A systematic procedure for finding approaches is presented in this paper for the development and design of new universal joint shafts in the field of drive technologies.
Building upon known joint designs, including the universal joint, the double Cardan joint, and ball-type constant velocity joints based on the Rzeppa, Weiss, or Tripot principles, the work steps in this development methodology for finding new concepts are arranged in a design engineering analysis and a synthesis portion. Joint designs abstracted under these provisions can be distinctly cross-compared within the kinematic chains and examined for common features that, following this, can be summarized in one common basic joint model. The joint synthesis contains the same work steps as the joint analysis, however, the sequence is reversed, meaning that it proceeds from the abstract to the concrete, and it generates new concept approaches based on the basic joint model by, for example, number variation of the kinematic chain. Restrictions, the approach selection and the design lead in some cases to new types of constant velocity universal joints: a few will be presented in this paper.