Novel double-deck Rzeppa constant velocity joint with large operating angle: Mechanism configuration and kinematic characteristics analysis

Abstract

Considering existing Rzeppa joints’ small operating angle, this research aims to explore a new ball-cage joint mechanism configuration with large operating angle while preserving Rzeppa joints’ kinematic characteristics, yielding novel double-deck Rzeppa constant velocity joints (DR-CVJs). An integrated coupling design method for a series kinematic chain of two Rzeppa joints is proposed, and a new ball-cage joint initial configuration is established. By introducing a constraint branch, a single mapping between input and output is established, and the novel DR-CVJ mechanism configuration with large operating angle is constructed. The degree-of-freedom properties of the DR-CVJ mechanism are assessed using the screw theory. The maximum operating angle’s constraint conditions of the DR-CVJ mechanism are given, and its working space is drawn. The kinematic solution of the DR-CVJ mechanism is obtained, and kinematic simulations are performed. The results show that the principle of the novel DR-CVJ mechanism configuration is feasible, its effective maximum operating angle can reach 60°, its kinematic characteristics are consistent with those of the existing Rzeppa joints, and the proposed DR-CVJ mechanism configuration has engineering development potential.

Vibration in the System of the Birfield-Rzeppa Constant Velocity Universal Joint

“…The Birfield-Rzeppa joint is homokinetic if the conditions (12) and (21) are fulfilled. The equations (12) and (21) are analogical.…”

“…The Birfield-Rzeppa joint is homokinetic if the conditions (12) and (21) are fulfilled. The equations (12) and (21) are analogical. Therefore the interpretation of the obtained result for the sufficient condition is the same as for the necessary condition.…”

“…If the kinematic condition for homokinetism is fulfilled then the sufficient condition for the constant velocity of the Birfield-Rzeppa joint is the observation of the dynamically enforced condition [2]. In order to determine the sufficient condition one must define the function f (ϕ 1 ,ϕ 2 ), which in this case represents the dependence between the passive torsional moment (12) city plane is determined explicitly with the equation: (13) f the plane𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋will meet the dependence (13) then the Birfieldah. The plane 𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 with so determined position , from the point s a constant velocity plane.…”

“…The vector is defined explicitly by the dependencies (7) and (8). If the conditions (12) geometric constraints one may proceed to determine the dependence ns 𝛿𝛿𝛿𝛿𝜙𝜙𝜙𝜙 1 and 𝛿𝛿𝛿𝛿𝜙𝜙𝜙𝜙 2 . For this purpose we can use the following homogenous (18) ies ( 17) and (18) we receive the function which represents the dependence moment and active torsional moment:…”

“…The kinematics of the constant velocity joint at various angles were analyzed by, among others: [12,16,17]. The dynamics analysis in terms of structural synthesis or analysis of the energy efficiency of the junction was dealt with by [9,13,18].…”