Self-tightening shaft coupler
AssigneeDelavan Inc.
InventorsAlex Wayne, Dennis W. Bintner, Mark H. Bartel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-tightening shaft coupler includes a rigid, elongate coupling sleeve having an externally compressible collet threaded into each end. The collets engage the ends of the shafts which are to be joined such that the shafts are coupled to one another through the coupling sleeve. The threading of the collets and the coupling sleeve is such that rotation of the shafts in a predetermined direction tends to tighten the collets onto the shafts whereby self-tightening action is achieved.
Claims20
A coupler for joining a pair of rotatable shafts in generally axial alignment, comprising:
- an elongate coupler member;
- a collet at one end of said coupler member in threaded engagement therewith having an interior recess for receiving and engaging one of the shafts to join said coupler member thereto;
- and
- engaging means at the other end of said elongate coupler member for engaging the remaining one of the shafts to join said coupler member thereto, whereby the shafts are coupled to one another through said coupler member, said engaging means including threaded means for engaging said engaging means with said coupler member, the threaded engagement of said collet and said threaded means being such that rotation of one of said shafts in a predetermined direction tends to further engage said collet and said engaging means with the coupler member.
A self-tightening coupler for joining a pair of shafts for co-rotation with one another, comprising:
- an elongate sleeve having an internally threaded bore at each end thereof;
- a first collet defining a first interior recess for receiving the end of one of the shafts therein, said first collet being rotatably received in one of said internally threaded bores for movement along the axis of said sleeve in response to rotation of said first collet relative thereto such that the dimension of said first interior recess is determined by the axial position of said first collet within said sleeve;
- and
- a second collet defining a second interior recess for receiving the end of the other one of the shafts therein, said second collet being rotatably received in the other one of said internally threaded bores for movement along the axis of said sleeve in response to rotation of said second collet relative thereto;
- said collets and said bores being arranged such that rotation of the shafts in a predetermined direction results in axial movement of said collets in a direction tending to reduce the dimensions of said first and second interior recesses, whereby said coupler self tightens on the shafts as the shafts rotate in said predetermined direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.