Flexible Reinforced Radial Spline Coupling and Method
AssigneeABB Schweiz AG
InventorsThomas E. Kuckhoff, James R. Rubel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for increasing a tooth shear strength without also increasing a torsional rigidity of a flexible spline disposed between two hubs of a flexible coupling for transmitting mechanical motion between two shafts includes attaching a stiffening cap to an end of a flexible spline, between the flexible spline and the hubs and inserting a plurality of dowels into the teeth of the flexible spline to reinforce the flexible spline.
Claims20
A flexible coupling, comprising:
- two hubs, each hub configured to engage a shaft along a central portion and engage flexible spline along an engagement portion;
- a flexible member assembly of single or multiple stiffness disposed between the two hubs in engaged relation between the engagement portions of each of the two hubs, the flexible member assembly comprising:
- a flexible spline having a first end and a second end;
- a first stiffening cap attached to the first end of the flexible spline between the flexible spline and the engagement portion of one of the two hubs;
- and
- a second stiffening cap attached to the second end of the flexible spline between the flexible spline and the engagement portion of the other of the two hubs,
- wherein the engagement portion of each hub includes a row of teeth concentrically disposed with respect to a longitudinal axis, and wherein the flexible spline includes mating rows of teeth formed at either axial end thereof, the rows of teeth meshing with the rows of teeth of the engagement portion of each of the two hubs.
A flexible spline for use with a flexible coupling, the flexible coupling including two hubs, each hub configured to engage a shaft along a central portion and engage the flexible spline along an engagement portion, the flexible spline comprising:
- a plurality of teeth attached to the flexible spline, the plurality of teeth adapted to be disposed between the flexible spline and the engagement portion of the two hubs of the flexible coupling;
- and
- a plurality of dowels attached to the plurality of teeth of the flexible spline, the plurality of dowels adapted to be disposed between the flexible spline and the engagement portion of one of the two hubs of the flexible coupling.
A method for increasing a tooth shear strength without also increasing a torsional rigidity of a flexible spline disposed between two hubs of a flexible coupling for transmitting mechanical motion between two shafts, the method comprising:
- aligning a stiffening cap to a first end of the flexible spline between the flexible spline and an engagement portion of one of the two hubs, and
- attaching the stiffening cap to the first end of the flexible spline between the flexible spline and an engagement portion of one of the two hubs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.