Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha

Yoyoda Koki Kabuhsiki Kaisha

Minoru Wakamatsu

Isashi Kashiwagi

Atsushi Ando

Kazuyuki Ichikawa

In a tripod-type constant velocity joint having an inner joint member, an outer joint member, and three roller units, the radius R, outer width W, and inner width Wof the outer periphery cylindrical surface of each roller unit, and the radius Rof the center hole of each roller unit satisfy the inequalities: 0.5Rtc(1/cos 0.3&#x2296;&#x2212;1)+(RR)&#x3bc;&#x3c;Wand 1.5Rtc(1&#x2212;cos 0.3&#x2296;)+(R&#x2212;R)&#x3bc;&#x3c;W, where Rtc: the radius of a circle passing through the respective centers of tripod spherical surfaces of the inner joint member, &#x2296;: the maximum joint angle between the outer joint member and the inner joint member, and &#x3bc;: coefficient of friction between each tripod spherical surface and the wall surface of the center hole of the corresponding roller unit.

Tripod-type constant velocity joint

A constant velocity universal unit includes an outer joint member whose inner peripheral face is formed with three guide grooves, an inner joint member including three tripod shafts each formed with a tripod spherical face, three roller units each including an outer peripheral face and an inner peripheral face coaxially formed with each other. The guide groove includes a pair of strip-shaped inner side faces formed with a pair of guide projections having a substantially half arc shape in cross section whose diameter is smaller than a height of the inner side face of the guide groove. The constant velocity universal joint further includes an annular recess formed on a substantially center portion in a height direction of the outer peripheral face of the roller unit and engaging with the pair of guide projections in a rolling manner and rotatable relative to a central axis of the guide projection.

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Kariya, Japan

Minoru Wakamatsu