Cardanically flexible coupling for transmitting high axial forces for drive trains in wind turbines

A coupling for transmitting torques and high axial forces with high torsional and low cardanic rigidity, the coupling comprising:

• a first machine component (10)(44) designed as a disc or as a rotationally symmetrical flange, on which a force and/or torque introduced from the outside acts, and a second fixed machine component (11)(45) designed as a disk or as a rotationally symmetrical flange, to which the force and/or the torque is transmitted from the first machine component (10)(44), wherein the first and the second machine components are arranged opposite and rotationally symmetrically with respect to an imaginary common axis (9) and, by means of a plurality of spring elements (1) distributed on a circumference of the first and the second machine components, are elastically connected to one another and braced against each other, wherein the coupling, in addition to said spring elements (1) distributed on the circumference of the first and the second machine components, have two or more pairs of first hydraulic springs (12)(42) and second hydraulic springs (13)(41), wherein:
• (i) the first hydraulic springs (12)(42) are arranged and functionally connected at least to the first machine component (10)(44) by connecting and clamping means (15)(48) such that the first hydraulic springs exert or transmit an axial tensile force (26) to the first machine component (10)(44) with respect to the second machine component (11)(45), and
• (ii) the second hydraulic springs (13)(41) are arranged and functionally connected at least to the second machine component 11)(45) by connecting and clamping means (14)(48) such that the second hydraulic springs exert or transmit an axial compressive force (25) to the first machine component (10)(44) with respect to the second machine component (11)(45).