Patent ID: 8162763

Claim:
A sliding-type tripod constant velocity joint comprising: a cylindrical outer ring that has three raceway grooves on an inner peripheral surface thereof, the three raceway grooves extending in a direction of a rotation axis of the outer ring; a tripod that has a boss portion coupled to a shaft and three tripod shaft portions that extend from an outer peripheral surface of the boss portion outward in a radial direction of the boss portion and that are inserted in the corresponding raceway grooves; an intermediate member that is provided around an outer periphery of a corresponding one of the tripod shaft portions so as to be rockable with respect to the tripod shaft portion and that has a torque transmitting surface on an outer surface thereof, the torque transmitting surface facing side surfaces of a corresponding one of the raceway grooves; a plurality of shaft-like rolling elements that are provided between the side surfaces of each raceway groove and a corresponding one of the torque transmitting surfaces so as to be able to roll along the side surfaces of that raceway groove; and a retainer that supports the shaft-like rolling elements so that the shaft-like rolling elements are able to circulate around an outer periphery of a corresponding one of the intermediate members, wherein a raceway recess is formed on each of the side surfaces of each raceway groove and extends in the direction of the rotation axis of the outer ring, the raceway recesses in each raceway groove being separated by a certain width, portions of the shaft-like rolling elements, located adjacent to each of the side surfaces of each raceway groove, are fitted in the corresponding raceway recess, and are able to roll along a bottom surface of the corresponding raceway recess, and the retainers have a width which is smaller than the certain width between the raceway recesses in each raceway groove such that the retainers are arranged entirely outside the raceway recesses.