US 10,865,835 B1 · Shaft coupling alignment device

Abstract

A coupling for attaching a pair of longitudinally aligned rotatable shafts. It has a pair of circular hubs having a bore through a central axis. A shaft is fixed within each bore. A circular power ring is positioned between the hubs. Either the hubs or the power ring have circular apertures through and spaced around each hub and a hollow bushing positioned in each circular aperture. The other of the hubs or the power ring has mating coupling pins extending outwardly mounted within a corresponding one of the hollow bushings. Preferably an end of the coupling pins mating with the bushings have a generally truncated spherical, bulbous configuration with an outside diameter about 5% to about 25% greater than an outside diameter of its opposite end. Preferably elastically deformable, solid cylindrical spacers are attached to, and projecting between each circular hub and the circular power ring.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A hollow bushing comprising

an elastically deformable outer cylinder,
an elastically deformable inner cylinder positioned within the elastically deformable outer cylinder, and
a cylindrical, radially compressible spring sleeve having a corrugated, perforated surface, said sleeve being fixed between the elastically deformable outer cylinder and the elastically deformable inner cylinder;
wherein
the elastically deformable outer cylinder comprises a first rubbery material, and the elastically deformable inner cylinder comprises a different second rubbery material, wherein
the second rubbery material has a Shore hardness greater than the Shore hardness of the first rubbery material, and
the spring sleeve comprises a porous metal mesh.

4 more elements

A coupling for attaching a pair of longitudinally aligned, rotatable shafts comprising:

a) a pair of circular hubs, each circular hub having an inner flat surface and an outer surface, each circular hub having a bore through a central axis thereof;
an attachment fixing one of the rotatable shafts within each bore;
a plurality of circular apertures through and substantially equally spaced around each circular hub;
a plurality of hollow bushings positioned such that one hollow bushing is positioned in each circular aperture;
said hollow bushings comprising an elastically deformable outer cylinder,
an elastically deformable inner cylinder positioned within the elastically deformable outer cylinder, and
a cylindrical, radially compressible spring sleeve having a corrugated, perforated surface, said sleeve being fixed between the elastically deformable outer cylinder and the elastically deformable inner cylinder;
b) a circular power ring positioned between the inner flat surface of each circular hub;
said circular power ring having front and rear flat surfaces;
a plurality of coupling pins, said coupling pins having a first end and a second end, said first end being fixed to and extending outwardly from each of the front and rear surfaces of said circular power ring, and the second end of said coupling pins having a generally truncated spherical, bulbous configuration such that the second end has an outside diameter about 5% to about 25% greater than an outside diameter of the first end;
each of said coupling pins being mounted such that the bulbous second end of each coupling pin is positioned for a frictional engagement within a corresponding one of the hollow bushings, and an inside diameter of each of the bushings is at least 0.125 inch larger than an outside diameter each bulbous second end of each coupling pin;
and wherein
the circular power ring is axially free floating with respect to each circular hub.

10 more elements

A coupling for attaching a pair of longitudinally aligned, rotatable shafts comprising:

a) a pair of circular hubs each circular hub having an inner flat surface and an outer surface, each circular hub having a bore through a central axis thereof;
an attachment fixing one of the rotatable shafts within each bore;
a plurality of coupling pins, said coupling pins having a first end and a second end, said first end being fixed to and extending outwardly from each of the inner flat surfaces of said circular hubs, and the second end of said coupling pins having a generally truncated spherical, bulbous configuration such that the second end has an outside diameter about 5% to about 25% greater than an outside diameter of the first end;
b) a circular power ring positioned between the inner flat surface of each circular hub;
said circular power ring having front and rear flat surfaces;
a plurality of circular apertures through and substantially equally spaced around the front and rear flat surfaces of the power ring;
a plurality of hollow bushings positioned such that one hollow bushing is positioned in each circular aperture;
said hollow bushings comprising an elastically deformable outer cylinder,
an elastically deformable inner cylinder positioned within the elastically deformable outer cylinder, and a cylindrical, radially compressible spring sleeve having a corrugated, perforated surface,
said sleeve being fixed between the elastically deformable outer cylinder and the elastically deformable inner cylinder;
each of said coupling pins being mounted such that the bulbous second end of each coupling pin is positioned for a frictional engagement within a corresponding one of the hollow bushings, and an inside diameter of each of the bushings is at least 0.125 inch larger than an outside diameter each bulbous second end of each coupling pin;
and wherein the circular power ring is axially free floating with respect to each circular hub.

9 more elements

A coupling for attaching a pair of longitudinally aligned, rotatable shafts comprising:

a) a pair of circular hubs each circular hub having an inner flat surface and an outer surface, each circular hub having a bore through a central axis thereof;
an attachment fixing one of the rotatable shafts within each bore;
a plurality of circular apertures through and substantially equally spaced around each circular hub;
a plurality of hollow bushings positioned such that one hollow bushing is positioned in each circular aperture;
said hollow bushings comprising an elastically deformable outer cylinder, an elastically deformable inner cylinder positioned within the elastically deformable outer cylinder, and
a cylindrical, radially compressible spring sleeve having a corrugated, perforated surface, said sleeve being fixed between the elastically deformable outer cylinder and the elastically deformable inner cylinder;
wherein the elastically deformable outer cylinder comprises a first rubbery material, and the elastically deformable inner cylinder comprises a different second rubbery material, wherein the second rubbery material has a Shore hardness greater than the Shore hardness of the first rubbery material, and the spring sleeve comprises a porous metal mesh,
b) a circular power ring positioned between the inner flat surface of each circular hub;
said circular power ring having front and rear flat surfaces;
a plurality of coupling pins, said coupling pins having a first end and a second end, said first ends being fixed to and extending outwardly from each of the front and rear surfaces of said circular power ring, each of said coupling pins being mounted such that the second end of each coupling pin is positioned for a frictional engagement within a corresponding one of the hollow bushings, and wherein
the circular power ring is axially free floating with respect to each circular hub.

8 more elements

A coupling for attaching a pair of longitudinally aligned, rotatable shafts comprising:

a) a pair of circular hubs each circular hub having an inner flat surface and an outer surface, each circular hub having a bore through a central axis thereof;
an attachment fixing one of the rotatable shafts within each bore;
a plurality of coupling pins, said coupling pins having a first end and a second end, said first ends being fixed to and extending outwardly from each of the front and rear surfaces of said circular power ring,
b) a circular power ring positioned between the inner flat surface of each circular hub;
said circular power ring having front and rear flat surfaces;
a plurality of circular apertures through and substantially equally spaced around each front and rear flat surfaces;
a plurality of hollow bushings positioned such that one hollow bushing is positioned in each circular aperture;
said hollow bushings comprising an elastically deformable outer cylinder, an elastically deformable inner cylinder positioned within the elastically deformable outer cylinder, and a cylindrical, radially compressible spring sleeve having a corrugated, perforated surface, said sleeve being fixed between the elastically deformable outer cylinder and the elastically deformable inner cylinder;
wherein
the elastically deformable outer cylinder comprises a first rubbery material, and the elastically deformable inner cylinder comprises a different second rubbery material, wherein the second rubbery material has a Shore hardness greater than the Shore hardness of the first rubbery material, and the spring sleeve comprises a porous metal mesh;
each of said coupling pins being mounted such that the second end of each coupling pin is positioned for a frictional engagement within a corresponding one of the hollow bushings, and wherein
the circular power ring is axially free floating with respect to each circular hub.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Shaft coupling alignment device

Life of this patent

Shaft coupling alignment device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23