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

The paper presents the analysis of the motion of the intermediate element in the Birfield-Rzeppa joint. The joint is applied, among others, in automotive vehicles as an element of the drive shaft. The cage along with the balls form the intermediate element of the joint. The vibration of the element is activated during the drive shaft rotation. The vibration is enforced kinematically by the mechanism constraints. The constraints are determined by the assumed clutch geometry. The aim of the paper is to determine the variability course of the kinematic quantities characterizing the intermediate element motion of the Birfield-Rzeppa constant velocity universal joint. If the transmission function and the second position function of the clutch lead to the fluctuation of the angular velocity value and the angular acceleration of the cage along with the balls, then vibration is generated within the joint. The paper shows that drive shaft interference can be reduced by using a vibration reduction system. The article does not present an analysis aimed at reducing vibrations. Only the need for its use in the case of serious disturbances has been demonstrated.