Flexible drive coupling
AssigneeDouville-Johnston Corporation
InventorChristopher B. McCoy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible drive coupling comprised of a pair of identical coupling members and a flexible coupling insert disposed between the two coupling members for transmitting torque from the coupling member connected to the shaft of the prime mover to the coupling member connected to the shaft of the load. Each of the coupling members has a generally epitrochoidal-shaped insert disposed within a similarly shaped bore in the coupling member. The insert in turn has a shaft bore formed therein and a break in one wall thereof so that when torque is applied thereto, the insert readily conforms to the size of the shaft to thereby clamp the coupling member to the shaft.
Claims12
In a drive coupling for transmitting rotational energy from a driving shaft to a driven shaft including a pair of coupling members each having a plurality of drive lugs and a coupling element disposed intermediate said coupling members for transmitting rotational energy from the coupling member disposed on said driving shaft to the coupling member disposed on said driven shaft;
- an improved means of securing a coupling member to a shaft comprising a substantially epitrochoidal-shaped insert disposed within a similarly shaped bore formed in said coupling member, said insert having a shaft bore formed therein including means for preventing rotation of said insert relative to said shaft, and a narrow gap formed in one wall of said insert for permitting said insert to conform to the size of said shaft upon the application of torque from the driving shaft to said insert, thereby preventing axial movement of said coupling member relative to said shaft.
In a drive coupling for transmitting rotational energy from a driving shaft to a driven shaft including a pair of coupling members disposed on said shafts;
- an improved means of securing a coupling member to a shaft comprising an insert disposed within a bore in said coupling member and having a shaft bore formed therein, including means for preventing rotation of said insert relative to said shaft, and a gap formed in one wall thereof, said insert being characterized by a non-circular cross-sectional configuration that precludes rotation of said insert relative to said coupling member and causes the shaft bore in said insert to automatically conform to the size of said shaft by closing said gap upon the application of torque from the driving shaft to said insert.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.