CA2216271A1 - Flexible coupling device - Google Patents
Flexible coupling device Download PDFInfo
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- CA2216271A1 CA2216271A1 CA 2216271 CA2216271A CA2216271A1 CA 2216271 A1 CA2216271 A1 CA 2216271A1 CA 2216271 CA2216271 CA 2216271 CA 2216271 A CA2216271 A CA 2216271A CA 2216271 A1 CA2216271 A1 CA 2216271A1
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- coupling
- coupling member
- ring member
- drive face
- shaft
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Abstract
A flexible coupling device to connect two substantially axially aligned shafts comprises coupling members mountable on the ends of each of the shafts. Each coupling member has a drive face for engagement with the opposed drive face of the other coupling member to provide a torque transmitting connection. Each coupling member is formed with a tubular flange extending away from the drive face having a constant inside diameter engageable with the shaft and a tapered outside surface tapering convergently as the flange extends away from the drive face. There is a ring member associated with each coupling member that has a tapered inner bore engageable over the tapered outside surface of the tubular flange. The ring member is connectable to the coupling member to draw the ring member and the coupling member together to compress the tubular flange to urge the flange to grip the shaft.
Description
CA 022l627l l997-09-l9 FLEXIBLE COUPLING DEVICE
This invention relates to flexible coupling device for connecting two substantially axially aligned shafts.
Flexible coupling devices to connect together a drive shaft and a driven shaft are well known.
Generally, the coupling devices comprise a pair of coupling members mounted to the ends of the shafts to be connected by a mounting system. The coupling members are formed with mating surfaces to engage with mating surfaces on the opposed coupling member that interlock to transmit the torque of the drive shaft to the driven shaft. Often the mating surfaces comprise a plurality of teeth that project toward each other from adjacent ends of the shafts. To ensure that the couplings are flexible, the designs generally include a flexible element that is engaged between the mating surfaces or teeth of the coupling members to accommodate some mis-alignment and vibration of the two shafts.
Examples of prior art coupling devices are found in the following patents:
United States Patent 1, 865,950 to Petskeyes;
United States Patent 2,007,513 to Westburgh;
United States Patent 2,892,327 to Kressin;
United States Patent 2,896,43 0 to Olson;
United States Patent 3,884,049 to Pauli;
United States Patent 4,792,320 to Nickel;
United States Patent 4,932,924 to Lobel; and Canadian Patent 1,325,728 to Hoyt et al.
An important feature of any coupling member is that it be reliably mounted to its shaft so that operation of the coupling device is trouble free over long periods.
Various mounting systems for coupling members are known.
It is common to use set screw arrangements or bushing 35 members in combination with a shaft key to lock the coupling members to their shafts to prevent both axial and rotary motion of the coupling member with respect to the shaft.
Vibration and opposing axial forces of the connected shafts tend to eventually loosen set screws. When the coupling members become loose and move out of proper operating position, heat and friction result with consequent failure of the connection.
Bushing arrangements generally employ a separate bushing sleeve formed with a constant bore and an outer surface that tapers toward the end of the shaft. The coupling member comprises a mating face with a correspondingly tapered cylindrical bore to receive the tapered bushing sleeve. The bushing sleeve is fitted onto the shaft and then the coupling member is installed.
Fasteners are used to pull the tapered bushing sleeve into the coupling member to wedge the coupling member onto the shaft. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the bushing element and the coupling member together tend to occupy a significant length of the shaft and therefore such a mounting system is possible only when a required minimum length of shaft is exposed. In many products and installations, the coupling devices must be situated on a short length of exposed shaft in an area having limited access which makes installation of the bushing and coupling members difficult if not impossible.
An alternative coupling design sold under the trade-mark Dodge Taper-lock comprises a coupling hub with a central passage and an internal tapered bushing member for insertion into the central passage. The hub and bushing are formed with a series of partial threaded channels on the internal surface of passage of the hub and on the external surface of the bushing. The partial channels are alignable and co-operate to define a series of fully enclosed threaded channels having half the threads in the hub and half in the bushing. The fully enclosed channels receive threaded bolts that engage the hub and bushing on opposite sides of the bolt. The bolts are tightened into the fully enclosed channels to draw together the bushing and the hub. This arrangement requires careful alignment of the hub and bushing to ensure alignment of the partial threaded channels. If proper alignment is not achieved, the threads are easily damaged during installation making replacement necessary.
Applicant has developed a reliable, and easily installed flexible coupling device that addresses the shortcomings of the prior art. The new coupling device achieves a wedge fit of the coupling member on the shaft but does not rely on a bushing sleeve that extends beyond the coupling member to add to the length of assembly when mounted on a shaft. The coupling device also avoids the co-operating channels of the Dodge Taper-lock system.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a flexible coupling device to connect two substantially axially aligned shafts comprising:
coupling members mountable on the ends of each of the shafts, each coupling member having a drive face for engagement with the opposed drive face of the other coupling member to provide a torque transmitting connection;
each coupling member having a tubular flange extending away from the drive face having a constant inside diameter engageable with the shaft and a tapered outside surface tapering convergently as the flange extends away from the drive face; and a ring member associated with each coupling member having a tapered inner bore engageable over the tapered outside surface of the tubular flange, the ring member being connectable to the coupling member to draw the ring member and the coupling member together to compress the tubular flange to urge the tubular flange to grip the shaft.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a coupling unit for mounting to a first shaft to permit connection to another coupling unit on a second axially aligned shaft comprising:
a coupling member having a drive face for engagement with the drive face of another coupling unit to provide a torque transmitting connection, the coupling member having a tubular flange extending away from the drive face having a constant inside diameter engageable with the shaft and a tapered outside surface tapering convergently as the flange extends away from the drive face; and a ring member having a tapered inner bore engageable over the tapered outside surface of the tubular flange, the ring member being connectable to the coupling member to draw the ring member and the coupling member together to compress the tubular flange to urge the tubular flange to grip the shaft.
Forming a flange on the coupling member with a tapered outer surface permits a reduction of the material required for the coupling member while allowing the over all length of the coupling member in contact with the shaft to remain the same for a secure grip on the shaft.
Furthermore, when the ring member is tightened into place over the flange, the over all length of the coupling member along the shaft is not increased. In addition, the direction of taper in the new coupling device is opposite that of prior art couplings.
Aspects of the present invention are illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a coupling unit according to the present invention in which fasteners are insertable through the ring member;
Figure 2 is a section view of the coupling unit of Figure 1 in its assembled state on the shaft;
Figure 3 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of a coupling unit according to the present invention in which fasteners are insertable through the drive face of the coupling member;
Figure 4 is a front view of an alternative coupling member having an annular web formed between the protruding teeth of the drive face;
Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the coupling member of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is an assembled view with cutaway sections of a flexible coupling using the coupling units illustrated in Figure 1.
A coupling unit 2 of a flexible coupling device according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2. Coupling unit 2 on drive shaft 4 in combination with an identical coupling unit on a driven shaft forms a flexible coupling device for transmitting torque from drive shaft 4 to the driven shaft. Figure 6 illustrates an example of an assembled coupling device using a pair of coupling units 2. Coupling unit 2 comprises a ring member 8 receivable on shaft 4 and a coupling member 6 fastenable to ring member 8 in order to secure the coupling unit 2 to shaft 4.
Coupling member 6 comprises a generally cylindrical body 10 having a drive face 12 for engagement with the opposed drive face of another coupling member. Extending away from body 10 opposite to drive face 12 is a tubular flange 14 having an inside surface 16 of constant diameter dimensioned to engage shaft 4. The outside surface 18 of flange 14 is tapered convergently so as to narrow as the flange extends away from drive face 12.
The taper of flange 14 is preferably one sixteenth of an inch per inch along the axis of the flange. As best shown in Figure 2, inside surface 16 is part of a central bore 20 that extends through the coupling member and drive face 12 to accommodate insertion of the coupling member onto shaft 4.
Ring member 8 comprises an annular sleeve dimensioned to fit over the outer tapered surface 18 of flange 14. As such, ring member 8 has a correspondingly tapered inner bore 22. Ring member 8 and coupling member 6 are connectable to each other to draw together the two members so that ring member 8 compresses flange 14 in order to urge flange 14 into locking engagement with shaft 4. Preferably, ring member 8 and coupling member 6 are formed with a plurality of alignable passages 26 and 28, respectively, to receive threaded fasteners 30 to draw the two members together. In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, fasteners 30 are insertable through ring member 8 to be threadable engaged in coupling member 6. This arrangement can be used when there is sufficient clearance behind ring member 8 to permit convenient insertion of the fasteners.
In certain installations, drive shaft 4 extends only a short distance outwardly from the equipment to which it CA 022l627l l997-09-l9 is rotatably connected, and there is no clearance to insert fasteners 30 through ring member 8. In such a situation, a second embodiment of the coupling unit is appropriate as shown in Figure 3 where identical parts to the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals. In the coupling unit of Figure 3, the alignable passages 26 and 28 are formed to receive threaded fasteners 30 through coupling member 6 to threadably engage in ring member 8.
In both embodiments, ring member 8, coupling member 6 and tubular flanges 14 are preferably formed with a key passage 31 to engage key 32 on shaft 4 to lock the coupling unit against rotary motion on the shaft.
To assist in removal of the coupling unit for replacement or maintenance purposes, additional threaded passages 35 are formed in the coupling member or the ring member to receive a threaded fastener that is tightened into passage 35 to force apart the members to remove ring member 8 from over flange 14.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that drive face 12 of coupling member 6 can be formed with a variety of mating surfaces that permit driving connection to a corresponding mating surface of an opposed coupling member on an adjacent substantially 25 axially aligned shaft. By way of example, in the illustrated embodiments, drive face 12 of coupling member 6 is formed with a plurality of spaced, projecting portions or teeth 40 that extend toward identical aligned teeth on an adjacent coupling unit. Each tooth 40 30 extends radially across annular surface 49 of drive face 12 from an inner tooth edge 57 adjacent central bore 20 to an outer tooth edge 58 at the periphery of cylindrical body 10. As best shown in Figure 1, an annular elastomeric member 42 iS provided having internal ribs 45 CA 022l627l l997-09-l9 that are insertable into the spaces 47 between the two sets of teeth 40 of the opposed drive faces. Elastomeric member 42 acts to directly connect the teeth of the two coupling units to transmit torque between the units while absorbing vibration and accommodating limited misalignment of the two connected shafts. Figure 6 shows an assembled flexible coupling according to the above description with a portion of annular elastomeric member 42 cut away to show the alignment of the two sets of teeth 40. In addition, it is conventional to provide a cylindrical cover (not shown) extending from one coupling unit 2 to other over the elastomeric member 42 to protect member 4 2.
Referring to Figure 2, the design of the coupling unit 2 of the present invention is such that the length 50 of the assembled coupling unit 2 can be shorter than conventional coupling assemblies that rely on a bushing sleeve that extends beyond the coupling member to increase the length of assembly when mounted on a shaft.
When ring member 8 is tightened into place over flange 14, over all length 50 of coupling unit 2 on shaft 4 does not increase as the ring member can be dimensioned to be tightened into an assembled position where the rear face 55 of the ring member is equal to or forward of the end edge 56 of flange 14. The compact nature of the coupling unit of the present invention makes it suitable for use in environments where there is limited shaft length to receive and support a coupling unit. As well, forming flange 14 on coupling member 2 permits a reduction of the material required for the coupling member while allowing the over all length 50 of the coupling member in gripping contact with shaft 4 to remain the same for a secure grip on the shaft.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention which is useful for connecting very short shafts. In the further embodiment, an annular web 60 extending forwardly of drive face 12 is formed between the inner edges 57 of adjacent teeth 40. The web defines a flange surface that is co-axial with bore 20 and effectively extends the internal surface of the coupling member in gripping engagement with shaft 4. By extending the internal surface in contact with shaft 4 ahead of drive face 12 with web 60, it is possible to shorten the length 62 of flange 14 extending from the opposite end of coupling body 10. Reducing the length of flange 14 reduces the overall length 50 of the coupling member while permitting preservation of the same internal length of coupling member 2 in gripping contact with shaft 4.
The foregoing arrangement holds true when the coupling unit is inserted fully onto shaft 4 so that the end of the shaft is in the plane of the teeth 40 indicated by reference number 70. If the coupling unit is inserted partially onto shaft 4 as illustrated in Figure 2, any reduction in length of flange 14 is offset by the need to push coupling member 2 further onto the shaft to bring web surface 60 between teeth 40 into contact with the shaft.
Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practised within the scope of the appended claims.
This invention relates to flexible coupling device for connecting two substantially axially aligned shafts.
Flexible coupling devices to connect together a drive shaft and a driven shaft are well known.
Generally, the coupling devices comprise a pair of coupling members mounted to the ends of the shafts to be connected by a mounting system. The coupling members are formed with mating surfaces to engage with mating surfaces on the opposed coupling member that interlock to transmit the torque of the drive shaft to the driven shaft. Often the mating surfaces comprise a plurality of teeth that project toward each other from adjacent ends of the shafts. To ensure that the couplings are flexible, the designs generally include a flexible element that is engaged between the mating surfaces or teeth of the coupling members to accommodate some mis-alignment and vibration of the two shafts.
Examples of prior art coupling devices are found in the following patents:
United States Patent 1, 865,950 to Petskeyes;
United States Patent 2,007,513 to Westburgh;
United States Patent 2,892,327 to Kressin;
United States Patent 2,896,43 0 to Olson;
United States Patent 3,884,049 to Pauli;
United States Patent 4,792,320 to Nickel;
United States Patent 4,932,924 to Lobel; and Canadian Patent 1,325,728 to Hoyt et al.
An important feature of any coupling member is that it be reliably mounted to its shaft so that operation of the coupling device is trouble free over long periods.
Various mounting systems for coupling members are known.
It is common to use set screw arrangements or bushing 35 members in combination with a shaft key to lock the coupling members to their shafts to prevent both axial and rotary motion of the coupling member with respect to the shaft.
Vibration and opposing axial forces of the connected shafts tend to eventually loosen set screws. When the coupling members become loose and move out of proper operating position, heat and friction result with consequent failure of the connection.
Bushing arrangements generally employ a separate bushing sleeve formed with a constant bore and an outer surface that tapers toward the end of the shaft. The coupling member comprises a mating face with a correspondingly tapered cylindrical bore to receive the tapered bushing sleeve. The bushing sleeve is fitted onto the shaft and then the coupling member is installed.
Fasteners are used to pull the tapered bushing sleeve into the coupling member to wedge the coupling member onto the shaft. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the bushing element and the coupling member together tend to occupy a significant length of the shaft and therefore such a mounting system is possible only when a required minimum length of shaft is exposed. In many products and installations, the coupling devices must be situated on a short length of exposed shaft in an area having limited access which makes installation of the bushing and coupling members difficult if not impossible.
An alternative coupling design sold under the trade-mark Dodge Taper-lock comprises a coupling hub with a central passage and an internal tapered bushing member for insertion into the central passage. The hub and bushing are formed with a series of partial threaded channels on the internal surface of passage of the hub and on the external surface of the bushing. The partial channels are alignable and co-operate to define a series of fully enclosed threaded channels having half the threads in the hub and half in the bushing. The fully enclosed channels receive threaded bolts that engage the hub and bushing on opposite sides of the bolt. The bolts are tightened into the fully enclosed channels to draw together the bushing and the hub. This arrangement requires careful alignment of the hub and bushing to ensure alignment of the partial threaded channels. If proper alignment is not achieved, the threads are easily damaged during installation making replacement necessary.
Applicant has developed a reliable, and easily installed flexible coupling device that addresses the shortcomings of the prior art. The new coupling device achieves a wedge fit of the coupling member on the shaft but does not rely on a bushing sleeve that extends beyond the coupling member to add to the length of assembly when mounted on a shaft. The coupling device also avoids the co-operating channels of the Dodge Taper-lock system.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a flexible coupling device to connect two substantially axially aligned shafts comprising:
coupling members mountable on the ends of each of the shafts, each coupling member having a drive face for engagement with the opposed drive face of the other coupling member to provide a torque transmitting connection;
each coupling member having a tubular flange extending away from the drive face having a constant inside diameter engageable with the shaft and a tapered outside surface tapering convergently as the flange extends away from the drive face; and a ring member associated with each coupling member having a tapered inner bore engageable over the tapered outside surface of the tubular flange, the ring member being connectable to the coupling member to draw the ring member and the coupling member together to compress the tubular flange to urge the tubular flange to grip the shaft.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a coupling unit for mounting to a first shaft to permit connection to another coupling unit on a second axially aligned shaft comprising:
a coupling member having a drive face for engagement with the drive face of another coupling unit to provide a torque transmitting connection, the coupling member having a tubular flange extending away from the drive face having a constant inside diameter engageable with the shaft and a tapered outside surface tapering convergently as the flange extends away from the drive face; and a ring member having a tapered inner bore engageable over the tapered outside surface of the tubular flange, the ring member being connectable to the coupling member to draw the ring member and the coupling member together to compress the tubular flange to urge the tubular flange to grip the shaft.
Forming a flange on the coupling member with a tapered outer surface permits a reduction of the material required for the coupling member while allowing the over all length of the coupling member in contact with the shaft to remain the same for a secure grip on the shaft.
Furthermore, when the ring member is tightened into place over the flange, the over all length of the coupling member along the shaft is not increased. In addition, the direction of taper in the new coupling device is opposite that of prior art couplings.
Aspects of the present invention are illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a coupling unit according to the present invention in which fasteners are insertable through the ring member;
Figure 2 is a section view of the coupling unit of Figure 1 in its assembled state on the shaft;
Figure 3 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of a coupling unit according to the present invention in which fasteners are insertable through the drive face of the coupling member;
Figure 4 is a front view of an alternative coupling member having an annular web formed between the protruding teeth of the drive face;
Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the coupling member of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is an assembled view with cutaway sections of a flexible coupling using the coupling units illustrated in Figure 1.
A coupling unit 2 of a flexible coupling device according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2. Coupling unit 2 on drive shaft 4 in combination with an identical coupling unit on a driven shaft forms a flexible coupling device for transmitting torque from drive shaft 4 to the driven shaft. Figure 6 illustrates an example of an assembled coupling device using a pair of coupling units 2. Coupling unit 2 comprises a ring member 8 receivable on shaft 4 and a coupling member 6 fastenable to ring member 8 in order to secure the coupling unit 2 to shaft 4.
Coupling member 6 comprises a generally cylindrical body 10 having a drive face 12 for engagement with the opposed drive face of another coupling member. Extending away from body 10 opposite to drive face 12 is a tubular flange 14 having an inside surface 16 of constant diameter dimensioned to engage shaft 4. The outside surface 18 of flange 14 is tapered convergently so as to narrow as the flange extends away from drive face 12.
The taper of flange 14 is preferably one sixteenth of an inch per inch along the axis of the flange. As best shown in Figure 2, inside surface 16 is part of a central bore 20 that extends through the coupling member and drive face 12 to accommodate insertion of the coupling member onto shaft 4.
Ring member 8 comprises an annular sleeve dimensioned to fit over the outer tapered surface 18 of flange 14. As such, ring member 8 has a correspondingly tapered inner bore 22. Ring member 8 and coupling member 6 are connectable to each other to draw together the two members so that ring member 8 compresses flange 14 in order to urge flange 14 into locking engagement with shaft 4. Preferably, ring member 8 and coupling member 6 are formed with a plurality of alignable passages 26 and 28, respectively, to receive threaded fasteners 30 to draw the two members together. In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, fasteners 30 are insertable through ring member 8 to be threadable engaged in coupling member 6. This arrangement can be used when there is sufficient clearance behind ring member 8 to permit convenient insertion of the fasteners.
In certain installations, drive shaft 4 extends only a short distance outwardly from the equipment to which it CA 022l627l l997-09-l9 is rotatably connected, and there is no clearance to insert fasteners 30 through ring member 8. In such a situation, a second embodiment of the coupling unit is appropriate as shown in Figure 3 where identical parts to the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals. In the coupling unit of Figure 3, the alignable passages 26 and 28 are formed to receive threaded fasteners 30 through coupling member 6 to threadably engage in ring member 8.
In both embodiments, ring member 8, coupling member 6 and tubular flanges 14 are preferably formed with a key passage 31 to engage key 32 on shaft 4 to lock the coupling unit against rotary motion on the shaft.
To assist in removal of the coupling unit for replacement or maintenance purposes, additional threaded passages 35 are formed in the coupling member or the ring member to receive a threaded fastener that is tightened into passage 35 to force apart the members to remove ring member 8 from over flange 14.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that drive face 12 of coupling member 6 can be formed with a variety of mating surfaces that permit driving connection to a corresponding mating surface of an opposed coupling member on an adjacent substantially 25 axially aligned shaft. By way of example, in the illustrated embodiments, drive face 12 of coupling member 6 is formed with a plurality of spaced, projecting portions or teeth 40 that extend toward identical aligned teeth on an adjacent coupling unit. Each tooth 40 30 extends radially across annular surface 49 of drive face 12 from an inner tooth edge 57 adjacent central bore 20 to an outer tooth edge 58 at the periphery of cylindrical body 10. As best shown in Figure 1, an annular elastomeric member 42 iS provided having internal ribs 45 CA 022l627l l997-09-l9 that are insertable into the spaces 47 between the two sets of teeth 40 of the opposed drive faces. Elastomeric member 42 acts to directly connect the teeth of the two coupling units to transmit torque between the units while absorbing vibration and accommodating limited misalignment of the two connected shafts. Figure 6 shows an assembled flexible coupling according to the above description with a portion of annular elastomeric member 42 cut away to show the alignment of the two sets of teeth 40. In addition, it is conventional to provide a cylindrical cover (not shown) extending from one coupling unit 2 to other over the elastomeric member 42 to protect member 4 2.
Referring to Figure 2, the design of the coupling unit 2 of the present invention is such that the length 50 of the assembled coupling unit 2 can be shorter than conventional coupling assemblies that rely on a bushing sleeve that extends beyond the coupling member to increase the length of assembly when mounted on a shaft.
When ring member 8 is tightened into place over flange 14, over all length 50 of coupling unit 2 on shaft 4 does not increase as the ring member can be dimensioned to be tightened into an assembled position where the rear face 55 of the ring member is equal to or forward of the end edge 56 of flange 14. The compact nature of the coupling unit of the present invention makes it suitable for use in environments where there is limited shaft length to receive and support a coupling unit. As well, forming flange 14 on coupling member 2 permits a reduction of the material required for the coupling member while allowing the over all length 50 of the coupling member in gripping contact with shaft 4 to remain the same for a secure grip on the shaft.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention which is useful for connecting very short shafts. In the further embodiment, an annular web 60 extending forwardly of drive face 12 is formed between the inner edges 57 of adjacent teeth 40. The web defines a flange surface that is co-axial with bore 20 and effectively extends the internal surface of the coupling member in gripping engagement with shaft 4. By extending the internal surface in contact with shaft 4 ahead of drive face 12 with web 60, it is possible to shorten the length 62 of flange 14 extending from the opposite end of coupling body 10. Reducing the length of flange 14 reduces the overall length 50 of the coupling member while permitting preservation of the same internal length of coupling member 2 in gripping contact with shaft 4.
The foregoing arrangement holds true when the coupling unit is inserted fully onto shaft 4 so that the end of the shaft is in the plane of the teeth 40 indicated by reference number 70. If the coupling unit is inserted partially onto shaft 4 as illustrated in Figure 2, any reduction in length of flange 14 is offset by the need to push coupling member 2 further onto the shaft to bring web surface 60 between teeth 40 into contact with the shaft.
Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practised within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (18)
1. A flexible coupling device to connect two substantially axially aligned shafts comprising:
coupling members mountable on the ends of each of the shafts, each coupling member having a drive face for engagement with the opposed drive face of the other coupling member to provide a torque transmitting connection;
each coupling member having a tubular flange extending away from the drive face having a constant inside diameter engageable with the shaft and a tapered outside surface tapering convergently as the flange extends away from the drive face; and a ring member associated with each coupling member having a tapered inner bore engageable over the tapered outside surface of the tubular flange, the ring member being connectable to the coupling member to draw the ring member and the coupling member together to compress the tubular flange to urge the tubular flange to grip the shaft.
coupling members mountable on the ends of each of the shafts, each coupling member having a drive face for engagement with the opposed drive face of the other coupling member to provide a torque transmitting connection;
each coupling member having a tubular flange extending away from the drive face having a constant inside diameter engageable with the shaft and a tapered outside surface tapering convergently as the flange extends away from the drive face; and a ring member associated with each coupling member having a tapered inner bore engageable over the tapered outside surface of the tubular flange, the ring member being connectable to the coupling member to draw the ring member and the coupling member together to compress the tubular flange to urge the tubular flange to grip the shaft.
2. A flexible coupling device as claimed in claim 1 in which the ring member and the coupling member are formed with alignable passages to receive threaded fasteners to connect together the ring member and the coupling member.
3. A flexible coupling device as claimed in claim 2 in which the alignable passages are formed to receive threaded fasteners insertable through the ring member to threadably engage in the coupling member.
4. A flexible coupling device as claimed in claim 2 in which the alignable passages are formed to receive threaded fasteners insertable through the coupling member to threadably engage in the ring member.
5. A flexible coupling device as claimed in claim 1 in which the ring members and the coupling members and tubular flanges are formed with a key passage to engage a key on the shafts.
6. A flexible coupling device as claimed in claim 1 including passages formed in the coupling member and the ring member to receive a threaded fastener to force apart the members for removal.
7. A flexible coupling device as claimed in claim 1 including a plurality of spaced, projecting portions formed on the opposed drive faces of each coupling member extending toward one another; and an annular elastomeric member having internal ribs that are insertable into the spaces between the projecting portions of the opposed drive faces to transmit torque between the drive faces.
8. A flexible coupling device as claimed in claim 7 in which each coupling member is a generally cylindrical body having a circular drive face and a central bore therethrough that is co-axial with the tubular flange to define an annular surface from which the projecting portions extend, each projecting portion extending radially across the annular surface from an inner edge at the central bore to an outer edge at the periphery of the cylindrical body.
9. A flexible coupling device as claimed in claim 8 in which the inner edges of the projecting portions are joined by an annular web that is co-axial with the central bore to define a flange surface extending outwardly from the drive face.
10. A coupling unit for mounting to a first shaft to permit connection to another coupling unit on a second axially aligned shaft comprising:
a coupling member having a drive face for engagement with the drive face of another coupling unit to provide a torque transmitting connection, the coupling member having a tubular flange extending away from the drive face having a constant inside diameter engageable with the shaft and a tapered outside surface tapering convergently as the flange extends away from the drive face; and a ring member having a tapered inner bore engageable over the tapered outside surface of the tubular flange, the ring member being connectable to the coupling member to draw the ring member and the coupling member together to compress the tubular flange to urge the tubular flange to grip the shaft.
a coupling member having a drive face for engagement with the drive face of another coupling unit to provide a torque transmitting connection, the coupling member having a tubular flange extending away from the drive face having a constant inside diameter engageable with the shaft and a tapered outside surface tapering convergently as the flange extends away from the drive face; and a ring member having a tapered inner bore engageable over the tapered outside surface of the tubular flange, the ring member being connectable to the coupling member to draw the ring member and the coupling member together to compress the tubular flange to urge the tubular flange to grip the shaft.
11. A coupling unit as claimed in claim 10 in which the ring member and the coupling member are formed with alignable passages to receive threaded fasteners to connect together the ring member and the coupling member.
12. A coupling unit as claimed in claim 11 in which the alignable passages are formed to receive threaded fasteners insertable through the ring member to threadably engage in the coupling member.
13. A coupling unit as claimed in claim 11 in which the alignable passages are formed to receive threaded fasteners insertable through the coupling member to threadably engage in the ring member.
14. A coupling unit as claimed in claim 10 in which the ring member and the coupling member and tubular flange are formed with a key passage to engage a key on the shaft.
15. A coupling unit as claimed in claim 10 including passages formed in the main body and the ring member to receive a threaded fastener to force apart the members for removal.
16. A coupling unit as claimed in claim 10 including a plurality of spaced, projecting portions formed on the drive face of the main body for alignment with projecting portions on another adjacent coupling unit;
an annular elastomeric member having internal ribs that are insertable into the spaces between the projecting portions of the two coupling members to transmit torque between the drive faces.
an annular elastomeric member having internal ribs that are insertable into the spaces between the projecting portions of the two coupling members to transmit torque between the drive faces.
17. A coupling unit as claimed in claim 16 in which the coupling member is a generally cylindrical body having a circular drive face and a central bore therethrough that is co-axial with the tubular flange to define an annular surface from which the projecting portions extend, each projecting portion extending radially across the annular surface from an inner edge at the central bore to an outer edge at the periphery of the cylindrical body.
18. A coupling unit as claimed in claim 17 in which the inner edges of the projecting portions are joined by an annular web that is co-axial with the central bore to define a flange surface extending outwardly from the drive face.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US71062496A | 1996-09-20 | 1996-09-20 | |
| US08/710,624 | 1996-09-20 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2216271A1 true CA2216271A1 (en) | 1998-03-20 |
Family
ID=24854838
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2216271 Abandoned CA2216271A1 (en) | 1996-09-20 | 1997-09-19 | Flexible coupling device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2216271A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2017092889A1 (en) * | 2015-11-30 | 2017-06-08 | Contitech Vibration Control Gmbh | Jaw clutch |
| CN106864756A (en) * | 2017-03-27 | 2017-06-20 | 必扬星环（北京）航空科技有限公司 | The double remaining turbine wheel shaft dynamical systems of depopulated helicopter |
-
1997
- 1997-09-19 CA CA 2216271 patent/CA2216271A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2017092889A1 (en) * | 2015-11-30 | 2017-06-08 | Contitech Vibration Control Gmbh | Jaw clutch |
| CN106864756A (en) * | 2017-03-27 | 2017-06-20 | 必扬星环（北京）航空科技有限公司 | The double remaining turbine wheel shaft dynamical systems of depopulated helicopter |
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