A constant velocity joint comprises a male element having arms, a female element having a central axis and defining a pair of symmetrical tracks and an outer roller which can roll on one or other of the two tracks via a peripheral rolling surface. The female element comprises at least one bearing surface which limits the rotation of the outer roller around an axis perpendicular to the axis' of the female element and of the arm. With respect to each arm the cross-section profile of each track comprises either two circular arcs having centers of radii offset one from another, or one single circular arc extending over a female element median plane, and the rolling surface has a part spherical shape or a part torical shape. Each track and the rolling surface are capable of contacting each other at a first and second contact points spaced radially from one another. The tilting of the roller is controlled by proximal and distal rails on the female element and by proximal and distal breaking surfaces on the outer roller.

In a lateral cross section passing through a center of a trunnion in the form of a retaining member that constitutes part of a constant velocity joint, and an orthogonal site where a virtual tangent line at a contact region is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of a guide groove, a curved surface having a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion is formed. The second arcuate portion is contiguous with the first arcuate portion, and has a smaller radius of curvature than the first arcuate portion. Further, the first arcuate portion and the second arcuate portion are arranged in this order from a side in proximity to an annular member of the trunnion.

A constant velocity joint includes a trunnion extending radially outwardly about a trunnion axis. The joint also includes a ball surrounding the trunnion and rotatable relative thereto about a plurality of needle rollers. The joint further includes a retainer that is a single, unitary structure coupled to the trunnion and positioned to limit movement of the ball and the needle rollers in a direction parallel to the trunnion axis.

A tripod type constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member having three track grooves each including roller guide surfaces opposing each other in a circumferential direction of each of the track grooves, a tripod member including three leg shafts, and roller units each including a roller and an inner ring to support the roller. An outer peripheral surface of the roller has a partially spherical surface having a curvature center on an axis of each of the leg shafts. The roller guide surfaces are each formed of a partially cylindrical surface having a curvature center on a horizontal line passing an intersection of a pitch circle of the track grooves and a center line of each of the track grooves, and when no torque is applied to the joint, an end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roller abuts against the roller guide surfaces.

A tripot housing includes a housing body that extends between a first housing end and a second housing end along a longitudinal central axis. The housing body defines a guide channel that extends from the first housing end toward the second housing end. The guide channel has a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall that extends between the first wall and the second wall. An elliptical contact surface area transitions the first wall with the third wall and the second wall with the third wall, with the elliptical contact surface areas being configured for engagement with an outer roller of a roller assembly to inhibit a locking condition.

A constant velocity joint includes: an outer joint member having a raceway groove; an inner joint member having a leg shaft; a roller that is able to roll on the raceway groove; and a needle bearing that supports an inner periphery of the roller such that the inner periphery of the roller is able to rotate with respect to the leg shaft. The leg shaft includes: a roll portion that supports the needle bearing; a contact portion that is able to contact an end face of the needle bearing, the end face facing a first side in the direction of a central axis of the needle bearing; and a recess portion formed between the roll portion and the contact portion, in a position where the recess portion is recessed from a space in which the needle bearing is disposed.

A roller unit includes: an outer roller rollably provided in a corresponding one of raceway grooves of an outer member; an inner roller rotatably supported on a corresponding one of tripod shafts of an inner member; rolling elements rollably provided between an inner peripheral surface of the outer roller and an outer peripheral surface of the inner roller; an annular spacer in contact with an end surface of each of the rolling elements; and a snap ring fitted to the outer roller and configured to restrict axial displacement of the inner roller and the spacer. The rolling elements are rollably supported in the axial direction by the annular spacer in contact with the end surfaces of the rolling elements.

A tripod constant-velocity joint includes: an outer joint member having a cavity elongated in a longitudinal direction and three roller tracks; an inner joint member having a center body and three journals outwardly radially protruded from the center body; and three roller assemblies respectively coupled to the journal in a state of being respectively disposed in the roller tracks. The respective roller assembly comprises: an inner race which is connected to the journal and is provided with a first inner ball groove and a second inner ball groove on both lateral sides thereof; a first ball array and a second ball array respectively having a plurality of balls which are respectively disposed in the first inner ball groove and in the second inner ball groove; and a ball cage which restricts movements of the first ball array and the second ball array in a longitudinal direction thereof.

A roller bearing for a pod joint comprising an inner race, an outer ring assembly, a race that runs along a bell section and is disposed on the outer surface of the outer ring assembly, a plurality of rolling elements, wherein the plurality of rolling elements are disposed between the inner race and the outer ring assembly and are formed as rollers, and a cage assembly, wherein the rolling elements are disposed in the cage assembly, wherein the cage assembly is formed as a central cage, wherein the rollers pass through the central cage in a middle area, and the running areas thereof project outward from both sides of the central cage.

A gimbal joint may employ a plurality of wear sleeves, each disposed between a pin or pin receptive bore of a first structure and a corresponding bore or pin of a second structure and between another pin or bore of the second structure and a corresponding bore or pin of a third structure. Each of these structures may be adapted to rotate in a single plane, with one structure adapted to also tilt about a first axis, and one other structure adapted to tilt about a second axis. Each integral flanged wear sleeve may comprise a right circular hollow cylindrical body portion, which may be interiorly sized to be retained on one of the pins and externally sized to be retained in one of the pin receptive bores, and a flange portion may radiate from one end of the cylindrical body portion.