Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Torque transmitted via flexible element – Element includes diverging wall portions defining annular...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-29
2001-03-06
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro
Torque transmitted via flexible element
Element includes diverging wall portions defining annular...
C464S088000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196926
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to flexible shaft couplings, and more particularly, to elastomeric couplings for transmitting torque between two shafts approximately aligned on a shaft axis, i.e., to elastomeric couplings joining a pair of axially spaced shafts.
In the past such elastomeric couplings have comprised a composite member extending arcuately about an axis generally coinciding with the shaft axis and including an elastomeric center element having integrally connected first and second axially spaced portions which extend radially and in opposite axial directions, together with first and second shoes which are respectively fixed to the center element and which extend in axially opposite directions, and first and second hubs which are respectively fixed within the shoes.
In the past, the first and second portions of the center element included semi-cylindrical inner surfaces to which the outer surfaces of the axially extending inner parts of the first and second shoes were fixed or bonded. In addition, in the past, the outer surfaces of the hubs respectively included radially outwardly extending collars or shoulders which were raised above the remainder of the outer surfaces and which respectively engaged the inner surfaces of the outer parts of the first and second shoes. Such projections are shown in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/120,948, which was filed Jul. 22, 1998, which is entitled Tearing Configuration for Flexible Element of Elastomeric Coupling, and which is incorporated herein by reference. Such projections had a circular cross-section in a plane extending perpendicularly to a radial line, and had a width of about one-quarter of the axial hub length and were located closer to the outer hub ends than to the inner hub ends. Such projections also received the bolts connecting the hubs to the shoes. As a consequence, only a small portion of the hubs engaged the inner surfaces of the shoes.
Thus, these previous constructions required a stepped hub or non-uniform cylindrical hub and the urethane extended below the surface of the non-formed or streight metal shoe.
Attention is directed to U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,400, which issued Jan. 6, 1987 and which is also incorporated herein by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides an elastomeric coupling for transmitting torque between two shafts approximately aligned on a shaft axis, which coupling comprises a pair of semi-circular composite members each including an elastomeric center element and a shoe having an axially inner portion fixed to the extending portion of the elastomeric center element, and an axially outer portion extending from the axially inner portion and including an inner surface. A hub is adapted to surround one of the shaft ends, and the hub includes an outer cylindrical surface having a circumference and a length. The cylindrical outer surface of the hub provides a support surface for the complementary inner surface of the axially outer portion of the shoe.
In one preferred form of the invention, the axially inner portion of the shoe is encapsulated in and fixed in the material of the elastomeric element and the axially outer portion is offset radially inwardly with respect to the axially inner portion.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings.
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Dodge Para-Flex FBX Couplings, Reliance Electric Co., 464/80, pp. 1-6, 1995.
Braun James
Goebel Alan
Binda Greg
Browne Lynne H.
Quarles & Brady LLP
Rexnord Corporation
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