and the output shafts; and a central link member to which the end link members on the respective input and output shaft sides are rotatably coupled. Geometries of the mechanism on the input shaft side and the output shaft side are identical to each other across a transverse plane in a center of the link mechanism. The universal joint further has rotational resistance reducing means installed in at least either coupling part between the link hub and the end link member or coupling part between the central link member and the end link member.

Abstract: A tripod type constant velocity universal joint of a single roller type is provided, which can be used in a vehicle operating at high angles without causing an increase in costs by lowering the level of vibration even at a high operating angle. A tripod type constant velocity universal joint is composed of an outer joint member with three track grooves, extending in its axial direction, on the inner circumferential surface of the outer joint member, a tripod member with three radially projecting leg shafts around the circumference of the tripod member, and rotatable rollers mounted on each leg shaft through a plurality of needle rollers and positioned in the track grooves of the outer joint member, the outer circumferential surfaces of the rollers being guided by roller guide surfaces provided on both sides of the track grooves. In this construction, grooves extending along the track grooves are provided on the roller guide surfaces where the rollers contact.

Abstract: The width (L) in the circumferential direction of the outer surface 2a of an inner joint member 2 is L≧3.5 mm. When the assembly angle (&thgr;0) of the torque transmitting ball 3 is set to 50°, the width (W) in the axial direction is set so that the ratio Rw (=W/PCDSERR) between the width (W) in the axial direction and the pitch circle diameter (PCDSERR) of the teeth of an engagement portion 2c lies within the range of 0.57<Rw≦0.95. Thus, while enabling the assembly of the torque transmitting ball at the assembly angle &thgr;0=50°, cold forging on the inner joint member 2 is made possible, thereby reducing the processing cost. By reducing the width (W) in the axial direction as much as possible, the weight, dimension, and material cost can be reduced.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint comprises an outer joint member 10 formed with three track grooves 12 having roller guide surfaces 14 arranged in circumferentially opposed relation to each other, a tripod member 20 having three radially projecting trunnions 22, rollers 34 inserted in the track grooves 12, and rings 32 fitted on the trunnions 22 to support the rollers 34 for rotation, the rollers 34 being movable along the roller guide surfaces 14 axially of the outer joint member 10, wherein the roller 34 is composed of a set of annular roller portions 34a and 34b and a plurality of balls 36 are interposed between outer raceway surfaces formed in rows each in the inner periphery of the annular roller portion 34 and two rows of inner raceway surfaces formed in the outer periphery of the ring 32.

Abstract: In an inner joint member (20) that has eight guide grooves (24) formed to extend in the axial direction located at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer circumference (22) of spherical shape and a fitting portion (26) provided on the inner circumference for the purpose of coupling with a stub shaft, ratio of width W between the center of curvature O2 of the outer circumference (22) of spherical shape and the end face to the pitch circle diameter Ds of the fitting portion (26) is set as W/Ds>0.27, thereby making it possible for a plunging constant velocity universal joint for propeller shaft of the vehicle to be lighter in weight, more compact and is capable of contributing to the improvement of the NVH characteristic of the vehicle.

Abstract: A tripod type constant velocity universal joint comprises a tripod member (4) having three radially protruding trunnions (5), each of which rotatably carries a roller (7) with cylindrical rolling elements (6) therebetween. The outer circumferential surface of the trunnion (5) assumes a true spherical surface (m) having its center on the axis of the trunnion (5) or is defined with a combination of true spherical surfaces (m.sub.1) lying at both axial end portions of the trunnion (5) and having its center on the axis of the trunnion and an intermediate curved surface (m.sub.2, m.sub.3) standing between the true spherical surfaces (m.sub.1) and having a radius of curvature larger than those of the true spherical surfaces.

Abstract: A double offset type constant velocity universal joint for use in a power transmission system of an automobile comprises an inner member, an outer member, and a plurality of balls for transmitting torque between the Inner and outer members, the balls being retained by means of a cage also interposed between the inner and outer members, the cage being so designed as to allow the inner and outer members to move axially relatively to each other by an effective amount to absorb not only slight vibrations of an engine but also a greater movement of the engine caused by starting acceleration of the automobile.

Abstract: A homokinetic universal joint having an outer ring formed in its inner periphery with three axially extending cylindrical track grooves and a tripod member mounted in the outer ring and having three trunnions extending radially so as to be inserted in the track grooves. A guide roller is mounted on each trunnion through needle rollers so as to be engaged in each track groove. Each needle roller or each guide roller is formed with minute recesses arranged at random so that the RMS(L)/RMS(C) ratio will be not more than 1.0 wherein RMS(L) and RMS(C) are surface roughness values in the longitudinal and circumferential directions, respectively. An SK value, another surface roughness parameter, is set to be not more than -1.5. Each minute recess should have an area ratio of the minute recesses to the entire surface being 10-40% and an average area of 35-150 square microns.