A segmented driveshaft for transmission of torque and thrust loads from one member to another along an eccentric axis of rotation. The segmented driveshaft includes a plurality of pivotally interconnected vertebrae that is distributed along a connecting rod that is pivotally connected to a drivetrain assembly. The each vertebra has male and female interlocks that are pivotally mated with the male and female interlocks of an adjacent vertebra. Interposed between the adjacent vertebrae are independent male and female pivots that pivotally engage with each another. The pivotally mated interlocks of adjacent vertebrae and the pivotally engaged pivots allow the driveshaft to extend between connecting points of a drivetrain assembly that have offset axes of rotation.

A driveshaft includes a shaft defining a passageway and a constant velocity joint defining an interior and having a cover defining a hole. A grommet is disposed in the hole and defines a fluid passage into the interior. The CV joint is coupled to the shaft such that the shaft is disposed against the grommet with the passageway and the fluid passage in fluid communication to vent air from the interior into the passageway.

A method for manufacturing a rolling bearing unit is provided to periodically reciprocate a stage (38) in a vertical direction by rotating and driving a servo motor (44) while rotating a roll about a central axis of a hub main body using a roll driving motor (43) in a state in which a processing surface of the roll is pressed against other end surface of a caulking section in an axial direction. A period of the reciprocation is restricted by a relation between a rotation position of the roll about the central axis of the hub main body and an engaged state between concave sections, which are sections between a plurality of processed teeth formed in the processing surface of the roll, and a face spline tooth formed by the concave section.

A driveshaft includes a shaft defining a passageway and a constant velocity joint defining an interior and having a cover defining a hole. A grommet is disposed in the hole and defines a fluid passage into the interior. The CV joint is coupled to the shaft such that the shaft is disposed against the grommet with the passageway and the fluid passage in fluid communication to vent air from the interior into the passageway.

Disclosed is a propeller shaft including a shaft portion; a joint portion provided between the shaft portion and a rotating shaft; a sleeve portion provided at the joint portion and having an inner peripheral side for receiving therein the rotating shaft; a through hole formed through a circumferential range of the sleeve portion, the through hole being opposed in a radial direction of the sleeve portion to an engaging groove formed on an outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft in a condition that the sleeve portion receives therein the rotating shaft; and a circlip provided on an outer peripheral side of the sleeve portion, the circlip being engaged in the engaging groove of the rotating shaft through the through hole of the sleeve portion. In this propeller shaft, the engaging condition of the circlip can be observed from outside

Disclosed is a propeller shaft including a shaft portion; a joint portion provided between the shaft portion and a rotating shaft; a sleeve portion provided at the joint portion and having an inner peripheral side for receiving therein the rotating shaft; a through hole formed through a circumferential range of the sleeve portion, the through hole being opposed in a radial direction of the sleeve portion to an engaging groove formed on an outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft in a condition that the sleeve portion receives therein the rotating shaft; and a circlip provided on an outer peripheral side of the sleeve portion, the circlip being engaged in the engaging groove of the rotating shaft through the through hole of the sleeve portion. In this propeller shaft, the engaging condition of the circlip can be observed from outside

A plunging type constant velocity universal joint has six torque transmission balls, and a curvature center of a spherical outer peripheral surface and a curvature center of a spherical inner peripheral surface of a cage are offset toward opposite sides in an axial direction with respect to a joint center. The plunging type constant velocity universal joint is used at a normal operating angle of from 8 to 12. A ratio D.sub.BALL/DS.sub.PCD of a diameter (D.sub.BALL) of the torque transmission ball to a spline pitch circle diameter (DS.sub.PCD) of a coupling hole of an inner joint member is within a range of 0.80 to 0.86. A contact angle of the torque transmission ball and a linear track groove is within a range of 32 to 35. A contact ratio of the torque transmission ball and the linear track groove is within a range of 1.05 to 1.08.

A constant velocity joint for a propeller shaft which is provided between a first propeller shaft and a second propeller shaft of a propeller shaft to connect the first propeller shaft and the second propeller shaft comprises an outer race member formed into a cylindrical shape, to which the first propeller shaft is connected, the outer race member including an outer race groove portion provided at an inner periphery of the outer race member in a recessed manner at a predetermined angle with respect to a rotational axis direction of the constant velocity joint; a ball member disposed in the outer race groove portion; a cage provided on an inner peripheral side of the outer race member and provided with a window portion that retains the ball member; and an inner race member provided on an inner peripheral side of the cage and connected to the second propeller shaft, the inner race member including an inner race groove portion provided at an outer periphery of the inner race member in a recessed manner so as to intersect with the outer race groove portion, the inner race groove portion in which the ball member is disposed; and a recessed portion formed on a second propeller shaft side in a bottom portion of the inner race groove portion to have a smaller diameter than rest of the bottom portion of the inner race groove portion.

A constant velocity universal joint is assembled as a crown ball meshed within a housing socket for rotation about respective rotational axes. The outside diameter of the crown ball is greater than the inside diameter of the socket. A plurality of channels, equally spaced around the crown ball perimeter are cut into the crown ball surface generally along or parallel with the crown ball drive axis. An arcuate cup is cut into each crown ball channel to confine a respective torque transfer element. A number, corresponding to the number of crown ball channels, of partial cylinder channels are cut into the inside surface of the housing socket. One of opposite side walls for each housing channel is given an arcuate radius corresponding to that of the force transfer elements. Ridges between adjacent crown ball channels mesh with ridges between adjacent housing socket channels. Torque transfer elements confined within said crown ball cups engage the partial cylinder wall of the housing channels to transfer drive forces between the crown ball and socket housing through a departure angle between the respective rotational axes.

A constant velocity joint includes an outer race that extends about an axis and is configured to be coupled with a first shaft. The outer race extends axially between a top surface and a bottom surface. An inner race is located in the compartment and is pivotable relative to the outer race for being connected with a second shaft. A plurality of balls are positioned between the outer and inner races for guiding the pivoting movement outer and inner races while transmitting rotational movement between the outer an inner races. An upper can is coupled to the top surface of the outer race for sealing the compartment of the outer race. A plurality of bolt holes extend axially through the outer race radially outwardly of the upper can.