GB971094A - Improvements in or relating to universal joints - Google Patents

Abstract

971,094. Universal joints; resilient couplings. BIRFIELD ENGINEERING Ltd. Oct. 2, 1961 [Oct. 7, 1960], No. 34394/60. Heading F2U. A Hooke's joint cross comprises two relatively circumferentially movable members drivingly connected by rubber or the like. In Fig. 2, one cross-member 5 has an aperture 10 of rectangular cross-section in which is mounted the other cross-member 4. The members 4, 5 are centred by a bush 13. Drive in either direction is through two of four rectangular cross-section elongated rubber pads 14 retained in grooves 15 of the member 4 and engaging the walls of the aperture 10. One of the forks may be flanged, welded to an adjacent tubular shaft, or form part of a sliding joint to accommodate axial " plunge." In Fig. 4, drive in either direction is through two of four rubber buffers 38 circumferentially arranged between interprojecting arms 33, 36, respectively, of cross-members 23, 24. The buffers 38, elongated axially of the joint, project from recesses 37 in the arms 33, 36 to engage plane surfaces 36a, 33a on the arms 36, 33, respectively, and are compressed to fill said recesses completely just before the two pairs of arms engage to limit relative circumferential movement. The change of buffer cross-section provides a variable torsional rate which may be arranged to be different for the two drive directions, e.g. drive and over-run. The members 23, 24 are centred by a bush 29 in the member 23 engaging a pin 28 connected to the member 24. Limited relative axial movement between the bush 29 and the pin 28 accommodates " plunge." The cross-members may alternatively be centred by a needle roller bearing. The cross-members may be coupled by a rubber bush forming a bearing between them.