Spline centering device
AssigneeLucas Aerospace Power Transmission Corp.
InventorJohn H. Ferguson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spline centering device is arranged on a member having a spline in mating engagement with a spline on a member having a hole not otherwise having spline centering or piloting characteristics. The centering device features a spring loaded tapered member which locks into the hole to provide the required piloting affect and to therby reduce spline motion and spline tooth wear.
Claims11
A mechanical coupling including a first member having an internal spline, and a second member having an external spline in mating engagement with the internal spline and having a spline centering device, comprising:
- the first member having a longitudinally extending internal hole on one end thereof, said hole not otherwise having diameter and location tolerances suitable for spline centering purposes;
- the second member disposed within the first member so that the internal and external splines are in mating engagement, and the second member having a longitudinally extending shaft portion extending into the hole in the first member;
- and
- the longitudinally extending shaft portion carrying a spring biased tapered member for engaging the hole, the tapered member being longitudinally displaceable along the shaft portion for picking up the inside diameter of the hole as a pilot to provide the spline centering device for the coupling.
A mechanical coupling including a first member having an internal spline and a second member having an external spline in mating engagement with the internal spline, comprising:
- the second member disposed within the first member so that the internal and external splines are in mating engagement;
- the second member having an internal diameter at one end thereof for receiving an external diameter at a corresponding end of the first member in a spline centering arrangement at the corresponding end of the coupling, and the first member having a longitudinally extending internal hole at the opposite end thereof, said hole not otherwise having diameter and location tolerances suitable for spline centering purposes;
- the second member having a longitudinally extending portion extending into the hole in the first member;
- and
- the longitudinally extending portion carrying a spring biased tapered member for engaging the hole, whereby said tapered member picks up the inside diameter of the hole as a pilot to provide a spline centering arrangement at the opposite end of the coupling.
A spline assembly with spline centering means, comprising:
- a first member carrying an internal spline;
- a second member carrying an external spline;
- the second member disposed within the first member so that the splines carried by said members are in mating engagement;
- the second member having an internal diameter on one end thereof for providing a pilot for an outside diameter on a corresponding one end of the first member;
- the first member having a longitudinally extending internal hole on the other end thereof;
- the second member having a longitudinally extending portion on its corresponding other end which is received by the hole;
- the longitudinally extending portion carrying a spring loaded member which tapers decreasingly outwardly and is displaceable for engaging the hole, whereby the hole is effective for providing a pilot for the other end of the second member;
- and
- the pilot for the one end of the first member and the pilot for the other end of the second member cooperating to provide the spline centering means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.