Universal cardan joint with elastomeric bearings

A universal cardan joint with elastomeric bearings for connecting a pair of mechanical components, comprising:

• first and second yokes, each drivingly connected to one of said mechanical components, each yoke having two coaxial bores;
• an intermediate member adapted to be disposed in driving connection with said first and second yokes, said intermediate member having four legs which extend outwardly from a central body with the legs being displaced by 90 degrees from each other, each leg having a central axis, with all of the axes lying in a common plane, and the free end of each leg being trunnion-shaped;
• elastomeric bearing sleeves disposed within each bore, each adapted to receive one of the trunnion-shaped ends of the extending legs of the intermediate member so as to join the two yokes through the intermediate member;
• said elastomeric bearing sleeve comprising a plurality of sleeve-like layers of an elastomeric material and sleeve-like metal layers disposed alternatingly and coaxially, the wall thickness of each of said bearing sleeves in its unloaded condition, before assembly between the internal surface of one of said bores and the external surface of one of said trunnions, being greater than the radial dimension of said annular space available for insertion of said elastomeric bearing sleeve, whereby said elastomeric bearing sleeves are under compression loading after assembly.