Universal style coupling
US6375577B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 27, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 27, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16D2001/062
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A coupler for connecting a drive shaft to a driven member and accommodating a substantial misalignment between the drive shaft and the driven member, while minimizing audible noise and vibration. The coupling includes a hollow core nest element having a plurality of slots formed in one end, two substantially identical elongate body elements, and a plurality of spring elements. Each elongate body element has two ends, a first end being adapted to couple with either the drive shaft or the driven member, and a second end that includes a plurality of posts that engage the slots of the hollow core nest. An aperture in the hollow core nest is larger than the diameter of the elongate bodies, allowing for the components to move radially relative to each other to accommodate for any offset and misalignment between the longitudinal axes of the drive shaft and the driven member, while the spring elements ensure that the components positively contact one another to reduce audible noise that is otherwise produced by loose fitting components. In one embodiment, a spring element is integrally formed in the slots of the hollow core nest, such that the posts of the body elements are held in engagem…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.