GB787785A - Shaft coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

787,785. Shaft couplings; universal joints. DE-AIAG-ZUG GES. Dec. 23, 1955 [Jan. 7, 1955], No. 36970/55. Class 80 (2). A shaft coupling or universal joint for use between the gear-shaft of a winch and a shaft fast with the axially movable armature shaft of a motor, in which at least one of the coupled shafts is axially displaceable with respect to a main coupling &c. member, is formed with a hollow space in which is situated a mass of absorbent material constituting an oil reservoir, sealing means making the hollow space oiltight although in communication with the working faces of the displaceable shaft &c., the walls of the hollow space being in part resilient. In one form, a shaft coupling between shafts 1, 2, Fig. 1, has the shaft ends formed with teeth 1a, 2a engaging internal teeth 3a on a coupling member 3. The hollow centre of the coupling member 3 contains two rubber sponges 5, 6 forming the oil reservoirs. The inner ends of the sponges engage a resilient hollow member 4 in communication with the ambient atmosphere through a hole 3c. Seals 1b, 2b prevent oil escaping from the coupling member 3. Axial movement of the shaft 1 or the shaft 2 with respect to the coupling member 3 causes the walls of the hollow resilient member 4 to move in and out, as the ends of the shafts pump up and down the cylinder formed by the coupling member, so that oil is not pumped out past the seals. In another form, a universal joint between shafts 1, 2, Fig. 2, has a coupling member 8 fast en the shaft 2 connected by a resilient intermediate layer 9 to an internally splined coupling sleeve 7 for the shaft 1. The resilient member 9 is formed with a membrane 11 comprising a resilient wall for a hollow space containing the absorbent sponge 6. The space 8a at the back of the membrane 11 is open to the atmosphere through a hole 8b. Axially movement of the shaft 1 with respect to the coupling member 7 forces the membrane 11 in and out. As a modification, the resilient wall of the hollow space may be formed by a spring-loaded piston.