Flexible coupling with rectangular flex frame and uniform stiffness
AssigneeKamatics Corporation
InventorRobert J. Mayerjak
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Abstract
A flexible coupling comprised of one or more flex frames connected in series between end fittings has the legs of its flex frames so dimensioned as to provide the coupling with a uniform bending stiffness with respect to bending moments in planes at all angles to the rotational axis. This is achieved by having each flex frame itself be of uniform bending stiffness with the other coupling components designed so as to have substantially no influence on the coupling's bending characteristics, or by using in the coupling at least one "compensator" flex frame specifically dimensioned to have a non-uniform bending stiffness compensating the non-uniform bending stiffnesses of the other coupling components.
Claims20
A flexible coupling for connecting driving and driven rotary members the rotational axes of which may be slightly misaligned relative to one another, said coupling comprising a first connecting means for connecting said coupling to said driving member, a second connecting means for connecting said coupling to said driven member, and at least one rectangular flex frame connected between said first connecting means and said second connecting means, said at least one flex frame having four legs consisting of two short legs generally identical and parallel to each other and two long legs longer than said short legs which long legs are generally identical and parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to said short legs, said legs of said at least one flex frame having cross sections of such dimensions that the stiffness of said coupling with respect to a bending moment applied between said first connecting means and said second connecting means in a plane containing said rotational axes of said driving and driven members is substantially uniform for all angles of said plane about said rotational axis of said driving member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.