The engine rotating shaft is horizontal, the travel pinion spin axis can be horizontal. The issue is that these axes aren’t aligned, they will be parallel to each other. The Cardan Shaft redirects the travel shaft to the travel pinion without changing the direction of rotation.
Widely used in industry, cardan shafts have proven practical about applications where space is limited-as well while in conditions where an element in the machine train (e.g. paper roll) might need to become actuated (dynamically positioned) to another position when the machines are not jogging. The universal joint permits limited motion without uncoupling. To ensure adequate lubrication circulation, which inhibits the universal joints from seizing, cardan shafts are usually installed with an position from four to six 6 degrees at the universal joints. Encounter, though, has demonstrated that the position between the shafts of the driver and motivated unit should be kept to the very least, preferably significantly less than 4.36 mrads (0.25 degrees). Preferably, 
the angles between your driver and driven shafts and the cardan shaft, proven as β1 and β2 in Fig. 1, would be equal. Geometrically, this might mean zero angularity existing between your driver and driven unit: Basically, the shafts of the driver and motivated machine will be parallel to each other.
Usually it consists of a tubular shaft, two sets of Universal Joints and glove system – ferrule stepper, amongst others. It can be a component of the transmission program, its function can be to redirect the engine turning movement, after moving through the gearbox and the drive to the wheel, going right through the ‘planetary and satellite’ system etc.
Our specialised personnel will gladly support you in finding the right universal joint for the application or will develop the right solution according to your specific requirements.
Cardan shaft, also called cardinal shaft, is an element of torque transmission.