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.
Claims20
A driveshaft comprising:
- (a) a connecting rod;
- (b) a plurality of adjacent vertebrae arrayed longitudinally along said connecting rod, each of said adjacent vertebrae having male interlocks and female interlocks;
- (b) a male pivot and a corresponding female pivot, said male pivot and said corresponding female pivot pivotally interposed between adjacent vertebrae of said plurality of adjacent vertebrae;
- and
- (c) wherein said male interlocks and said female interlocks of said adjacent vertebrae are pivotally mated.
A driveshaft for transferring torsional rotation comprising:
- (a) adjacent vertebrae, each said adjacent vertebrae having central vertebra through-bore, a counterbore around said central vertebra through-bore, and a plurality of pivotally mated male interlocks and corresponding female interlocks;
- (b) a male pivot and a corresponding female pivot, said male pivot and said corresponding female pivot having a pivot through-bore, wherein said male pivot and said corresponding female pivot are pivotally interposed between said adjacent vertebrae within said counterbore around said central vertebra through-bore of said adjacent vertebrae;
- and
- (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.
A driveshaft comprising;
- (a) a connecting rod;
- and
- (b) a plurality of pivotally mated vertebrae arrayed longitudinally along said connecting rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.