Stroking constant velocity universal joint

In a stroking constant velocity universal joint including

• a shaft having a longitudinal centerline,
• a spider on said shaft having three radial trunnions each defining a cylindrical bearing race symmetric about a corresponding one of three radial centerlines of said spider in a common plane perpendicular to said longitudinal centerline of said shaft,
• three cylindrical drive rollers each including a pair of planar ends and a bore therethrough, defined by an inner convex surface, said bore having a minimum diameter at the crown of said inner convex surface,
• said drive rollers being disposed around respective ones of said radial trunnions with said inner convex surfaces thereof facing said cylindrical bearing races on said respective trunnions, and
• a full complement of needle rollers on each bearing race whereby said drive rollers are supported on said respective radial trunnions for rotation about said corresponding radial centerlines and for tipping relative to said corresponding radial centerlines through a predetermined tipping angle,
• the improvement comprising:
• a pair of annular washers on each radial trunnion at opposite ends of said cylindrical bearing race thereon each including
• a first side facing one of said planar ends of said corresponding drive roller and engageable thereon,
• a second side opposite said first side, and
• a counterbore in said first side having a side wall defining a cylindrical retaining surface around an end of said full complement of needle bearings the diameter of which is less than said minimum diameter of said inner convex surface in said corresponding drive roller and a bottom defining an annular retaining surface in a plane perpendicular to said corresponding radial centerline adjacent an end of said full complement of needle bearings, and
• means on each of said radial trunnions operative to prevent dislodgement therefrom in said direction of said corresponding radial centerline of each of said pair of annular washers thereon.