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US 7,763,336 B2Granted
Flexible coupling sleeve and a flexible shaft coupling incorporating same
AssigneeThe Gates Corporation
InventorsArthur Jack Clarke, Richard Bell, Joseph R. Duke, Jr., William W. L. Wu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexible shaft coupling sleeve comprising a sleeve shaped body having a central annular portion and a coupling receiving portion at each of two opposing sleeve ends, and a coupling device incorporating such sleeve. The sleeve's coupling receiving portions include axially extending teeth on their inner surfaces. The flexible shaft coupling sleeve is formed of a polyurethane elastomer composition.
Claims59
A coupling sleeve for use in a sleeve-type flexible shaft coupling device having two substantially coaxial end pieces, comprising a generally annular body having an inner periphery and an outer periphery;
- said body comprising a central cylindrical portion and two opposing sleeve end portions at either end of said central cylindrical portion of generally cylindrical shape defining respective coupling receiving portions which coaxially mate in rotational driving relation with said end pieces of the coupling device;
- said coupling receiving portions each comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending teeth arranged along at least a portion of said inner periphery which substantially mesh with complementary grooves in the outer periphery of said end pieces, and characterized in that at least one of said central cylindrical portion and said coupling receiving portions comprises a polyurethane elastomer composition exhibiting thermal stability in the range from about −35° C. to at least about 140° C., and wherein said coupling sleeve possesses an M100 of at least about 1000 psi;
- and wherein said coupling sleeve has a ratio of outside diameter to shell thickness of from about 8 to about 11.
A coupling sleeve for use in a sleeve-type flexible shaft coupling device having two substantially coaxial end pieces, comprising a generally annular body having an inner periphery and an outer periphery;
- said body comprising a central cylindrical portion adapted to resist torsional stress and two opposing sleeve end portions of generally cylindrical shape defining respective coupling receiving portions which coaxially mate in rotational driving relation with said end pieces of the coupling device;
- said coupling receiving portions each comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending teeth arranged along at least a portion of said inner periphery which substantially mesh with complementary grooves in the outer periphery of said end pieces, and characterized in that at least one of said central cylindrical portion and said coupling receiving portions comprises a polyurethane elastomer wherein said polyurethane elastomer composition possesses urea linkages and comprises the reaction product of,
- (a) a polyisocyanate prepolymer composition being prepared by reacting,
- (i) a diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of;
- (A) aromatic diisocyanates with compact and symmetric structure, and
- (B) aliphatic diisocyanates with trans or trans, trans geometric structure,
- with;
- (ii) a polyol selected from;
- (A) polycarbonate polyols,
- (B) polyester polyols, and
- (C) a mixture of any two or more of said polycarbonate polyols and said polyester polyols,
- and;
- (b) a chain extender selected from;
- (i) symmetric primary diamine chain extenders,
- (ii) a mixture of any one or more said symmetric primary diamine chain extenders and a secondary diamine chain extender, and,
- (iii) a mixture of any one or more said symmetric primary diamine chain extenders and any one or more said polyols;
- and wherein said coupling sleeve has a ratio of outside diameter to shell thickness of from about 8 to about 11.
14 more elements
A coupling sleeve for use in a sleeve-type flexible shaft coupling device having two substantially coaxial end pieces, comprising a resilient, generally annular body having an inner periphery and an outer periphery;
- said body comprising a central cylindrical portion adapted to resist torsional stress and two opposing sleeve end portions of generally cylindrical shape defining respective coupling receiving portions at either end of said central cylindrical portion which coaxially mate in rotational driving relation with said end pieces of the coupling device;
- said coupling receiving portions each comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending teeth arranged along at least a portion of said inner periphery which substantially mesh with complementary grooves in the outer periphery of said end pieces, and characterized in that at least one of said central cylindrical portion and said coupling receiving portions comprises a polyurethane elastomer composition, wherein said polyurethane elastomer possesses an M100 of at least about 800 psi;
- and wherein said coupling sleeve has a ratio of outside diameter to shell thickness of from about 8 to about 11.
A coupling sleeve for use in a sleeve-type flexible shaft coupling device with two substantially coaxial end pieces, comprising a generally annular body having an inner periphery and an outer periphery;
- said body comprising a central cylindrical portion and two opposing sleeve end portions of generally cylindrical shape defining respective coupling receiving portions which coaxially mate in driving relation with said two end pieces of the coupling device circumferentially around the inner periphery of the sleeve;
- said coupling receiving portions each comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending teeth arranged along at least a portion of said inner periphery, and characterized in that at least one of said central cylindrical portion and said coupling receiving portions comprises a polyurethane elastomer composition comprising the reaction product of,
- (a) a polyisocyanate prepolymer composition being prepared by reacting,
- (i) a diisocyanate selected from;
- (A) PPDI, and
- (B) aliphatic diisocyanates with trans or trans, trans geometric structure,
- with;
- (ii) a polyol selected from;
- (A) polycarbonate polyol,
- (B) polycaprolactone polyol, and
- (C) a mixture of any two or more of said polycarbonate polyols and said polycaprolactone polyols,
- wherein the polyisocyanate prepolymer is characterized by a level of free diisocyanate, and the level of free diisocyanate in the prepolymer is less than about 1% by weight of the prepolymer and;
- (b) a symmetric primary diamine chain extender selected from;
- (i) MCDEA, and
- (ii) TMAB,
- (iii) a mixture of any one or more said symmetric primary diamine chain extenders and any one or more said polyols;
- wherein said polyurethane elastomer composition possesses an isocyanate to amine equivalent ratio in the range of from about 0.90:1 to about 1.40:1, and an isocyanate group content of said polyisocyanate prepolymer of from about 3% to about 6% by weight;
- and
- wherein said coupling sleeve has a ratio of outside diameter to shell thickness of from about 8 to about 11.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.