What Does a Universal Coupler Do?

Universal couplers come in a variety of sizes, depending upon the potential use.

A universal coupler is also known as a universal coupling, Hooke's joint, Cardan joint and U joint. Its primary purpose is to connect two otherwise rigid pieces of equipment and allow movement.

Coupling

Couplings, or couplers, are types of joints used to connect two long, rectangular pieces of equipment known as shafts. This connection allows power to be transmitted between the shafts. When selected and installed with care, the right coupler decreases long term downtime and operation costs.

Universal Coupler

Universal couplings allow movement in any direction and are primarily used in rotary motion devices. These are flexible couplings, which means that they allow misalignment in angles and along the radius and axis. The universal coupler is connected to the shafts with hinges at 90 degree angles. This type of coupling is used in a variety of machines, ranging from the sundial to factory equipment.

Double Cardan Shaft

The double Cardan shaft uses two universal couplers joined together by a shaft. This construction is used to reduce the jerky rotation sometimes caused by the use of a singular universal coupler. This type of universal coupler decreases wear on the coupling and the shafts and increases the lifespan of the equipment.

References

• 507 Mechanical Movements: Mechanisms and Devices; Henry T. Brown; 2005