Friction joint for joining together machine elements

In a friction joint for both axially and rotatably fixing a first machine element with respect to a second machine element, said first machine element being partially received in a cavity formed in said second machine element to define an annular space between an outer surface of said first machine element and an inner cavity-defining surface of said second machine element, the friction joint including at least one sleeve-like member having inner and outer circumferential surfaces and opposed end faces, said sleeve-like member being mounted so as to extend around said first machine element in said annular space, the improvement comprising:

• said at least one sleeve-like member is mounted for tilting movement between a first non-tilted position and a second tilted position angularly displaced from said first non-tilted position and wherein in said first non-tilted position, said inner circumferential surface of said at least one sleeve-like member is in non-locking relationship with and free to rotate with respect to said outer surface of said first machine element and said outer circumferential surface of said at least one sleeve-like member is in non-locking relationship with and free to rotate with respect to said inner cavity-defining surface of said second machine element and wherein in said second tilted position, said inner circumferential surface of said at least one sleeve-like member frictionally interlocks with said outer surface of said first machine element and, simultaneously therewith, said outer circumferential surface of said at least one sleeve-like member frictionally interlocks with said inner cavity-defining surface of said second machine element to prevent both axial and rotational movement of said first and second machine elements with respect to each other, and means for tilting said at least one sleeve-like member from said first non-tilted position to said second tilted position.