GB815693A - Improvements in or relating to a flexible thrust coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

815,693. Universal joints. KOPPERS CO. Inc. July 10, 1957 [July 18, 1956], No. 21900/57. Class 80 (2). [Also in Group XXV] A universal joint comprises coupling sleeves 2, 6, Fig. 1, having loosely engaging axiallydirected splines 22, 24, a ring 46 removably secured to the sleeve 6 having an internal frusto-spherical face engaging a similarly-shaped external face on a ring 40 on the coupling-sleeve 2, the centres of curvature of the two frustospherical faces coinciding either exactly or approximately at a point 42 lying on the axis of the joint and in a plane through the middle of the splines. The rings 46, 40 centre the coupling sleeve 2 within the coupling sleeve 6 and take axial thrust between the parts. The ring 46 is secured within the coupling sleeve 6 by an externally-threaded ring 54 having segments 56, Fig. 2, removed from its medial plane in the neighbourhood of tapped holes receiving bolts 58. On assembly of the joint, the ring 54 is screwed into the coupling-sleeve 6 to the desired position, and the bolts 58 are then tightened to lock its threads into the co-operating threads in the sleeve. The radius of curvature of the frusto-spherical face of the ring 40 can be slightly less than the radius of curvature of the internal frusto-spherical face of the ring 46, so as to obtain line engagement between the two rings. In the form shown in Fig. 1, additional thrustrings 38, 44 are provided on the opposite side of the splines 22, 24. Lubricating oil is supplied through a pipe 60, whence it seeps through grooves 66 in the thrust-ring 38 to the splines 22, 24 and to the thrust-rings 40, 46. Excess oil escapes through passages 72, 76. The coupling sleeve 2 is secured to a shaft 8 by a locked nut 16, and the coupling-sleeve 6 is secured to a shaft 10 by bolts 26. In a modification, two coupling sleeves 2, Fig. 4, are connected by splines 22, 24, &c. to a common intermediate coupling member 6. In another modification, two coupling sleeves 2, Fig. 5, are connected by splines 22, 24 to an intermediate coupling member 6 but are each centred with respect thereto by a single pair of thrust rings 40, 46. Ring end plates 64a have rounded edges 38a engaging the coupling sleeves 2.