Abstract
Rzeppa pilot-lever joint represents a classical solution to the problem of transmitting torque between angularly misaligned shafts. Homokineticity is one of the most important requirement in industrial applications. The Myard's theorem gives the geometrical conditions which ensure the satisfaction of such requirement. In this paper, two different original proofs of this theorem are offered.
An algorithm for the optimal kinematic synthesis of the pilot-lever mechanism is then proposed. The pilot-lever mechanism is designed to minimize the maximum angle between the transmission and the homokinetic plane.
Finally, a multi-body dynamic analysis of the Rzeppa pilot-lever joint is made by means of a commercial software. The modelling of contact conditions between the balls and the guides is discussed in particular. Finally, the contact forces between spheres and guides for different angles between input and output shafts are computed.
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