A mechanical power transmission shaft featuring one or more Cardan joints (universal joints) at its ends, allowing it to accommodate angular misalignment between the driving and driven components. It often includes a slip spline to handle changes in length as the connected parts move relative to each other. They are widely used in vehicle drivetrains and industrial machinery to couple offset shafts.
Heard on the job
The vibration at high speed is coming from a worn U-joint on the main Cardan shaft.
Insider tip
To prevent cyclical speed variations, the yokes at each end of a Cardan shaft must be correctly phased and operate at equal angles.