Abstract: A constant-velocity universal joint including a generally cup-shaped outer joint member and an inner joint member that define first and second groove portions. A pinch angle by which a ball is pinched in the first groove portion is open toward an opening of the outer joint member. A pinch angle by which the ball is pinched in the second groove is open toward a bottom of the outer joint member. An absolute value of the pinch angle in a larger-pinch-angle groove portion that is one of the first and second groove portions, is larger than an absolute value of the pinch angle in a smaller-pinch-angle groove portion that is the other of the first and second groove portions in a reference state. A radial clearance in the smaller-pinch-angle groove portion is larger than a radial clearance in the larger-pinch-angle groove portion when torque is not transmitted in the reference state.

Abstract: A constant-velocity universal joint including a generally cup-shaped outer joint member and an inner joint member that cooperate with each other to define first and second groove portions. A pinch angle by which a ball is pinched in the first groove portion is open toward an opening end of the outer joint member. A pinch angle by which the ball is pinched in the second groove is open toward a bottom wall of the outer joint member. An absolute value of the pinch angle in the first groove portion is larger than an absolute value of the pinch angle in the second groove portion in a reference state in which centerlines of the outer joint member and the inner joint member lie in a straight line.

Abstract: A constant-velocity universal joint including a generally cup-shaped outer joint member and an inner joint member that define first and second groove portions. A pinch angle by which a ball is pinched in the first groove portion is open toward an opening of the outer joint member. A pinch angle by which the ball is pinched in the second groove is open toward a bottom of the outer joint member. An absolute value of the pinch angle in a larger-pinch-angle groove portion that is one of the first and second groove portions, is larger than an absolute value of the pinch angle in a smaller-pinch-angle groove portion that is the other of the first and second groove portions in a reference state. A radial clearance in the smaller-pinch-angle groove portion is larger than a radial clearance in the larger-pinch-angle groove portion when torque is not transmitted in the reference state.

Abstract: A constant-velocity universal joint including a generally cup-shaped outer joint member and an inner joint member that cooperate with each other to define first and second groove portions. A pinch angle by which a ball is pinched in the first groove portion is open toward an opening end of the outer joint member. A pinch angle by which the ball is pinched in the second groove is open toward a bottom wall of the outer joint member. An absolute value of the pinch angle in the first groove portion is larger than an absolute value of the pinch angle in the second groove portion in a reference state in which centerlines of the outer joint member and the inner joint member lie in a straight line.

Abstract: Outer ball grooves of an outer joint member of a constant velocity joint each have a first ball groove for allowing a ball to roll therein when the constant velocity joint operates, and a second ball groove having a ball groove radius larger than a ball groove radius of the first ball groove. The second ball groove has a curved line and a connecting line. The curved line is connected to a groove bottom end of the first ball groove located closer to an opening of the outer joint member and is curved radially outward in a concave manner. The connecting line connects the curved line and the opening. The curved line is curved with a curvature center that is located closer to the opening than the groove bottom end of the first ball groove and that is located radially inside the outer joint member.

Abstract: Outer ball grooves of an outer joint member of a constant velocity joint each have a first ball groove for allowing a ball to roll therein when the constant velocity joint operates, and a second ball groove having a ball groove radius larger than a ball groove radius of the first ball groove. The second ball groove has a curved line and a connecting line. The curved line is connected to a groove bottom end of the first ball groove located closer to an opening of the outer joint member and is curved radially outward in a concave manner. The connecting line connects the curved line and the opening. The curved line is curved with a curvature center that is located closer to the opening than the groove bottom end of the first ball groove and that is located radially inside the outer joint member.

Abstract: A sliding type tripod constant velocity joint includes a cage that supports the rolling elements such that the rolling elements circulate on an outer periphery of the intermediate member. The cage includes the first, second, third and fourth circulating paths having opening parts over an entire length in an outer peripheral side of the cage and widths of the opening parts of the third and fourth circulating paths are narrower than widths of the opening parts of the first and second circulating paths.

Abstract: A sliding type tripod constant velocity joint includes a cage that supports the rolling elements such that the rolling elements circulate on an outer periphery of the intermediate member. The cage includes the first, second, third and fourth circulating paths having opening parts over an entire length in an outer peripheral side of the cage and widths of the opening parts of the third and fourth circulating paths are narrower than widths of the opening parts of the first and second circulating paths.

Abstract: A sliding type tripod constant velocity joint includes an outer ring of a tubular form having three raceway grooves which are formed on an inner peripheral surface and which extend in a direction of a rotation axis of the outer ring, a tripod including a boss part connected to a shaft and three tripod shaft parts which are provided upright so as to extend outward in a radial direction of the boss part from an outer peripheral surface of the boss part and which are inserted into the raceway grooves, respectively, and an intermediate member which is provided on an outer periphery of a corresponding one of the tripod shaft parts so as to be oscillated relative to the corresponding one of the tripod shaft parts and which has power transmission surfaces on both side surfaces and opposing the side surfaces of a corresponding one of the raceway grooves.

Abstract: A sliding type tripod constant velocity joint includes a pair of intermediate members arranged so as to sandwich a tripod shaft part from both sides of side surfaces of a raceway groove of an outer ring and to provide so as to be oscillated relative to the tripod shaft part. The sliding type tripod constant velocity joint further includes a plurality of rolling elements provided between side surfaces of the raceway groove and power transmission surfaces of the intermediate members opposing the side surfaces of the raceway grooves and a cage that supports the rolling elements such that the rolling elements circulate on outer peripheries of the intermediate members.

Abstract: A sliding-type tripod constant velocity joint that includes needle units, each of which is able to prevent rolling elements from falling off in a state where the rolling elements are introduced in a cage, is provided. Each cage (60) of a constant velocity joint (1) forms circulation paths that are trajectories of circulating rolling elements (50), and is formed of a pair of first circulation path forming member (70) and second circulation path forming member (80) that are coupled to face each other so as to respectively support both axial ends of the rolling elements (50). Then, at least one of the circulation path forming members (70 (80)) has a window portion (75 (85)) that is open so as to be able to introduce the rolling elements (50) laterally with respect to a circulating direction into the circulation paths and a rib portion (76 (86)) that is formed so as to extend from a periphery of the window portion (75 (85)) in an introducing direction in which the rolling elements (50) are introduced.

Abstract: A sliding type tripod constant velocity joint includes an outer ring of a tubular form having three raceway grooves which are formed on an inner peripheral surface and which extend in a direction of a rotation axis of the outer ring, a tripod including a boss part connected to a shaft and three tripod shaft parts which are provided upright so as to extend outward in a radial direction of the boss part from an outer peripheral surface of the boss part and which are inserted into the raceway grooves, respectively, and a pair of intermediate members which are arranged so as to sandwich a corresponding one of the tripod shaft parts from both sides of side surfaces of the raceway grooves and which are provided so as to be oscillated relative to the corresponding one of the tripod shaft parts.

Abstract: A sliding type tripod constant velocity joint includes an outer ring having three raceway grooves which are formed on an inner peripheral surface and which extend in a direction of a rotation axis of the outer ring, a tripod including a boss part connected to a shaft and three tripod shaft parts which are provided upright so as to extend outward in a radial direction of the boss part from an outer peripheral surface of the boss part and which are inserted into the raceway grooves, respectively, and an intermediate member which is provided on an outer periphery of a corresponding one of the tripod shaft parts so as to be oscillated relative to the corresponding one of the tripod shaft parts and which has power transmission surfaces on outer surfaces and opposing the side surfaces of a corresponding one of the raceway grooves.

Abstract: In a sliding-type tripod constant velocity joint establishing angular contact between each raceway groove of an outer ring and each roller, the section shape in a radial direction of each raceway groove is formed to an arc shape made by a first curvature radius centered at a first position. Longitudinal section shapes of first and second contact regions on the roller are formed to respective convex curves made respectively by second and third curvature radii which are respectively centered at a second position differing from the first position and a third position differing from the first position and the second position and which are smaller than the first curvature radius. A longitudinal section shape between the first contact region and the second contact region of the roller has a gap relative to the raceway groove.

Abstract: A sliding type tripod constant velocity joint includes an outer ring having three raceway grooves which are formed on an inner peripheral surface and which extend in a direction of a rotation axis of the outer ring, a tripod including a boss part connected to a shaft and three tripod shaft parts which are provided upright so as to extend outward in a radial direction of the boss part from an outer peripheral surface of the boss part and which are inserted into the raceway grooves, respectively, and an intermediate member which is provided on an outer periphery of a corresponding one of the tripod shaft parts so as to be oscillated relative to the corresponding one of the tripod shaft parts and which has power transmission surfaces on outer surfaces and opposing the side surfaces of a corresponding one of the raceway grooves.

Abstract: A sliding type tripod constant velocity joint includes an outer ring of a tubular form having three raceway grooves which are formed on an inner peripheral surface and which extend in a direction of a rotation axis of the outer ring, a tripod including a boss part connected to a shaft and three tripod shaft parts which are provided upright so as to extend outward in a radial direction of the boss part from an outer peripheral surface of the boss part and which are inserted into the raceway grooves, respectively, and an intermediate member which is provided on an outer periphery of a corresponding one of the tripod shaft parts so as to be oscillated relative to the corresponding one of the tripod shaft parts and which has power transmission surfaces on both side surfaces and opposing the side surfaces of a corresponding one of the raceway grooves.

Abstract: A sliding type tripod constant velocity joint includes an outer ring of a tubular form having three raceway grooves which are formed on an inner peripheral surface and which extend in a direction of a rotation axis of the outer ring, a tripod including a boss part connected to a shaft and three tripod shaft parts which are provided upright so as to extend outward in a radial direction of the boss part from an outer peripheral surface of the boss part and which are inserted into the raceway grooves, respectively, and a pair of intermediate members which are arranged so as to sandwich a corresponding one of the tripod shaft parts from both sides of side surfaces of the raceway grooves and which are provided so as to be oscillated relative to the corresponding one of the tripod shaft parts.

Abstract: A sliding-type tripod constant velocity joint that includes needle units, each of which is able to prevent rolling elements from falling off in a state where the rolling elements are introduced in a cage, is provided. Each cage (60) of a constant velocity joint (1) forms circulation paths that are trajectories of circulating rolling elements (50), and is formed of a pair of first circulation path forming member (70) and second circulation path forming member (80) that are coupled to face each other so as to respectively support both axial ends of the rolling elements (50). Then, at least one of the circulation path forming members (70 (80)) has a window portion (75 (85)) that is open so as to be able to introduce the rolling elements (50) laterally with respect to a circulating direction into the circulation paths and a rib portion (76 (86)) that is formed so as to extend from a periphery of the window portion (75 (85)) in an introducing direction in which the rolling elements (50) are introduced.

Abstract: An intermediate member is rockably provided around an outer periphery of a corresponding one of tripod shaft portions. Shaft-like rolling elements are retained by corresponding retainers so that the shaft-like rolling elements are able to circulate around the corresponding intermediate members and are able to roll between side surfaces of a corresponding one of raceway grooves of an outer ring and a torque transmitting surface of a corresponding one of the intermediate members. Then, raceway recesses are formed on the side surfaces of each raceway groove so as to extend in a direction of a rotation axis of the outer ring. The shaft-like rolling elements are fitted in the corresponding raceway recesses and are able to roll along bottom surfaces of the respective raceway recesses. Thus, the retainers are arranged outside the raceway recesses.

Abstract: A sliding type tripod constant velocity joint includes a pair of intermediate members arranged so as to sandwich a tripod shaft part from both sides of side surfaces of a raceway groove of an outer ring and provided so as to be oscillated relative to the tripod shaft part. The sliding type tripod constant velocity joint further includes a plurality of rolling elements provided between side surfaces of the raceway groove and power transmission surfaces of the intermediate members opposing the side surfaces of the raceway grooves and a cage that supports the rolling elements such that the rolling elements circulate on outer peripheries of the intermediate members.