Needle Bearing Universal Joints
Needle-bearing universal joints from Ruland are designed for applications with increased speeds, low-to-moderate loads and requirements for extended service life in industries such as medical, packaging, and robotics. Also called cardan joints, they are comprised of high-quality needle-roller bearings, precision machined trunnions with hardened and ground journals and a choice of alloy or stainless-steel yokes for reduced friction and increased performance in applications requiring precision and an extended service life. The needle bearings are pre-lubricated and require no maintenance, reducing machine downtime and increasing service life. Most u-joints include dust seals for the bearings.
Needle-bearing universal joints are available with stainless steel yokes for better corrosion resistance. Boots are recommended for corrosive, washdown or sanitary applications as the trunnions and bearings are alloy steel. Bores can be customized for blind configuration, preventing shaft penetration into the center joint components and providing added protection against contamination.
Ruland needle-bearing universal joints are available in OD sizes ranging from 3/4” to 2” a plain bore or bore w/ keyway in sizes from 3/8” to 1” or 8mm to 25mm. All bore types are available with a single set screw.
