Constant velocity coupling and control system therefor
OwnerGlenn Alexander Thompsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A constant velocity coupling which rotatably connects an input shaft to an output shaft via a control mechanism which includes a gimbal arrangement with an inner yoke rotatably connected to an outer yoke. The control mechanism includes a control yoke to constrain at least portions of the coupling to lie on or in association with a homokinetic plane of the coupling. The control mechanism operates symmetrically about a supplementary angle bisector. In another arrangement the coupling includes a double constant velocity joint in which the control mechanism is located in a control tube connecting the two joints. In another arrangement the angle between the input shaft and the output shaft is controlled so as to vary the volumetric capacity of a swash plate hydraulic displacement device.
Claims38
A constant velocity coupling wherein the conditions for substantially equal instantaneous transfer of angular velocities between a first shaft and a second shaft are maintained by a control mechanism, said coupling including:
- (a) a first shaft rotation axis of said first shaft;
- (b) a second shaft rotation axis of said second shaft;
- (c) a control mechanism;
- (d) a generally U-shaped first shaft yoke provided with a first shaft control pin attached to one arm of said first shaft yoke, wherein an axis of said first shaft control pin, said first shaft rotation axis, and an axis defined by journals of said first shaft yoke intersect at a geometric centre of said coupling;
- (e) a second shaft boss having an axis normal to said second shaft rotation axis;
- and
- (f) a second shaft control pin;
- wherein an axis of said second shaft control pin, said second shaft rotation axis and a rotation axis of said boss intersect at the geometric centre of the coupling, and wherein the control mechanism is adapted to constrain at least portions of said coupling so as to achieve a substantially constant velocity characteristic between the first and second shafts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.