Patent ID: 8864590

Claim:
A propeller shaft comprising: an outer cylindrical member formed with a sleeve portion, the sleeve portion having a splined cylindrical inner wall with which a splined cylindrical outer wall of a shaft is engaged; an inner cylindrical member installed in the outer cylindrical member; a torque transmitting unit through which a torque is transmitted from the outer cylindrical member to the inner cylindrical member; a connecting mechanism that, upon engagement of the splined cylindrical outer wall with the splined cylindrical inner wall, effects an axial and relative positioning between the shaft and the outer cylindrical member while establishing a detachable connection therebetween; and a length adjusting mechanism that is arranged between the outer cylindrical member and the inner cylindrical member to adjust an axial length of the propeller shaft, wherein the connecting mechanism comprises: a first annular groove formed on the splined cylindrical inner wall of the sleeve portion, the first annular groove having a trapezoidal cross section; and a second annular groove formed on the splined cylindrical outer wall of the shaft, the second annular groove having a rectangular cross section, the second annular groove receiving therein a snap ring that resiliently engages with the first annular groove.