Segmented driveshaft
OwnerKeith Boutteinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A segmented driveshaft for transmission of torque and thrust loads from one member to another along an eccentric axis of rotation. The segmented driveshaft includes a plurality of pivotally interconnected vertebrae that is distributed along a connecting rod that is pivotally connected to a drivetrain assembly. The each vertebra has male and female interlocks that are pivotally mated with the male and female interlocks of an adjacent vertebra. Interposed between the adjacent vertebrae are independent male and female pivots that pivotally engage with each another. The pivotally mated interlocks of adjacent vertebrae and the pivotally engaged pivots allow the driveshaft to extend between connecting points of a drivetrain assembly that have offset axes of rotation.
Claims17
A driveshaft comprising:
- (a) a connecting rod;
- and
- (b) a plurality of pivotally mated adjacent vertebrae each having a central through-bore through which said connecting rod extends whereby said plurality of adjacent vertebrae are arrayed longitudinally along said connecting rod, each of said adjacent vertebrae having male interlocks and female interlocks extending around the periphery of said adjacent vertebrae whereby said plurality of adjacent vertebrae are pivotally mated, each of said vertebrae having a counterbore around said central through-bore inward from each of its ends;
- and
- (c) a tubular female internal-central-pivot having a central bore through which said connecting rod extends, said tubular female internal-central-pivot pivotally corresponding with a tubular male internal-central-pivot retained within said counterbore around said central through-bore of said adjoining vertebrae.
A driveshaft comprising:
- (a) a longitudinally extending connecting rod;
- (b) a plurality of adjacent vertebrae, each of said adjacent vertebrae having a central through-bore and a counterbore around said central through-bore inward from each of its ends, said connecting rod extending through said central through-bore of each of said adjacent vertebrae whereby said plurality of adjacent vertebrae are arrayed longitudinally along said connecting rod, each of said adjacent vertebrae having male interlocks and female interlocks;
- (c) a plurality of tubular male pivots, each said male pivot corresponding with an adjoining tubular female pivot, each said male pivot and each said corresponding female pivot having a central through-bore, said connecting rod extending through said central through-bore of each said male pivot and each said corresponding adjoining female pivot, each said male pivot with said corresponding adjoining female pivot pivotally interposed between adjacent vertebrae of said plurality of adjacent vertebrae within said counterbore at said ends of said adjacent vertebrae;
- and
- (d) wherein said male interlocks and said female interlocks of said adjacent vertebrae are pivotally mated.
A driveshaft for transferring torsional rotation comprising:
- (a) a plurality of adjacent vertebrae, each said adjacent vertebrae having first and second ends, a central vertebra through-bore, a counterbore around said central vertebra through-bore, and a plurality of male interlocks and corresponding female interlocks at said first and second ends of each said adjacent vertebrae, said adjacent vertebrae pivotally mated by said male interlocks and corresponding female interlocks;
- (b) a male pivot and a corresponding female pivot, said male pivot and said corresponding female pivot each having a pivot through-bore, wherein said male pivot and said corresponding female pivot are pivotally interposed between said adjacent vertebrae within each said counterbore around said central vertebra through-bore at said ends of said adjacent vertebrae;
- (c) a connecting rod extending through said central vertebra through-bore of said adjacent vertebrae and through said pivot through-bore of said male pivot and said pivot through-bore of said female pivot;
- (d) said male pivot and said corresponding female pivot pivotally retained within said counterbore at said ends of said adjacent vertebrae;
- and
- (f) each said male pivot having a flat surface at one end and a convexly-curved pivot surface at its opposite end, each said female pivot having a concavely-curved pivot surface at one end corresponding with said convexly-curved pivot surface of said male pivot and a flat surface at its opposite end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.