A fixed ball type joint for a vehicle, which reduces the friction between a cage and an outer race and friction between the cage and an inner race by changing shapes of an inner spherical diameter of the outer race and an outer spherical diameter of the inner race. The fixed ball type joint for a vehicle includes an inner race, an outer race installed at the outside of the inner race, a plurality of balls for transmitting rotational power of the inner race to the outer race, and a cage for supporting the balls. A first inner spherical radius of the outer race is set to be smaller than a second inner spherical radius of the outer race. A first outer spherical radius of the inner race is set to be larger than a second outer spherical radius of the inner race.

A propeller shaft includes a shaft section connected between an input shaft and an output shaft via respective constant velocity joints, wherein the input shaft is connected to a drive source of a vehicle, and the output shaft is connected to driving wheels. The constant velocity joint includes a circlip-restricting surface to engage with a circlip provided in an outer peripheral surface of the input or output shaft, for restricting movement of the first or second shaft in an axial direction. The circlip-restricting surface is implemented by a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, wherein the second inclined surface is closer to a rotational axis of the shaft section, and wherein the first inclined surface has an acute angle with respect to the axial direction, and the second inclined surface has a smaller angle with respect to the axial direction.

A propeller shaft includes a shaft section connected between an input shaft and an output shaft via respective constant velocity joints, wherein the input shaft is connected to a drive source of a vehicle, and the output shaft is connected to driving wheels. The constant velocity joint includes a circlip-restricting surface to engage with a circlip provided in an outer peripheral surface of the input or output shaft, for restricting movement of the first or second shaft in an axial direction. The circlip-restricting surface is implemented by a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, wherein the second inclined surface is closer to a rotational axis of the shaft section, and wherein the first inclined surface has an acute angle with respect to the axial direction, and the second inclined surface has a smaller angle with respect to the axial direction.

A vehicle joint has a drive sleeve, a pinion shaft and a drive nut. The sleeve has a vent hole, a first set of splines and a first set of venting grooves. The pinion shaft has a second set of splines engaged with the first set of splines. A fluid gap radially outboard of the engaged spines extends the length of the engaged splines. A second set of venting grooves is engaged with the first set of venting grooves. The pinion shaft also has a first set of threads. The drive nut has a second set of threads engaged with the first set of threads. The drive nut also has a radial aperture extending through the drive nut. The first vent hole is in fluid connection with the radial aperture through some of the features described above.

An integrated pinion shaft and constant velocity joint (PS/CVJ) assembly for use in motor vehicle driveline applications to transfer torque between a propshaft and a ring gear. The PS/CVJ assembly includes a pinion shaft having a pinion gear segment meshed with the ring gear and a hollow pinion shaft segment. The PS/CVJ assembly also includes a constant velocity joint having an inner race coupled to the propshaft and an outer race integral with or fixed to an end portion of the pinion shaft segment.

An apparatus for transferring driving force at a wheel for a vehicle may include a housing of a constant velocity joint having a center of a first end portion formed to be penetrated and inserted into a hub bearing, and a step formed on an inner peripheral surface of a middle portion of the housing, a hub flange supporting an expansion part by the step by having one end portion coupled to a wheel side and another end portion inserted into the housing to thereby form the expansion part expanded in a radial direction, and a forming member installed in the housing to face the expansion part and having an outer peripheral surface supported by an inner peripheral surface of the housing.

An apparatus for transferring driving force at a wheel for a vehicle may include a housing of a constant velocity joint having a center of a first end portion formed to be penetrated and inserted into a hub bearing, and a step formed on an inner peripheral surface of a middle portion of the housing, a hub flange supporting an expansion part by the step by having one end portion coupled to a wheel side and another end portion inserted into the housing to thereby form the expansion part expanded in a radial direction, and a forming member installed in the housing to face the expansion part and having an outer peripheral surface supported by an inner peripheral surface of the housing.

A constant velocity joint for a vehicle includes: an axle housing fixed to a knuckle by a hub bearing; a joint assembly inserted into an inner diameter portion of the axle housing and configured to transmit power from a shaft to the axle housing through a plurality of joint balls; an extension portion formed by deforming an end portion of the axle housing on an inward side of a vehicle body to extend in a radial direction of the axle housing so as to provide a pressing force to an inner race of the hub bearing in an axial direction of the axle housing; and a boot having one side surrounding an outer side of the extension portion to be coupled to the extension portion so as to form a restraining force between the extension portion and the boot in the axial direction.

A boot assembly for a constant velocity joint includes a boot having a neck portion arranged to be received over a shaft that is coupled to the constant velocity joint, and a retainer or insert which may include a vent. The retainer or insert may be carried by the neck portion and has at least one flex feature to facilitate flexing thereof. The insert may have at least one projection that extends radially inwardly from the neck portion and defines part of an inner surface of the boot, or at least one vent path defined therein to facilitate venting of one or more chambers defined at least in part by the boot.

A welding method for an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint includes constructing a cup section having track grooves, which engage with torque transmitting elements, formed along an inner periphery thereof and a shaft section that is formed on a bottom portion of the cup section by two or more separate members, joining a cup member forming the cup section and a shaft member forming the shaft section, and melt-welding end portions of the cup member and the shaft member. The cup member and the shaft member are shaped so that a sealed hollow cavity portion is formed when the end portions of the cup member and the shaft member are brought into abutment against each other, the melt-welding of the end portions being performed when the sealed hollow cavity portion is under atmospheric pressure or lower.