WO2021259024A1

WO2021259024A1 - A coupling assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2021259024A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/097855
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander STOPPS
Original assignee: Inovo Robotics (Hk) Limited
Priority date: 2020-06-26
Filing date: 2021-06-02
Publication date: 2021-12-30

Abstract

A coupling assembly (20) is provided, which comprises a first coupling member (30) at least partially releasably receivable at a second coupling member (40). The first coupling member (30) comprises a first supporting means (34) arranged in a first internal space of the first coupling member (30), and the second coupling member (40) comprises a second supporting means (44) arranged in a second internal space of the second coupling member; wherein the first supporting means (34) and the second supporting means (44) are connectable via a connecting means along a longitudinal axis of the coupling assembly; and the connecting means is operable to radially expand the first coupling member thereby locking the first and the second coupling members in place when being assembled.

Description

A Coupling Assembly

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a coupling assembly for use in the field of machinery.

Background of the Invention

Various mechanical devices and/or mechanisms have been developed to connect two or more structural parts of a machine together. In the field of machinery design, the terms “tapered coupling” , “tapered sleeve” or “machine taper” are commonly used to refer to connections where a female half and a male half are receivably engaged and are self-locked due to compressive stress and friction therebetween. A traditional machine taper is often preloaded by a central shaft, such as in the form of a draw bolt which assists in providing a higher assembly force and thus, a more secure connection. The use of the central shaft in a coupling can therefore enhance bending stiffness and torsional rigidity. However, any manipulation of the central shaft during operation, especially when it comes to a large-sized coupling, presents significant difficulties in practice.

In addition, taper couplings are known to suffer from limitations such as being heavy with very thick walls. The sleeves or the respective halves of the coupling are generally required to be formed of solid, highly dense materials to meet their heavy-duty applications. The thick wall is in fact essential to provide the coupling with a sufficiently high radial stiffness, and for the male half to withstand the radial compressive force from the female half. Otherwise, the male half may easily be constricted in which case the static friction holding the two halves would be significantly reduced and thus the taper coupling could decouple as a result.

Objects of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel coupling mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to mitigate or obviate to some degree one or more problems associated with known machine coupling, or at least to provide a useful alternative.

The above objects are met by the combination of features of the main claims; the sub-claims disclose further advantageous embodiments of the invention.

One skilled in the art will derive from the following description other objects of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing statements of object are not exhaustive and serve merely to illustrate some of the many objects of the present invention.

Summary of the Invention

In a first main aspect, the invention provides a coupling assembly. The coupling assembly comprises a first coupling member at least partially releasably receivable at a second coupling member; the first coupling member comprising a first supporting means arranged in a first internal space of the first coupling member, and the second coupling member comprising a second supporting means arranged in a second internal space of the second coupling member; wherein the first supporting means and the second supporting means are connectable via a connecting means along a longitudinal axis of the coupling assembly; the connecting means being operable to radially expand the first coupling member thereby locking the first and the second coupling members in place when being assembled.

In a second main aspect, the invention provides a coupling assembly. The coupling assembly comprises a first coupling member releasably receivable at a second coupling member; the first coupling member comprising a first supporting means arranged in a first internal space of the first coupling member, and the second coupling member comprising a second supporting means arranged in a second internal space of the second coupling member; the first supporting means and the second supporting means are connectable via a connecting mean along a longitudinal axis of the coupling assembly; an actuating means arranged at an exterior of at least one of the first coupling member and the second coupling member; the actuating means being operatively connected with the connecting means, such that the actuating means is operable externally to actuate movement of the second supporting means relative to the first supporting means thereby locking or unlocking the first and the second coupling members when being assembled or disassembled.

The summary of the invention does not necessarily disclose all the features essential for defining the invention; the invention may reside in a sub-combination of the disclosed features.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The foregoing and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments which are provided by way of example only in connection with the accompanying figure, of which:

Fig. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a prior art taper coupling in a disassembled state;

Fig. 1B is a schematic diagram showing the prior art taper coupling of Fig. 1A in an assembled state;

Fig. 2A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the taper coupling in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2B is a longitudinal cross-sectional perspective view of the taper coupling of Fig. 2A;

Fig. 3 shows the first coupling member and the second coupling member of the taper coupling of Fig. 2A in an assembled state;

Fig. 4 shows the first coupling member and the second coupling member of the taper coupling of Fig. 2A in a disassembled state;

Fig. 5A shows a front view of a gear connection of the taper coupling of Fig. 2A;

Fig. 5B shows a perspective view of the gear connection of the taper coupling of Fig. 2A;

Fig. 6 illustrates the radial forces on the first and second supporting means when the first and the second coupling members of the taper coupling of Fig. 2A are locked during assembly; and

Fig. 7 illustrates the radial forces on the first and the second supporting means of the taper coupling of Fig. 2A when the first and the second coupling members are unlocked during disassembly.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

The following description is of preferred embodiments by way of example only and without limitation to the combination of features necessary for carrying the invention into effect.

Reference in this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments.

It should be understood that the elements shown in the figures may be implemented in various forms or combinations thereof.

In the context of the present invention, the terms “coupling” , “coupling assembly” , “coupling device” , “coupling mechanism” , “tapered coupling” , “machine taper” , “taper sleeve” or the like are interchangeably used in general to relate to a device, a system or a mechanism for connecting two or more parts or components of a machine together, preferably at their respective ends. The coupling may serve merely as a static, mechanical connection of two structural elements, but may also form one or more movable joints for a controlled movement or for power transmitting, etc. Furthermore, the term “gear” is to be given a broad meaning to encompass various types of gear which may include, but are not limited to, spur gears, helical gears, bevel gears, worm gears, screw gears, internal gears or the like configured in any different sizes, number of teeth, helix angles, face widths, etc. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention shall not be limited to the specific embodiments described and illustrated. Instead, variations to one or more of the structural parts or components of the present invention, which might reasonably be considered applicable in achieving the same technical effect, shall also be encompass.

Referring to Figs. 1A and 1B, shown is a traditional tapered coupling 2 or so-called machine taper of the prior art which comprises, in general, a male half 3 and a female half 4 receivably connectable in a coaxial manner. Very often, the male half 3 is configured in the shape of a tapered, conical frustum with the tapered body receivable in a corresponding shaped opening 6 of the female half 4, as shown in the figures. Once assembled, the male half 3 and the female half 4 are substantially self-locked by the compressive stress therebetween as well as the static friction between the engaged surfaces. If the coupling is machined correctly, a same amount of force will be required to disengage the male half 3 from the female half 4. A central shaft, such as a draw bolt 5 is often applied to coaxially draw the male half 3 into the female half 4 so as to increase bending stiffness and torsional rigidity of the coupling. The use of the central draw bolt 5 further assists in providing a higher assembly force and therefore, a stronger connection of the coupling 2 in terms of bending stiffness and torsional rigidity. Nevertheless, depending on the specific designs and applications of the machine and the coupling, the draw bolt 5 may not be accessible and/or operable by the user. This is particularly the case when the coupling is made to connect two extended structural elements where access to the ends of a very long draw bolt will be difficult or, at least, cause inconvenience to the user in practice.

Figs. 2 to 6 show a coupling assembly or a coupling 20 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The coupling assembly 20 comprises a first, male coupling member 30 which is at least partially and releasably receivable in a second, female coupling member 40. In one embodiment, the first, male coupling member 30 comprises a first receiving portion 32 receivable in a second receiving portion 42 of the second, female coupling member 40. It is important that the first, male coupling member 30 and the second, female coupling member 40, and particularly, the first, male receiving portion 32 and the second, female receiving portion 42 are configured to substantially conform in shape to thereby allow a close fitting engagement between an exterior surface of the first, male receiving portion 32 and an interior surface of the second, female receiving portion 42. Preferably, the first, male coupling member 30 and/or the first, male receiving portion 32 are configured with a tapered external cylindrical wall, such as in the form of a frustum-shaped cylinder, while the second, female coupling member 40 and/or the second, female receiving portion 42 are correspondingly shaped to define a complementary, tapered internal space for receiving the first, male coupling member 30 and/or its receiving portion 32.

Preferably, the first, male coupling member 30 and the second, female coupling member 40 are substantially or at least partially hollow to define a respective first internal space 33 and a second internal space 43 therein. The first internal space 33 of the first coupling member 30 and the second internal space 43 of the second coupling member 40 cooperatively form a wholly, substantially or partially continuous hollow centre along a longitudinal axis A-A of the coupling assembly 20, as shown in the figures, when the first coupling member 30 and the second coupling member 40 are assembled with each other, i.e. connected to one another. In one specific embodiment, the first coupling member 30 and the second coupling member 40 each defines an average radial wall thickness (d ₁ and d ₂) to an internal diameter (D) in a ratio in a range of about 1: 5 to about 1: 50, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. More preferably, the first, male coupling member 30 and the second, female coupling 40 are configured to taper along the longitudinal axis A-A such that the taper of the first, male coupling member 30 and/or its male receiving portion 32 is inwardly inclined towards the second, female coupling member 40 and/or its female receiving portion 42.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the first, male coupling member 30 preferably comprises a first supporting means 34 arranged in the first internal space 33, and the second coupling member comprises a second supporting means 44 arranged in the second internal space 43. Preferably, the first supporting means 34 spans the width of the first internal space 33. Preferably also, the second supporting means 44 spans the width of the second internal space 43. In one embodiment, the first supporting means 34 may comprise one or more first arm portions 36 radially extending outwardly from a center of the first supporting means 34 to connect the first supporting means 34 with the internal surface of the cylindrical wall of the first, male coupling member 30. Likewise, the second supporting means 44 may also comprise one or more second arm portions 46 radially extending outwardly from a center of the second supporting means 44 to connect the second supporting means 34 with the internal surface of the cylindrical wall of the second, female coupling member 40. Preferably, the first supporting means 34 and the second supporting means 44 are formed to be at least partially resilient. More preferably, the one or more first arm portions 36 of the first supporting member 34 and the one or more second arm portions 46 of the second supporting member 44 each define a respective angle of inclination (θ) with the longitudinal axis A-A of the coupling assembly 20. The respective angles of inclination (θ) may range from about 45 deg to about 90 deg with respect to the longitudinal axis A-A. In one embodiment, at least one of the first and the second supporting means 34, 44 are provided in the form of or comprises a web-like structure with a plurality of

inclined arm portions

36, 46 radially extending outwardly from within its respective

internal space

33, 43 and spanning its respective

internal space

33, 43, i.e., spanning its

respective coupling member

30, 40 internal diameter or cross-sectional area. The web structures of the supporting

members

34, 44 provide additional strength and stiffness for internally supporting the first coupling member 30 and second coupling member 40 especially when assembled together. The first and the second supporting means 34, 44 can be preferably made of one or more materials having high tensile strength such as, but not limited to, steel and/or aluminum, for example, although high density plastics materials could also be used in some embodiments. More preferably, the supporting

members

34, 44 can have a flexural modulus in a range of about 70 GPa to about 210 GPa, for example. In one embodiment, the first supporting means 34 and the second supporting means 44 can be integrally formed with the first coupling member 30 and the second coupling member 40, respectively.

In one embodiment, the first supporting means 34 and the second supporting means 44 are connectable via a connecting means 50 along the longitudinal axis A-A. Preferably, the first supporting means 34 and the second supporting means 44 connect coaxially at their respective centers via the connecting means 50, such that the two supporting

means

34, 44 are longitudinally aligned along the axis A-A when the first, male coupling member 30 and the second, female coupling member 40 are assembled to each other. Preferably, the connecting means 50 comprises a threaded shaft for connecting the first support means 34 and the second support means 44 at their respective centers via a screw-threaded connector. In one embodiment, the threaded shaft screw-threadedly 50 engages with a nut or threaded aperture 52 provided in the second, female coupling member 40 when the coupling members 20 are assembled; and releases from the nut or threaded aperture 52 when the coupling members 20 are disconnected. Preferably, the nut or threaded aperture 52 is provided in the center of the second, female supporting means 44.

In one specific embodiment, the connecting means 50 is of a length substantially comparable with a maximum distance between the first supporting means 34 and the second supporting means 44 when the

coupling members

30, 40 are loosely assembled. The connecting means 50 is therefore located within the common hollow center space of the assembled coupling assembly 20 formed by the first internal space 33 of the first coupling member 30 and the second internal space 43 of the second coupling member 40, and is thus substantially concealed from view from the exterior of the coupling assembly 20 when the first coupling means 30 and the second coupling means 40 are connected together.

Preferably, the coupling assembly 20 further comprises an actuating means 60 for actuating engagement and disengagement or locking and unlocking of the first and the

second coupling members

30, 40 during assembly and disassembly of the coupling assembly 20. The actuating means 60 is preferably arranged at an exterior of the coupling assembly 20 for easy manual access by a user. In one embodiment, the actuating means 60 may comprise a ring gear 62 operably connected with the connecting means 50 via a gear connection or a gear train 70. As shown in Fig. 5A, the gear connection 70 may comprise a plurality of planetary gears 72 engaged with a central sun gear 74, with the sun gear 74 being fixedly connected with the threaded shaft of the connecting means 50. The planetary gears 72 are each engaged with an internal circumferential gear of the ring gear 62. All of the planetary gears 72 and the sun gear 74 are arranged in respective fixed locations (in x, y and z coordinates) , but are rotatable about their own axes. In the embodiment as shown in the figures, the actuating means 60 and the gear connection assembly 70 are arranged in the internal space 33 of the first, male coupling member 30, although one skilled in the art will understand that the actuating means 60 could instead be provided on the second coupling member 40 and the gear train 70 could instead be provided in the internal space 43 of the second, female coupling member 40, without departing from the inventive concept of the present invention.

When assembling the coupling assembly 20 and thus engaging, e.g. locking, the two

coupling members

30, 40 together, the user turns the externally accessible actuating means 60 to cause the ring gear 62 to turn in the same direction of rotation. The three planetary gears 72 connected with the ring gear 62 will also be caused to rotate in the same direction causing the sun gear 74 to turn in an opposite direction. Since the sun gear 74 is fixedly connected with the threaded shaft of the connecting means 50, and the connecting means 50 connects the first supporting means 34 with the second supporting means 44, rotation of the actuating means 60 in one direction, such as a clockwise direction drives the threaded shaft of the connecting means 50 in an opposite direction, i.e. a counter-clockwise direction, to thereby move the first supporting means 34 and the second supporting means 44 towards each other or, more specifically, to draw the second supporting means 44 towards the first supporting means 34 along the longitudinal axis A-A.

Due to the resiliency of the

arm portions

36, 46 of the first and the second supporting means 34, 44, drawing of the second supporting means 44 towards the first supporting means 34 will cause a degree of flexure of the arm portions 46 of the second supporting means 44 inwardly towards one another, resulting in a decreased angle of inclination θ ₁ smaller than the at rest angle of inclination θ, i.e. the angle of inclination at its resting, unstressed state, as shown in Fig. 6. The flexing of the second arm portions 46 further causes the second, female coupling member 40 to radially constrict, i.e. to marginally reduce its diametrical size due to an inward constriction force R ₁ acting through the arm portions 46. The radially constricted second, female coupling member 40 (or the receiving portion 42 thereof) thus presses onto the received first, male coupling member 30 to facilitate locking or assembly of the first and the

second coupling members

30, 40 in a connected engaged state and preferably in a locked state.

Under the same resilient action, the arm portions 36 of the first supporting means 34 will flex outwardly, resulting in an increased angle of inclination θ ₂ (as defined by one of the arm portions 44 of the second supporting means 40 with respect to the longitudinal axis A-Ain an engaged state) larger than the at rest angle of inclination θ, i.e. the angle of inclination at its resting, unstressed state. The first, male coupling member 30 simultaneously radially expands, i.e. marginally increases its diametrical size due to an outward expansion force R ₂ act through the arm portions 36 of the first supporting means 34, as shown in Fig. 6. The simultaneous expansion of the first, male coupling member 30 and constriction of the second, female coupling member 40 act to securely grip and preferably lock the first and the

second coupling members

30, 40 in place when being assembled together.

On the other hand, when it is desired to unlock or disengage the first and the

second coupling members

30, 40, the actuating means 60 is turned in an opposite direction to previously, such as a counter-clockwise direction. The threaded shaft of the connecting means 50 will then be caused to rotate in an opposite, clockwise direction which causes the first supporting means 34 and the second supporting means 44 to relax and move away from each other, or more specifically, drives the second supporting means 44 away from the first support means 34 along the longitudinal axis A-A. The resilient arm portions 46 of the second supporting means 44 thus expand to cause the second, female coupling member 40 to radially expand, i.e. to marginally increase its diametrical size under an expansion force R ₃ (Fig. 7) _, thereby disengaging the second, female coupling member 40 from the first, male coupling member 30 to facilitate disassembly of the two

coupling members

30, 40. The angle of inclination θ ₃ (as defined by one of the arm portions 44 of the second supporting means 40 with respect to the longitudinal axis A-A during a disengagement state) may become larger than the angle of inclination θ at its resting, unstressed state.

After the first and the

second coupling members

30, 40 are unlocked or disengaged, i.e. disconnected, the release of the first coupling member 30 from the second coupling member 40 can be assisted by manipulation by the user such as by twisting or turning of the coupling members relative to each other. In one embodiment, a safety lock 64 may further be provided at the exterior of the coupling assembly 20 to prevent any unintended unlocking of the actuating means 60 and/or releasing of the coupling assembly 20.

The present invention is advantageous in that it provides a coupling mechanism for use in machinery or in the field of robotics. The coupling is of exceptionally light weight when compared with prior art couplings, which are usually made from solid steel with considerable wall thicknesses. One issue with making a thin walled, lightweight male taper sleeve is that it may not have sufficient radial stiffness to withstand the radial forces exerted on it by the female part of the coupling mechanism when assembled. The male part may thus constrict or collapse such that the static friction between the parts is lost and the coupling fails. However, in the present invention, the thin-walled, lightweight structure is achieved by having internal supporting means, preferably comprising web-shaped members, in both the male coupling member and the female coupling member. This provides significant extra radial stiffness to the coupling members and especially to the male coupling member when loaded by actuation of the central threaded shaft connecting said first and second supporting means 34, 44, i.e. the internal support web structures provided within the coupling.

Furthermore, the present invention allows the central connecting shaft to be concealed from view as it is wholly or substantially enclosed by the male and female coupling members, when assembled. Operation of the central shaft is driven by an actuating means located at the exterior of the coupling through a series of gear connection or gear train preferably comprising a planetary gear arrangement, which significantly increases the output torque. The present invention further allows connection of long structural elements where access to the end of the draw bolt, as in the prior art, would be impeded. The central threaded shaft is arranged to connect coaxially with the internal supporting means and therefore, can be used to provide a disassembly force as well as an assembly force. In addition, the internal support means preferably comprising inclined internal web structures of the female coupling member and the male coupling member cooperate with the central threaded shaft to provide an additional frictional force between the coupling members due to some resilient deformation of the respective arms of said inclined internal web structures. When the central threaded shaft is caused to rotate, this causes relative movement of the internal web structures towards or away from each other. Where the coupling members are being assembled together, the female coupling member marginally constricts its diametrical size and the male coupling member marginally expands its diametrical size due to respective changes in the inclinations of the resilient arm portions of the internal support means. This considerably improves engagement and disengagement, e.g. locking and unlocking, of the two coupling members. The actions of engaging and disengaging the two coupling members is advantageously achieved by means of the actuating means provided externally of the coupling for quick and easy manual, or in some embodiments, automatic operation. The present invention thus allows connection of structural parts, which could comprise any machine parts or especially robotic components, with high bending stiffness, torsional rigidity, fast operation, repeatability, and low weight.

The present description illustrates the principles of the present invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope.

Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only exemplary embodiments have been shown and described and do not limit the scope of the invention in any manner. It can be appreciated that any of the features described herein may be used with any embodiment. The illustrative embodiments are not exclusive of each other or of other embodiments not recited herein. Accordingly, the invention also provides embodiments that comprise combinations of one or more of the illustrative embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the invention as herein set forth can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and, therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated by the appended claims.

In the claims hereof, any element expressed as a means for performing a specified function is intended to encompass any way of performing that function. The invention as defined by such claims resides in the fact that the functionalities provided by the various recited means are combined and brought together in the manner which the claims call for. It is thus regarded that any means that can provide those functionalities are equivalent to those shown herein.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Claims

A coupling assembly, comprising:

a first coupling member at least partially releasably receivable at a second coupling member; the first coupling member comprising a first supporting means arranged in a first internal space of the first coupling member, and the second coupling member comprising a second supporting means arranged in a second internal space of the second coupling member;

wherein the first supporting means and the second supporting means are connectable via a connecting means along a longitudinal axis of the coupling assembly; the connecting means being operable to radially expand the first coupling member thereby locking the first and the second coupling members in place when being assembled.
The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means is operable to simultaneously radially constrict the second coupling member to press onto the received first coupling member when the first coupling member is expanded thereby lock the first and the second coupling members in place when assembling the first and the second coupling member.
The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means is operable to radially expand the second coupling member thereby unlocking the second coupling member from the first coupling member when disassembling the first and the second coupling members.
The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first supporting means comprises one or more first arm portions radially extending from a centre of the first supporting means to connect the first supporting means with an internal wall of the first coupling member; and the second supporting means comprises one or more second arm portions radially extending from a centre of the second supporting means to connect the second supporting means with an internal wall of the second coupling member.
The coupling assembly according to claim 4, wherein the one or more first arm portions of the first supporting member and the one or more second arm portions of the second supporting member are arranged to define an angle of inclination of about 45 deg to about 90 deg with the longitudinal axis.
The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first supporting means and the second supporting means are at least partially resilient.
The coupling assembly according to claim 4, wherein the connecting means comprises a threaded shaft connecting the first supporting means and the second supporting means at the respective centers of the first supporting means and the second supporting means.
The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means is operably connected with an actuating means via a gear connection.
The coupling assembly according to claim 8, wherein the gear connection comprises a plurality of planetary gears engaged with a sun gear fixedly connecting with the threaded shaft of the connecting means.
The coupling assembly according to claim 9, wherein the actuating means comprises a ring gear engaged with the planetary gears.
The coupling assembly according to claim 10, wherein the actuating means is operable to rotate the threaded shaft in one direction thereby moving the first supporting means and the second supporting means towards each other along the longitudinal axis; and that the actuating means is operable to rotate the threaded shaft in an opposite direction thereby moving the first supporting means and the second supporting means apart from each other along the longitudinal axis.
The coupling assembly according to claim 11, wherein the ring gear of the actuating means are turnable to operate the actuating means.
The coupling assembly according to claim 8, wherein the actuating means is arranged at an exterior of the first or the second coupling member.
The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second supporting means are provided in the form of a web-like structure spanning an internal diameter of the corresponding first and/or the second coupling member.
The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second supporting means is of a flexural modulus in a range of about 70 GPa to about 210 GPa.
The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first internal space of the first coupling member and the second internal space of the second coupling member form a substantially continuous hollow center along the longitudinal axis when the first coupling member and the second coupling member are connected.
The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling member and the second coupling member each defines an average wall thickness to an internal diameter ratio in a range of about 1: 5 to about 1: 50.
The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling member comprises a first receiving portion receivable at a second receiving portion of the second coupling member.
The coupling assembly according to claim 18, wherein at least the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion are conformed in shape and are tapered.
The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling member and the second coupling are tapered along the longitudinal axis of the first coupling member and the second coupling member when connected.
The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means is of a length substantially comparable with a maximum distance between the first supporting means and the second supporting means.
The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means is substantially concealed from view when the first coupling means and the second coupling means are connected.
A coupling assembly, comprising:

a first coupling member releasably receivable at a second coupling member; the first coupling member comprising a first supporting means arranged in a first internal space of the first coupling member, and the second coupling member comprising a second supporting means arranged in a second internal space of the second coupling member; the first supporting means and the second supporting means are connectable via a connecting mean along a longitudinal axis of the coupling assembly;

an actuating means arranged at an exterior of at least one of the first coupling member and the second coupling member; the actuating means being operatively connected with the connecting means, such that the actuating means is operable externally to actuate movement of the second supporting means relative to the first supporting means thereby locking or unlocking the first and the second coupling members when being assembled or disassembled.
The coupling assembling according to claim 23, wherein the actuating means and the connecting means are connected via a planetary gear connection.
The coupling assembly according to claim 24, wherein the planetary gear connection comprises a plurality of planetary gears engaged with a sun gear fixedly connecting with the connecting means.
The coupling assembly according to claim 23, wherein the actuating means comprises a ring gear engaged with the planetary gears.
The coupling assembly according to claim 23, wherein the actuating means is operable to rotate the connecting means in one direction thereby moving the first supporting means and the second supporting means towards each other along the longitudinal axis of the coupling assembly; and that the actuating means is operable to rotate the connecting means in an opposite direction thereby moving the first supporting means and the second supporting means apart from each other along the longitudinal axis.
The coupling assembly according to claim 27, wherein the actuating means is operable to rotate the connecting means in moving the first supporting means and the second supporting means towards each other such that the second coupling member is radially constricted to press onto the received first coupling member thereby locking the first and the second coupling members in place for assembling the first and the second coupling members.
The coupling assembly according to claim 28, wherein when the actuating means is operable to rotate the connecting means in moving the first supporting means and the second supporting means towards each other to thereby constrict the second coupling member, the first coupling member is caused to simultaneously radially expand to thereby lock the first and the second coupling members in place for assembling the first and the second coupling member.
The coupling assembly according to claim 27, wherein the actuating means is operable to rotate the connecting means in moving the first supporting means and the second supporting means apart from each other such that the second coupling member is radially expanded to unlock from the first coupling member for disassembling the first and the second coupling members.
The coupling assembly according to claim 23, wherein the first supporting means comprises one or more first arm portions radially extending from a center of the first supporting means to connect the first supporting means with an internal wall of the first coupling member; and the second supporting means comprises one or more second arm portions radially extending from a center of the second supporting means to connect the second supporting means with an internal wall of the second coupling member.
The coupling assembly according to claim 23, wherein the first supporting means and the second supporting means are at least partially resilient.
The coupling assembly according to claim 23, wherein the connecting means is of a length substantially comparable with a maximum distance between the first supporting means and the second supporting means along the longitudinal axis.
The coupling assembly according to claim 23, wherein the connecting means is substantially concealed from view when the first coupling means and the second coupling means are connected.