Ntn Corporation

Ryuma Mano

Masazumi Kobayashi

Kikuo Maeda

Akio Sakaguchi

Michio Iihara

Yoshihiro Sagisaka

A constant velocity universal joint for use with a propeller shaft which reduces its weight and size as well as facilitates assembling a stub shaft, thereby reducing the number of parts used and improving rotational balance. The universal joint, comprising: an outer ring with a cup-shaped enlarged diameter portion having track grooves formed on an inner peripheral surface and with a hollow reduced diameter portion integrated with the enlarged diameter portion; an inner ring having track grooves formed on an outer peripheral surface; balls, interposed between the track grooves of the inner and outer rings, for transmitting torque; a cage, accommodated in an annular space between the inner and outer rings, for holding the balls. The universal joint makes possible to form a unit provided with a stub shaft, having a shaft portion inserted from an open end portion of the enlarged diameter portion of the outer ring to mate with the inner ring to enable torque transmission and having an enlarged diameter portion on an end portion extending from the shaft portion, and provided with a boot, attached to the open end portion of the enlarged diameter portion of the outer ring and the shaft portion of the stub shaft, for sealing the joint.

Growing community of inventors

Iwata, Japan

Ryuma Mano