# US 11,906,069 B2 · Compliant joint drive assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,906,069 B2 - Document ID: US11906069B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/943,570 - Filed: 2022-09-13 - Published: 2023-03-16 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-13 - Assignees: Goodrich Corporation - Applicants: Goodrich Corporation - Inventors: Dariusz Sapija; Łukasz Turek; Piotr Zaja̧c; Mikolaj Niewodniczanski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906069B2 ## CPC - F16K 5/0647: {Spindles or actuating means} - F16K 31/043: {characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means} - B29C 65/4855: {characterised by their physical properties, e.g. being electrically-conductive} - B29C 65/542: {by injection} - F16D 3/74: the intermediate member or members being made of rubber or other {rubber-like} flexible material - F16K 1/14: with ball-shaped valve member (check valves F16K15/04) - F16K 31/041: {for rotating valves (F16K31/055 takes precedence)} - B29K 2995/0006: Dielectric - B29L 2031/7506: {Valves} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A method of forming a dielectric barrier and torque transfer member between a drive shaft and a driven shaft of a torque transfer assembly. The method includes assembling the drive shaft and the driven shaft in axially adjacent relationship to one another, the drive shaft and the driven shaft each having a recess formed therein such that when the shafts are assembled, the recesses cooperate to define a chamber extending across the interface between the drive and driven shaft and into the interior of both the drive and the driven shaft. The method further includes injecting a dielectric adhesive or resin material into the chamber to fill the chamber and to extend across the interface between the drive and the driven shaft, and curing the dielectric material to form a dielectric barrier between and to provide torque transfer between the drive and the driven shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A torque transfer assembly comprising: a drive shaft; a driven shaft; and a dielectric insert positioned between the drive shaft and the driven shaft, the insert comprising: a dielectric adhesive or epoxy resin material injected between the drive shaft and the driven shaft to form an insulating layer and to extend into the drive shaft and into the driven shaft, the insulating layer providing a dielectric barrier and torque transfer member between the drive shaft and the driven shaft; a support structure embedded in the dielectric material and formed as a thin lattice or cage structure around which the dielectric material is shaped and cured. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert has a non-circular cross-section and is received in correspondingly shaped recesses in the drive shaft and the driven shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly is a ball shaft assembly comprising: a ball shaft; and a cam shaft as the driven shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A water supply system including the assembly of claim 3. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The water supply system of claim 4, being an aircraft water supply system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a motor for rotating the drive shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The assembly of claim 6, wherein the motor is an electric motor. ### Claim 8 A method of forming a dielectric barrier and torque transfer member between a drive shaft and a driven shaft of a torque transfer assembly, the method comprising: assembling the drive shaft and the driven shaft in axially adjacent relationship to one another, the drive shaft and the driven shaft each having a recess formed therein such that when the shafts are assembled, the recesses cooperate to define a chamber extending across the interface between the drive and driven shaft and into the interior of both the drive and the driven shaft; injecting a dielectric adhesive or resin material into the chamber to fill the chamber and to extend across the interface between the drive and the driven shaft; curing the dielectric material to form a dielectric barrier between and to provide torque transfer between the drive and the driven shaft; and providing a support structure for the dielectric material in the chamber between and extending across the interface between the driven and the drive shafts to provide a frame for the injected dielectric material; and wherein the support structure is formed as a thin lattice or cage structure around which the dielectric material can shape and cure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the support structure is made of a light-weight non-conductive material that remains in place as part of the dielectric barrier after the dielectric material has cured. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the support structure is made of aluminium. ### Claim 11 A method of forming a dielectric barrier and torque transfer member between a drive shaft and a driven shaft of a torque transfer assembly, the method comprising: assembling the drive shaft and the driven shaft in axially adjacent relationship to one another, the drive shaft and the driven shaft each having a recess formed therein such that when the shafts are assembled, the recesses cooperate to define a chamber extending across the interface between the drive and driven shaft and into the interior of both the drive and the driven shaft; injecting a dielectric adhesive or resin material into the chamber to fill the chamber and to extend across the interface between the drive and the driven shaft; curing the dielectric material to form a dielectric barrier between and to provide torque transfer between the drive and the driven shaft; and providing a support structure for the dielectric material in the chamber between and extending across the interface between the drive and the driven shafts to provide a frame for the injected dielectric material; and wherein the support structure is at least partly removed after injection of the dielectric material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the support structure is at least partly removed by the application of a high voltage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the support structure is made of aluminium.