Abstract: An electric vehicle which includes in-wheel motor driving devices and an independent-steering apparatus and is capable of making pivot turns within a minimum-required parking space, having a structure without a chassis and a part of the body protruding out of a minimum-required circular space necessary for the wheels to make pivot turning. In a case where the electric vehicle has four wheels including left and right front wheels and left and right rear wheels, an in-wheel motor driving device is incorporated only in the left and right front wheels, only in the left and right rear wheels, or in all of the wheels. An independent-steering apparatus serves for all of the wheels. A kingpin axis in each of the wheels makes an intersection with a road surface on a circle inboard of a vehicle chassis.

Abstract: An electric vehicle which includes in-wheel motor driving devices and an independent-steering apparatus and is capable of making pivot turns within a minimum-required parking space, having a structure without a chassis and a part of the body protruding out of a minimum-required circular space necessary for the wheels to make pivot turning. In a case where the electric vehicle has four wheels including left and right front wheels and left and right rear wheels, an in-wheel motor driving device is incorporated only in the left and right front wheels, only in the left and right rear wheels, or in all of the wheels. An independent-steering apparatus serves for all of the wheels. A kingpin axis in each of the wheels makes an intersection with a road surface on a circle inboard of a vehicle chassis.

Abstract: A slide type homokinetic universal joint which assures low slide resistance. A guide block is supported on each trunnion so as to be axially slidable with respect to the trunnion and so as for the trunnion to be pivotable with respect to the guide block. A ball circulation groove including a pair of straight paths is formed in each side of the guide block. Each track groove formed in the outer ring has flat sides. An arcuate ball rolling surface is formed at the outer-diameter side of each flat side of the track groove so as to smoothly connect with the flat side, so that the balls can smoothly circulate in the ball circulation groove.

Abstract: A tripod member having three trunnions is inserted in an outer ring. A guide block is supported on each of the trunnions so as to be pivotable around the trunnion and is formed with a ball circulation groove at each side thereof. A plurality of balls are accommodated in the ball circulation groove so that part of the balls will protrude diametrically outwards from the ball circulation groove. The outer ring is formed in its inner surface with raceway grooves for guiding the balls in an axial direction. An arcuate ball rolling surface and a ball guide surface are formed at both sides of each raceway groove to guide the balls and prevent them from dropping out, respectively.