The engine rotating shaft is horizontal, the drive pinion spin axis is also horizontal. The trouble is that these axes are not aligned, they will be parallel to one another. The Cardan Shaft redirects the travel shaft to the drive pinion without changing the 
way of rotation.
Trusted in industry, cardan shafts have confirmed practical about applications where space is limited-as well because in conditions where an element in the device train (e.g. paper roll) may need to become actuated (dynamically positioned) to an alternate position when the devices are not operating. The universal joint permits limited motion without uncoupling. To make sure satisfactory lubrication circulation, which avoids the universal joints from seizing, cardan shafts are normally installed with an angle from four to six 6 degrees at the universal joints. Encounter, though, has displayed that the angle between the shafts of the driver and motivated unit ought to be kept to a minimum, preferably significantly less than 4.36 mrads (0.25 degrees). Preferably, the angles between the driver and influenced shafts and the cardan shaft, demonstrated as β1 and β2 in Fig. 1, would be equal. Geometrically, this would equate to zero angularity existing between the driver and driven unit: Quite simply, the shafts of the driver and powered machine will be parallel to each other.
Usually it contains a tubular shaft, two sets of Universal Joints and glove system – ferrule stepper, amongst others. It is certainly a element of the transmission system, its function is certainly to redirect the engine turning motion, after moving through the gearbox and the travel to the wheel, going right through the ‘planetary and satellite’ system etc.
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Cardan shaft, also referred to as cardinal shaft, is a component of torque transmission.