Axial movement limiting coupling assembly
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsCarmen S. Terranova, Rustam B. Chinoy
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Abstract
A coupling assembly for two aligned rotating shafts connected together by shear bolts. The coupling assembly includes a casing which limits the axial movement of the shafts by engaging a surface of one of the shafts after shearing occurs and the connection between the shafts has been severed. The casing is connected to the shaft in a manner that forms a chamber for housing a lubricating fluid to ensure lubrication of the relatively moving parts of the coupling assembly after shearing occurs. A circumferential taper is provided on one of the shafts to cause the lubricating fluid to generate hydrodynamic pressure after shearing occurs.
Claims2
A coupling assembly for aligned first and second shafts comprising:
- a. flanged portions on each of said shafts, said flanged portions having openings therein;
- b. a plurality of shear bolts receivable in said openings for joining the flanged portions of the shafts together;
- c. a casing having an axially extending portion abutting the flanged portion of said first shaft and a radially extending portion surrounding said second shaft;
- d. a plurality of assembly bolts engaging said axially extending portion of said casing for assembling said casing to the flanged portion of said first shaft;
- and
- e. means for retaining lubricating fluid within said coupling assembly, said means comprising a chamber formed between said casing and the flanged portion of said first shaft, a gasket disposed between said axially extending portion of said casing and the flanged portion of said first shaft, and a seal disposed between said radially extending portion of said casing and said second shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.