Patent ID: 7435182
Filing Date: 2008-10-14
Classification: F16C,F16D

Abstract:
1. A drive shaft comprising: a shaft body; a shaft portion provided with a boot mounting part coaxially formed on an end thereof, a coaxially formed extension subsequent to the boot mounting part; and a constant velocity joint attached to an end of the extension via an interior member, wherein the extension has an intermediate portion with a cylindrical shape and an outer diameter smaller than that of the boot mounting part and the end of the extension, the constant velocity joint has an interior sealed from the outside by an end of a boot that is attached to the boot mounting part so as to form an airtight seal, the constant velocity joint is provided on an opening-side of an inner surface of an exterior member thereof with a flank that faces outward and leaves a slight clearance with the intermediate portion at a maximum shaft intersection angle between the extension and the exterior member, the intermediate portion has a first edge toward the boot mounting part and a second edge toward the end of the extension, wherein the first edge is positioned in the vicinity of an outer edge of the flank at the maximum shaft intersection angle and closer to the boot mounting part than is the outer edge of the flank at the maximum shaft intersection angle, and wherein the outer edge of the flank at the maximum shaft intersection angle is located closer to said first edge than to said second edge at the maximum shaft intersection angle, and the boot mounting part is connected to the first edge by a tapered portion of the shaft body.