US1352953A

US1352953A - Flexible coupling

Info

Publication number: US1352953A
Application number: US334519A
Authority: US
Inventors: John R Grundy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1919-10-30
Filing date: 1919-10-30
Publication date: 1920-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 1937-09-14

Description

JOHN GRUNDY, OF PHILADELPHIA., PENNSYLVANIA.

FLEXIBLE coUPLING.

specication 'of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

Application filed October 30, 1919. Serial No. 334,519.

T 0 all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JoHN R. GRUNDY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia., Pennsylvania, have invented Flexible Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

One object of this invention is to provide a device for coupling the adjacent ends of two shafts which shall be of such a nature that it shall be capable of transmitting power from one of them to the other, even though they be out of alinement and have a greater or less degree of relative longitudinal movement ;-the invention more particularly contemplating a form of coupling including two shaft-carried members and an intermediate member, of which the former are of such construction and so engage the latter as to prevent the separation of the coupling elements under operating conditions.

Another object of my invention is to provide a flexible shaft coupling which shall be simple, substantial and compact in construction and in which the shaft-carried elements while normally so engaging an intermediate element as to prevent longitudinal separation of the coupling elements, shall at the same time be of such form and construction as to permit of the quick and convenient assembly or separation of said elements.

These objects and other advantageous ends I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a flexible shaft coupling constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view illustrating the detail construction of the elements of the coupling shown in Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a front and a side elevatibn of a slightly modified form of the shaft-carried elements.

' In the above dra-wings 1--1 represent the two shaft-carried elements of my invention which are both of the same form and con-- struction, and 2 represents the intermediate member whereby said first members are operatively connected and through which power is transmitted from one to the other. Each of the elements 1 consists of a sleeve or collar 4 designed to be keyed or otherl wise'rigidly mounted on one of two shafts to be connected and has formed integral with it two oppositely extending arms 3 3. Each of these arms adjacent its end has fixed to or formed integral with it a substantially' rectangular block 5 projecting from the outer portion of its outer face and the two blocks 5 of each arm are equi-distant from the center line of the sleeve 4 aswell as in line with each other, having in that form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 -and 2, in-

tegral retaining plates 6 mounted on their outer faces and projecting beyond their sides. As shown at 6a in Figs. 3 and 4, these retaining plates may be removably connected to @the blocks 5 as by screws 7, and may be of the same radial width as said blocks, although in that form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 these plates are ot less width than that of the blocks on which they are mounted, as well as placed at the outer ends of said blocks.

The intermediate member 2 consists of a disk of material, such as leather, having the quality of absorbing or cushioning shocks, although obviously it may be made of material such as vulcanized `fiber possessing said quality in a lesserdegree. This dlsk is formed with two sets of oppositely placed radially extending recesses 8-8 and 9-9 preferably at right angles to each other and of a width suiiicient to snugly though slidably receive the alined blocks 5-5 of the two Vshaft-carried elements 1--1 respectively. The depth of these slots is materially greater than the length of the blocks 5 so that in the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when the intermediate member 2 is inclined at an angle to the plane of the arms 3 of one of the elements 1 and the lower of the blocks 5 of one of the latter is entered in the lower one of the recesses 9, the op osite side of said intermediate element wil just pass under the projecting ends of the upper plate 6, thereby makin it possible to bring the intermediate mem er into a position parallel with the arms 3 and cause the second of the blocks 5 to enter the upper recess 9.

Under these conditions the intermediate member is freely slidable across the outer face of the arms 3 and is guided by the blocks 5 thereon although, except in the p0- sition above noted, it is held in place by the projecting ends of the plates 6;-theblocks 5 having a height equal to the thickness of the intermediate member 2.

The second of the shaft-carried members 1 is applied to the intermediate member 2 in the manner above described, except that its-blocks 5 are successively inserted in the recesses 8 so that its arms 3 extend in lines at right angles to the similar arms ofthe other shaft-carried member. Under conditions of use power is transmitted from the blocks of one of the members 1 to the sides of one pair of the segmental portions of the intermediate member 2 formed or defined by the radial slots 8 and 9, and is transmitted through these segments to the similar blocks 5 of the shaft-carried members 1.

Obviously any shock;l duey to sudden increase in the load on the driven shaft will be absorbed or cushioned by the intermediate memberr2 and by reason of the more or less loose connection of this with the members 1, itis possible for thetwo shafts connected to the latter to be continuously operated even though they should be out of alinement. The constructionillustrated also permits of a limited longitudinal movement i. of themembers 1.-1 towardv and from each other and the coupling elements are prevented from separating to an objectionable extent bymreason of the overhanging ends of. the plates 6 which engage the intermediate member 2. Owing to the lateral flexibility ofthe latter member, it will yield to a limited extent without injury in response to a force tending to separate the members 1.

In that form of my invention'shown in Figs. 3 and 4I form each of the shaft-carriedelements with disk like ianges vEL instead lof arms 3-3 and indent or recess theprojecting blocks on their adjacent faces;.

and an intermediate cushioning member in the form of a substantially iat plate having recesses for the reception of the blocks of said members, each of said blocks having a head overhanging the adjacent face of the intermediate member. y

2. A shaft coupling consisting of two shaft-carried elements each having portions projecting in opposite directions from and at right angles to the center line of the shaft upon which it is mounted; flat sided blocks projecting from said portions; integral heads mounted on the outer faces of said blocks so as to overhang the sides of the same; with an intermediate member having two sets of radial recesses extending in lines substantially at right angles to each other and formed for slidably receiving the blocks of the two shaft-carried members.

In witness whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN R. GRNDY.