Device for permanently coupling two shafts
AssigneeLemforder Nacam S.A.
InventorsAntoine Couallier, André Laisement, Benoît De Rincquesen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for permanently coupling two shafts rotatable about a common axis comprises a tubular intermediate member disposed between the outer shaft and the inner shaft, an elastic connecting member disposed between the inner shaft and the tubular intermediate member, the elastic member being attached directly to the inner shaft and to the tubular intermediate member; and rotational connecting means between the outer shaft and the tubular intermediate member. When the coupling is mounted on an automobile vehicle steering column, the inner shaft is a tube of the steering shaft and the outer shaft is the connection end of the yoke of a universal joint.
Claims20
A shaft coupling for permanently coupling a pair of shafts, comprising:
- (a) an inner shaft (2);
- (b) a tubular outer shaft (1) arranged in coaxially spaced relation about said inner shaft;
- (c) a tubular intermediate assembly (4) arranged coaxially between said inner and outer shafts;
- (d) an annular elastic connecting member (3) arranged coaxially between said inner shaft and said tubular intermediate assembly, respectively, said elastic connecting member being permanently secured to said inner shaft and to said tubular intermediate assembly;
- (e) first axial displacement prevention means (30, 41;
- 30, 24;
- 42) adjacent a first end of said intermediate assembly for preventing axial displacement of said intermediate assembly relative to said outer shaft;
- (f) first safety means (17, 31) adjacent said first end of said intermediate assembly for preventing axial displacement of said inner shaft in at least one direction relative to said intermediate assembly in the event of degradation of said elastic member;
- (g) first rotation prevention means (23, 6;
- 42) preventing rotation of said intermediate assembly relative to said outer shaft;
- and
- (h) second safety means (19, 33) preventing relative rotation between said inner shaft and said tubular intermediate assembly in the event of degradation of said elastic member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.