Means for coupling a drive shaft to a rotatable member and the method of doing the same
US6261185A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 10, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 17, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 10, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/7058
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
To couple a drive shaft to a rotatable member for rotation therewith and the method of doing so includes providing a rotatable member having at least one end with a bore therein, a drive shaft, and an expandable and compressible coupler having a first segmented sleeve and a second segmented sleeve. The coupler is positioned within the bore of the rotatable member and the drive shaft is extended within a bore of the coupler and is coaxially disposed relative to the rotatable member. Without having to bolt or weld the drive shaft to the rotatable member, the user securely couples drive shaft to the rotatable member and substantially prevents removal of the drive shaft from the rotatable member by the user simply threading the first segmented sleeve into the second segmented sleeve thus simultaneously effecting engagement of the coupler within the bore of the rotatable member and substantially clamping or compressing of the coupler about the drive shaft.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.