GB2138104A

GB2138104A - Universal joint

Info

Publication number: GB2138104A
Application number: GB08309816A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sheu Yuan-Chan
Original assignee: YUAN CHAN SHEU
Current assignee: YUAN CHAN SHEU
Priority date: 1983-04-12
Filing date: 1983-04-12
Publication date: 1984-10-17
Also published as: GB8309816D0

Abstract

A universal joint comprising two main parts: a connecting rod (1) and a coupling socket (2) wherein the connecting rod has a generally prismatic head (11) having a top (12) which is of a round and smooth spherical shape, the side surfaces of the head of the connecting rod being slightly recessed or concave; the head of said rod and the cavity (21) of the coupling socket (2) being co- operatively shaped to achieve a driving interconnection. Two rotary shafts (A,B) with laterally offset longitudinal axes may be drivingly interconnected by a connecting rod having at each end a head co- operating with sockets on the shaft ends. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Universal joint The present invention relates to a universal joint for use with various machine drives to produce a driving effect by means of interconnection and circular rotation.

Universal joints according to the invention are each of novel design although exhibit the same transmission capabilities as existing universal joints and each have a simple and accurate structure as one of its characteristics.

In using driving machines, such as motors and pumps etc., to produce an eccentric drive effect by interconnecting two non-aligned shafts which are subject to circular rotation, there is utilized in the present invention a connecting rod and by means of which there is avoided the hitherto intricate and costly traditional universal joints which apart from being costly are also difficult to maintain.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved universal joint whereby there may be attained an improved performance of universal joint by virtue of a simple mechanical structure.

According to the present invention there is provided a universal joint comprising two main parts: a connecting rod and a coupling socket, wherein the connecting rod has a generally prismatic head having a top which is of a round and smooth spherical shape, the side edges form multi-angles and are thickened and wherein the surfaces of the head of the connecting rod are slightly recessed or concave; the head of said rod and the cavity of the coupling socket being co-operatively shaped to achieve a driving interconnection and permitting the performance of eccentric circular rotation.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective schematic illustration of a portion of a joint comprising one end only of a connecting rod with a coupling head and a coupling socket for receiving the head.

Figure 2-1 is a side elevation of the connecting rod of Fig. 1; Figure 2-2 is a plan view of the connecting rod of Fig. 2-1; Figure 2-3 is an end elevation viewed from the left-hand side of the connecting rod of Figs. 1, 2-1 and 2-2 and showing the shaped coupling head; Figure 2-4 is an end elevation of the connecting rod of Figs. 2-1 and 2-2 viewed from the right-hand side; Figures 3-1 and 3-2 are a schematic sectional illustration of the application of the invention in a universal joint; Figure 4 are cross-sectional illustrations through coupling heads forming different embodiments of the invention and are for use with correspondingly shaped coupling sockets, (not shown).

The primary components of a universal joint are illustrated in Fig. 1 and comprise a connecting rod portion 1 having a shaped coupling head 11 (only illustrated at one end) and a joint section or coupling socket 2. The cross section of a generally prismatic coupling head 11 of a connecting rod portion 1 is shown in Fig. 2-3. The coupling socket 2 has a matched and correspondingly shaped cavity 21 and the two members (1 and 2) co-operate so that one may be rotated by the other to produce the desired drive effect whilst at the same time permitting pivotal misalignment. In attaining the objective of eccentric or misaligned circular rotation, the invention forms the top 1 2 of connecting rod 1 as the coupling head 11 of a generally round and smooth spherical shape.The edges 1 3 of the top of the head are thickened whilst the surfaces 14 of the prismatic head are slightly fluted, dented or otherwise made slightly concave in order to increase the control of driving effect by matching with the coupling socket 2.

According to the invention, the generally prismatic head of the connecting rod 1 and the coupling socket 2 are utilized to attain a drive effect, and also apply the gap between the round and smooth top 1 2 of the head of a connecting rod and the coupling socket to perform not only a fixed point rotation but also angle or angular rotation. This may arise controversial issues from view point of general principles although test samples have been completed and proven.

Figs. 3-1 and 3-2 are schematic illustrations of a universal joint embodying the principles of the present invention and wherein A is an axis (axle) of a motor; B is an axis (axle) of a driven body. The connecting rod 1 is bi-axial.

Fig. 3-1 shows the connecting rod 1 rotating about a stationary axis. Fig. 3-2 shows that A is in fixed point rotation whereas B is offset in eccentric circular rotation and is illustrated in broken line offset in an opposite direction.

Fig. 4 illustrates alternative possibilities for the cross-sectional shape of coupling heads of the connecting rods, i.e. with generally the cross-sectional shapes of a triangle, square, pentagon, heptagon or octagonal. It is not intended in the present invention that the shapes or numbers of angles be restricted although 9 or 10 angles are likely to proximate a round shape too closely which may decrease the effect of the invention.

1. A universal joint comprising two main parts: a connecting rod and a coupling socket wherein the connecting rod has a generally prismatic head having a top which is of a round and smooth spherical shape, the side edges form multi-angles and are thickened and wherein the surfaces of the head of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Universal joint The present invention relates to a universal joint for use with various machine drives to produce a driving effect by means of interconnection and circular rotation. Universal joints according to the invention are each of novel design although exhibit the same transmission capabilities as existing universal joints and each have a simple and accurate structure as one of its characteristics. In using driving machines, such as motors and pumps etc., to produce an eccentric drive effect by interconnecting two non-aligned shafts which are subject to circular rotation, there is utilized in the present invention a connecting rod and by means of which there is avoided the hitherto intricate and costly traditional universal joints which apart from being costly are also difficult to maintain. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved universal joint whereby there may be attained an improved performance of universal joint by virtue of a simple mechanical structure. According to the present invention there is provided a universal joint comprising two main parts: a connecting rod and a coupling socket, wherein the connecting rod has a generally prismatic head having a top which is of a round and smooth spherical shape, the side edges form multi-angles and are thickened and wherein the surfaces of the head of the connecting rod are slightly recessed or concave; the head of said rod and the cavity of the coupling socket being co-operatively shaped to achieve a driving interconnection and permitting the performance of eccentric circular rotation. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective schematic illustration of a portion of a joint comprising one end only of a connecting rod with a coupling head and a coupling socket for receiving the head. Figure 2-1 is a side elevation of the connecting rod of Fig. 1; Figure 2-2 is a plan view of the connecting rod of Fig. 2-1; Figure 2-3 is an end elevation viewed from the left-hand side of the connecting rod of Figs. 1, 2-1 and 2-2 and showing the shaped coupling head; Figure 2-4 is an end elevation of the connecting rod of Figs. 2-1 and 2-2 viewed from the right-hand side; Figures 3-1 and 3-2 are a schematic sectional illustration of the application of the invention in a universal joint; Figure 4 are cross-sectional illustrations through coupling heads forming different embodiments of the invention and are for use with correspondingly shaped coupling sockets, (not shown). The primary components of a universal joint are illustrated in Fig. 1 and comprise a connecting rod portion 1 having a shaped coupling head 11 (only illustrated at one end) and a joint section or coupling socket 2. The cross section of a generally prismatic coupling head 11 of a connecting rod portion 1 is shown in Fig. 2-3. The coupling socket 2 has a matched and correspondingly shaped cavity 21 and the two members (1 and 2) co-operate so that one may be rotated by the other to produce the desired drive effect whilst at the same time permitting pivotal misalignment. In attaining the objective of eccentric or misaligned circular rotation, the invention forms the top 1 2 of connecting rod 1 as the coupling head 11 of a generally round and smooth spherical shape.The edges 1 3 of the top of the head are thickened whilst the surfaces 14 of the prismatic head are slightly fluted, dented or otherwise made slightly concave in order to increase the control of driving effect by matching with the coupling socket 2. According to the invention, the generally prismatic head of the connecting rod 1 and the coupling socket 2 are utilized to attain a drive effect, and also apply the gap between the round and smooth top 1 2 of the head of a connecting rod and the coupling socket to perform not only a fixed point rotation but also angle or angular rotation. This may arise controversial issues from view point of general principles although test samples have been completed and proven. Figs. 3-1 and 3-2 are schematic illustrations of a universal joint embodying the principles of the present invention and wherein A is an axis (axle) of a motor; B is an axis (axle) of a driven body. The connecting rod 1 is bi-axial. Fig. 3-1 shows the connecting rod 1 rotating about a stationary axis. Fig. 3-2 shows that A is in fixed point rotation whereas B is offset in eccentric circular rotation and is illustrated in broken line offset in an opposite direction. Fig. 4 illustrates alternative possibilities for the cross-sectional shape of coupling heads of the connecting rods, i.e. with generally the cross-sectional shapes of a triangle, square, pentagon, heptagon or octagonal. It is not intended in the present invention that the shapes or numbers of angles be restricted although 9 or 10 angles are likely to proximate a round shape too closely which may decrease the effect of the invention. CLAIMS

1. A universal joint comprising two main parts: a connecting rod and a coupling socket wherein the connecting rod has a generally prismatic head having a top which is of a round and smooth spherical shape, the side edges form multi-angles and are thickened and wherein the surfaces of the head of the connecting rod are slightly recessed or concave; the head of said rod and the cavirty of the coupling socket being co-operatively shaped to achieve a driving interconnection and permitting the performance of eccentric circular rotation.

2. A universal joint comprising two coupling sockets one of which is adapted to be driven and the other is adapted to drive as a result of a driving component acting thereon, and a connecting rod interconnecting said coupling sockets and having a shaped head at each end in driving interengagement with the correspondingly and co-operatively shaped recess of its associated coupling socket; each shaped head of the connecting rod having a main portion thereof which is polygonal in transverse cross-section and at least an end or top portion which is part-spherical.

3. A universal joint as claimed in claim 2, in which the regions between the corners of each polygon of each shaped head are fluted or otherwise concave.

4. A universal joint as claimed in claim 3, in which the fluting or concave recess extend into said part spherical top portion.

5. A universal joint as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, in which the edge regions of the polygons are thickened.

6. A universal joint wherein the crosssectional shape of the polygon is generally triangular, rectangular (square), pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal or octagonal.

7. A universal joint substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 3-1 and 3-2, 1, 2-1 and Figs. 2-2, 23 and 2-4 or as modified by any of the crosssectional shapes of Fig. 4.