A universal coupling is a connection between two items, usually shafts, that allows for relative rotation in two axes. It consists of two revolute joints with perpendicular and intersecting axes.
When shafts are joined using a universal joint, each shaft ends in a revolute joint with an axis perpendicular to the shaft’s rotating axis. This permits rotary motion to be transmitted across the shafts while allowing for misalignment in the remaining rotational degrees of freedom. A single rotational degree of freedom (the shaft rotation) is bound, as are all relative translations, resulting in a universal joint with two degrees of freedom.
Why are universal couplings used?
Universal joints, also known as Hooke’s joints, are often used to transfer mechanical power between two shafts whose axes are at an angle to one another. The way power is delivered in a rear-wheel drive car may have caught your eye. They use universal joints.
Universal couplings were widely employed in car drivetrains, however they are being superseded with constant velocity joints. Except for some heavy-duty off-road vehicles, universal joints are no longer commonly used to deliver power to the front wheels.
They are still frequently used for drive shafts, however constant velocity joints are increasingly being employed in these applications.
Universal joints have several more applications in mechanical control systems and industrial machines. These couplings allow for broad angles between shafts. A flexible coupling can be used instead of a universal joint when shafts are slightly misaligned.
Universal Coupling Applications
Universal joints predate contemporary engineering by centuries. They have been utilized to transmit electricity for as long as people have been creating it, whether through wind or water mills.
Today, universal joints are present in some of the world’s most prevalent equipment types, including:
Automotive Drivetrains: Universal couplings are frequently seen in the prop shafts of rear-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles. The prop shaft connects the transmission in the front of a passenger car to the rear axle. Using a universal joint at either end of the shaft allows power to be delivered without bending or breaking the shaft when the rear axle travels on its suspension.
Marine Applications: Prop shafts are used in a variety of vehicles beyond passenger cars and trucks. Propeller shafts are often used in boats and other marine vessels to transmit power from the engine to the propeller, even when the two components are out of plane.
Industrial Machinery: Mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and a wide range of materials handling technologies all require universal joints to transfer power from their motors to the end user.
Universal couplings built for industrial and manufacturing applications are often significantly more durable than those used in automobiles, and they are frequently expected to withstand harsher conditions and higher-powered equipment.
Harjot International
With over 25 years of experience, Harjot International, based in Punjab, India, has built a strong reputation as a trusted provider of heavy industrial machinery.