US 2016/0102751 A1 · COUPLING AND A METHOD OF USING THE SAME

Abstract

A fluid transfer coupling includes a first and second shaft assembly. The first shaft assembly includes a shaft and annular fin attached to shaft, annular fin having one or more internal passages extending therethrough. The or each internal passage connects a centre portion of shaft to a radially outwardly facing side of annular fin. The second shaft assembly includes a shaft and annular trough extending radially outwardly of shaft. The first shaft is concentrically accommodated within second shaft with annular fin being accommodated within annular trough. In use, first shaft assembly rotates at a first rotational speed and second shaft assembly rotates at a second rotational speed, with second rotational speed being greater than first rotational speed. The difference between second and first rotational speeds cause a fluid contained within annular trough to be driven radially inwardly through the or each internal passage to centre portion of first shaft.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A fluid transfer coupling comprising:

a first shaft assembly;
and
a second shaft assembly,
the first shaft assembly comprising:
a first shaft;
and
an annular fin attached to the first shaft, the annular fin having one or more internal passages extending therethrough, the or each internal passage connecting a centre portion of the first shaft to a radially outwardly facing side of the annular fin,
the second shaft assembly comprising:
a second shaft;
and
an annular trough extending radially outwardly of the second shaft,
wherein the first shaft is concentrically accommodated within the second shaft with the annular fin accommodated within the annular trough, and
in use, the first shaft assembly rotates at a first rotational speed and the second shaft assembly rotates at a second rotational speed, the second rotational speed being greater than the first rotational speed, the difference between the second rotational speed and the first rotational speed causes a fluid contained within the annular trough to be driven radially inwardly through the or each internal passage to the centre portion of the first shaft.

10 more elements

A method of using a fluid transfer coupling, the fluid transfer coupling comprising a first shaft assembly and a second shaft assembly, the first shaft assembly comprising a first shaft and an annular fin attached to the first shaft, the annular fin having one or more internal passages extending therethrough, the or each internal passage connecting a centre portion of the first shaft to a radially outwardly facing side of the annular fin, the second shaft assembly comprising a second shaft and an annular trough extending radially outwardly of the second shaft, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) arranging the first shaft assembly concentrically within the second shaft assembly;
(ii) driving the first shaft assembly at a first rotational speed and the second shaft assembly at a second rotational speed;
(iii) introducing a supply of fluid to the annular trough;
and
(iv) the difference between the second rotational speed and the first rotational speed causing the fluid to be driven radially inwardly from the trough through the or each internal passage to the centre of the first shaft.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Coupling and a method of using the same

Life of this patent

Coupling and a method of using the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15