Patent ID: 7040990

Claim:
A tripod constant velocity universal joint comprising: an outer joint member having axially extending track grooves formed at three circumferentially equispaced positions in an inner periphery; a tripod member having a trunnion barrel adapted to be fitted to a shaft for torque transmission and trunnion journals radially projecting from three circumferentially equispaced positions in said trunnion barrel; and a plurality of rollers, each roller being rotatable around the associated trunnion journal for rotation through a plurality of needle rollers and received in the track grooves, each roller being guided on an outer peripheral surface by roller guide surfaces formed in opposite lateral walls of said track groove, wherein a torsional strength of said tripod member and a torsional strength of a smallest outer diameter portion of said shaft are set to be substantially equal, and wherein a surface pressure on said trunnion journals in rolling contact with said needle rollers is allowed up to a predetermined value of 398.1 kgf/mm 2 .