The structure, geometry, and kinematics of a universal joint

Abstract

The paper briefly presents the geometry, structure, and kinematics of a universal joint, very commonly used in machine building, especially today for heavy and engine-driven vehicles and transmissions located in different areas as well as for all-wheel-drive vehicles. The universal joint, or the cardan cross, conveys the rotation movement from one bridge to the other (when the rotary shaft suffers both movements, upward and downward). The kinematic scheme of a cardan transmission is composed of two cardan shafts (one input and one output), both of which are equipped with a cardan cross (universal joint or universal joint). Between the two universal couplings, a further (additional) cardan shaft (axle) is mounted. This mechanism is designed to transmit the mechanical movement (within a vehicle) from one bridge to the other. If the vehicle's motor is on the front and with on the rear axle transmission, or vice versa when the vehicle's engine is on the rear and the transmission is on the front axle, or when we have multiple (multi-axle) transmission on heavy vehicles or 4x4 cars.

Coupled vibration characteristics of marine shafting with complex change of inclination under ice loads

“…According to the symmetry of the cross shaft as shown in equation ( 4) and the motion equation of universal joint, the torsional angular velocity of cross shaft can be obtained as equation (5).…”

“…Xia 4 analyzed the motion of the single universal coupling by using the UG software. Petrescu and Petrescu 5 analyzed the geometric, structural and kinematic properties of the universal joints aimed at the drive system with universal. For better application of this kind of propulsion system, lots of scholars have studied its response characteristics under external loads and its structure optimization method.…”