Joint assembly having self-biasing mechanism to bias two shafts into coaxial alignment
US5860864A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 10, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 19, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 10, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/121
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A joint assembly for connecting two spaced drive shafts, such as in a submergible pumping system. The joint assembly comprises a connecting shaft having enlarged bodies on each end thereof, a housing surrounding each enlarged body, each housing connectable to one of the drive shafts, lock devices for preventing relative rotational movement of the connecting shaft with respect to the drive shafts, and mechanisms within each housing acting upon the enlarged bodies to bias the connecting shaft into coaxial alignment with the drive shafts. With this joint assembly lateral displacement or "wobble" of the drive shafts is permitted, yet the bias mechanisms tend to restore the drive shafts to coaxial alignment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.