Roll-flex connector
US4360226A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 5, 1980 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 5, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16L27/04
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to a connector for mechanically joining members having large force loading while enabling limited relative angular movement therebetween. The connector employs a plurality of stacked metal roll plates to provide rolling metal-to-metal contact while avoiding sliding movement of contacting members transmitting the force load between connector members. Each of the roll plates is provided with a concave and convex load carrying surface with the radius of the concave surface greater than that of the convex surface to provide rolling rather than sliding contact. To obtain universal angular movement, one embodiment of the connector employs a single stack of spherical surface roll plates while a second embodiment employs a plurality of roll plate stacks having substantially cylindrical load carrying surfaces. The roll plates are maintained in operating alignment by resilient members extending through the stack and may be enclosed for protection by a resilient cover forming a chamber that may be filled by a lubricant.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.