GB564963A - Improvements in or relating to universal joints - Google Patents

Abstract

564,963. Flexible shaft couplings. THORNHILL, P. W. July 31, 1943, Nos. 12457 and 13904. [Class 80 (ii)] [Also in Group XXII] A shaft coupling comprises a flexible metal bellows 15 formed of a plurality of resilient metal annular discs 16 connected alternately by brazing at their inner and outer flanged edges 19, 20. Stiffening rings 35, 36, Fig. 1, may be located adjacent the flanges 19, 20. At the ends the bellows is connected to members 16, fixed to the ends of the shafts to be connected together.- Such members 1, 6, may have a ball-and-socket connection 11, 12. In a modification the ball member on the member 6 enters a cylindrical bore on the member 1 to allow of axial movement. In another modification, a separate ball is located between spherical cavities on the parts 1, 6. The bellows may be in two parts 37, 38, Fig. 8, separated by a U-shaped member 39 in which a disc 41 is radially slidable. In the cylindrical hub 42 of the disc 41, ball members 43, 44 on the members 6, 1, are located. When applied to vehicle transmission systems, a pair of flexible couplings connected by a short shaft may be used, one of the couplings. being of the type which permits of axial movement. The discs 16 are stamped and rolled, from sheet metal and when assembled the final rolling together of the flanges 20 may be done by use of a device having rollers 28, 29, Fig. 7, mounted between a pair of plates 27. A third roller 32 carried by a lever 30 pivoted to the plates 27 at 31 has its spindle 33 movable in slots 34 in the plates 27. The bellows is mounted between the three rollers and rotated and at the same time pressure is applied to the roller 32 by means of the lever 30.