Universal joint transmitting torque from one shaft to another - has curved bridging element of graphite fibres of I=shaped cross=section

摘要

A universal joint, of the constant velocity type is for use in drive trains of front wheel drive vehicles. The joint includes a pair of members attachable to two shafts to be joined, with a curved elongate bridging element connecting the two members. The bridging element extends in a curve from 180 deg. up to several turns in progressing from one of the members to the other. The bridging element has high resistance to bending both parallel, and perpendicular, to axes of the two connected shafts. Simultaneously it has low resistance in torsion or twisting. These characteristics enable the bridging element to transmit torque from one shaft to the other and to twist or flex to accommodate angular misalignment between the two shafts.