DoppelKardanaufteilung

DoppelKardanaufteilung, or double Cardan arrangement, is a drivetrain configuration that uses two Cardan joints (universal joints) connected by an intermediate shaft to link input and output shafts. This setup is designed to mitigate the speed fluctuations inherent in a single Cardan joint by distributing the angular motion over two joints in series.

The mechanism relies on careful phasing and equal joint angles. When the two universal joints have the same misalignment angle and their yokes are oriented offset, typically by about 90 degrees, the non-uniform velocity components generated by the first joint are partially canceled by the second. The result is a drive with reduced torsional vibration and smoother output compared with a single Cardan joint at similar angles. However, it does not achieve the constant-velocity behavior of dedicated CV joints.

Applications and history: The DoppelKardanaufteilung has been used in automotive drivetrains and machinery where a simple, cost-effective link between shafts is needed without a full CV joint. It was more common in older vehicles or in applications with moderate shaft misalignment and limited space. In modern passenger cars, true constant-velocity joints (such as Rzeppa or Tripod designs) or more advanced two-joint compensations have largely superseded the double Cardan approach.

Advantages and limitations: The arrangement is mechanically straightforward and cheaper than specialized CV joints, and it can improve smoothness over a single Cardan joint. Its effectiveness diminishes at large misalignment angles or when precise phasing is not maintained, and it still requires regular maintenance and alignment checks.

See also: Cardan joint, universal joint, constant-velocity joint, drivetrain geometry.