The engine rotating shaft is horizontal, the travel pinion spin axis is also horizontal. The trouble is these axes aren’t aligned, they will be parallel to each other. The Cardan Shaft redirects the drive shaft to the drive pinion without changing the path of rotation.
Widely used in industry, cardan shafts have tested practical on applications where space is limited-as well as in scenarios where an factor in the device train (e.g. paper roll) may need to become actuated (dynamically positioned) to an alternate position when the machines are not working. The universal joint allows for limited activity without uncoupling. To make sure adequate lubrication circulation, which in turn inhibits the universal joints from seizing, cardan 
shafts are normally installed with an angle from four to six 6 degrees at the universal joints. Encounter, though, has shown that the angle between your shafts of the driver and influenced unit should be kept to the very least, preferably significantly less than 4.36 mrads (0.25 degrees). Ideally, the angles between your driver and powered shafts and the cardan shaft, displayed as β1 and β2 in Fig. 1, would be equal. Geometrically, this might equate to zero angularity existing between the driver and driven unit: Put simply, the shafts of the driver and powered machine will be parallel to each other.
Usually it consists of a tubular shaft, two sets of Universal Joints and glove system – ferrule stepper, among others. It is usually a element of the transmission program, its function is to redirect the engine turning movement, after passing through the gearbox and the travel to the wheel, going through the ‘planetary and satellite’ system etc.
Our specialised personnel will gladly help you find the right universal joint for your application or will develop a suitable solution according to your unique requirements.
Cardan shaft, also known as cardinal shaft, is an element of torque transmission.