An outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint includes a cup section having track grooves formed in an inner periphery thereof, which are engageable with torque transmitting elements, and a shaft section formed at a bottom portion of the cup section. The cup section and the shaft section are formed as separate members, and by bringing a cup member forming the cup section and a shaft member forming the shaft section into abutment against each other at respective joining end surfaces and welding them, a hollow cavity portion is formed. The cup member has, at an axial center, a ventilation hole that communicates with the hollow cavity portion and any one of the joining end surfaces of the cup member and the joining end surface of the shaft member has a welding spatter receiving groove formed on a radially inner side thereof.

An outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint includes a cup section having track grooves formed in an inner periphery thereof, which are engageable with torque transmitting elements, and a shaft section formed at a bottom portion of the cup section. The cup section and the shaft section are formed as separate members, and by bringing a cup member forming the cup section and a shaft member forming the shaft section into abutment against each other at respective joining end surfaces and welding them, a hollow cavity portion is formed. The cup member has, at an axial center, a ventilation hole that communicates with the hollow cavity portion and any one of the joining end surfaces of the cup member and the joining end surface of the shaft member has a welding spatter receiving groove formed on a radially inner side thereof.

An inspection device inspects a joint-type outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint that includes a cup section having a bottomed cylindrical shape and track grooves in an inner periphery thereof for torque transmitting elements, and a shaft section extending from a bottom of the cup section. The inspection device inspects the outer joint member, which is obtained through melt-welding on a cup member forming the cup section and a shaft member forming the shaft section. The inspection device includes a surface inspection unit to inspect for a defect which appears on a surface of the outer joint member due to welding, an internal inspection unit to inspect for an internal defect of a welded portion, and a recording unit to record an inspection result of the inspection. The inspection device is configured to efficiently perform in-line total inspection for the melt-welded joint-type outer joint member.

A constant velocity housing is provided to couple a plunging CV joint with a transaxle. The constant velocity comprises an elongate housing configured to retain the plunging CV joint and a splined shaft configured to engage with a transaxle. A locking system removably retains the splined shaft within the transaxle. The locking system comprises a lock pin in mechanical communication with pins slidably retained within radial holes disposed in the splined shaft underneath a snap-ring. An actuator moves the lock pin to push the pins to operably change a diameter of the snap-ring. When the actuator is loosened, the snap-ring constricts to a diameter less than the diameter of the splined shaft, allowing removal of the splined shaft from the transaxle. When the actuator is fully tightened, the snap-ring assumes a diameter greater than the diameter of the splined shaft, such that the spline shaft remains engaged with the transaxle.

A constant velocity housing is provided to couple a plunging CV joint with a transaxle. The constant velocity comprises an elongate housing configured to retain the plunging CV joint and a splined shaft configured to engage with a transaxle. A locking system removably retains the splined shaft within the transaxle. The locking system comprises a lock pin in mechanical communication with pins slidably retained within radial holes disposed in the splined shaft underneath a snap-ring. An actuator moves the lock pin to push the pins to operably change a diameter of the snap-ring. When the actuator is loosened, the snap-ring constricts to a diameter less than the diameter of the splined shaft, allowing removal of the splined shaft from the transaxle. When the actuator is fully tightened, the snap-ring assumes a diameter greater than the diameter of the splined shaft, such that the spline shaft remains engaged with the transaxle.

Provided is a plunging type constant velocity universal joint (2) comprising an outer joint member (21), an inner joint member (22), eight balls (23), and a cage (24). A curvature center (O.sub.24b) of a spherical portion (24b) of an outer peripheral surface of the cage (24) and a curvature center (O.sub.24d) of a spherical portion (24d) of an inner peripheral surface of the cage (24) are offset to opposite sides in the axial direction with respect to a joint center (O(s)) by an equal distance. A ratio PCD.sub.BALL/D.sub.BALL of a pitch circle diameter PCD.sub.BALL of the balls (23) to a diameter D.sub.BALL of each of the balls (23) is set from 3.3 to 3.6. A ratio T.sub.I/D.sub.BALL of a radial thickness T.sub.I of the inner joint member (22) to the diameter D.sub.BALL of each of the balls (23) is set from 0.30 to 0.45.

Provided is a plunging type constant velocity universal joint (2) comprising an outer joint member (21), an inner joint member (22), eight balls (23), and a cage (24). A curvature center (O.sub.24b) of a spherical portion (24b) of an outer peripheral surface of the cage (24) and a curvature center (O.sub.24d) of a spherical portion (24d) of an inner peripheral surface of the cage (24) are offset to opposite sides in the axial direction with respect to a joint center (O(s)) by an equal distance. A ratio PCD.sub.BALL/D.sub.BALL of a pitch circle diameter PCD.sub.BALL of the balls (23) to a diameter D.sub.BALL of each of the balls (23) is set from 3.3 to 3.6. A ratio T.sub.I/D.sub.BALL of a radial thickness T.sub.I of the inner joint member (22) to the diameter D.sub.BALL of each of the balls (23) is set from 0.30 to 0.45.

A rear-wheel drive shaft (1) includes a fixed type constant velocity universal joint (3), a plunging type constant velocity universal joint (2), and an intermediate shaft (4) coupling both the constant velocity universal joints to each other. A ratio (PCD.sub.BALL (f)/D.sub.BALL (f)) of a pitch circle diameter (PCD.sub.BALL (f)) of balls (33) of the fixed type constant velocity universal joint (3) to a diameter (D.sub.BALL(f)) of each of the balls (33) is set from 3.70 to 3.87. A ratio (PCD.sub.BALL(s)/D.sub.BALL(s)) of a pitch circle diameter (PCD.sub.BALL(s)) of balls (23) of the plunging type constant velocity universal joint (2) to a diameter (D.sub.BALL(s)) of each of the balls (23) is set from 3.3 to 3.6.

A rear-wheel drive shaft (1) includes a fixed type constant velocity universal joint (3), a plunging type constant velocity universal joint (2), and an intermediate shaft (4) coupling both the constant velocity universal joints to each other. A ratio (PCD.sub.BALL (f)/D.sub.BALL (f)) of a pitch circle diameter (PCD.sub.BALL (f)) of balls (33) of the fixed type constant velocity universal joint (3) to a diameter (D.sub.BALL(f)) of each of the balls (33) is set from 3.70 to 3.87. A ratio (PCD.sub.BALL(s)/D.sub.BALL(s)) of a pitch circle diameter (PCD.sub.BALL(s)) of balls (23) of the plunging type constant velocity universal joint (2) to a diameter (D.sub.BALL(s)) of each of the balls (23) is set from 3.3 to 3.6.

A coupling device includes two coaxial shafts, namely a tubular outer shaft and an inner shaft, capable of rotating about a reference axis; a wrap-around raceway formed on a first one of the coaxial shafts; an oblique raceway formed on the second coaxial shaft and a play take-up rail provided with a complementary raceway and movable relative to the second coaxial shaft parallel to a plane perpendicular to the reference axis. A row of balls is positioned to run parallel to the reference axis on the wrap-around raceway, the oblique raceway and the complementary raceway, to guide the two coaxial shafts relative to each other in translation.