GB376443A - Improvements in shaft couplings - Google Patents

Abstract

376,443. Universal joints. THIRY, L., 19, Rue Vankeerberghen, Huy, Belgium. May 30, 1931, No. 15906. Convention date, June 2, 1930. [Class 65 (ii).] A universal or flexible joint between two shafts, such as brake control shafts upon a vehicle, comprises a ring of elastic material which is radially compressed without substantial axial extension ; it may be divided in order to increase the pressure which it exerts radially. A rubber ring 8, Fig. 2, is stretched to embrace the inner member 7 and is caused to grip the outer member 6 by being slit at one or more points 9 by a knife or heated wire inserted in grooves 15 in the inner member or in both members. The spaces left by separation of the ring segments 14 may be filled with unstressed rubber &c. Slitting is unnecessary if the outer member be initially smaller than the stretched ring or be compressed when in place, or if the inner member be expanded by matrices, presses, &c. The member 6 may be caused to adhere to the rubber by size or by partial vulcanization, or may be provided with ribs 16, pins, points, or grooves to improve the grip. The axial spread of the ring under pressure may be reduced by providing slots, grooves, or cavities 11, Fig. 3, in any or all of the inner or outer members or the mass of rubber. As applied to cardan-shaft joints, the inner and outer members may be cylindrical or, to increase the angular freedom, they may be double conical or spherical, as shown in Fig. 6, axial displacement being checked by projections 17, 18. A ball-andsocket joint 19 may be provided to centre the coupling, the chambers a, b containing lubricant. The inner and outer members may be connected by a rigid lost-motion coupling operative on failure of the rubber.