Bearing plate u-joints clamp the bearing caps with separate plates bolted to the yoke face. Like wing bearings, the retention is fastener-based rather than a snap ring, which suits heavy and reversing loads.
Bearing plate joints require a yoke machined for plate retention. They are not a drop-in substitute for a snap-ring joint of the same cross dimensions.
The bearing plate design separates the retention from the cap: a flat plate spans the cap and bolts down to a machined pad on the yoke. It gives an even clamp across the cap face and lets the plate be replaced independently of the cross.
You will meet this style on heavier commercial and industrial drivelines where torque reversal would work a snap ring loose over time.