Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Torque transmitted via flexible element – Element positioned between intermeshing teeth on driving and...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-08
2001-05-22
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro
Torque transmitted via flexible element
Element positioned between intermeshing teeth on driving and...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234905
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to torsional couplings. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an elastomer coupling for use in a drive train.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Elastomer drive couplings are transmission devices that connect between a driving member and a driven member, such as in a drive train, to provide misalignment accommodation, torque carrying capability and appropriate stiffness for vibration isolation. Couplings are used, for example, in a drive train between an engine and a unit to be rotated, such as a compressor. The torsional stiffness of the coupling is designed to minimize torsional vibrations that may cause damage to the drive train components.
Examples of prior art couplings can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,444,904 to Worley, U.S. Pat. No. 2,504,750 to Strachovsky, U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,266 to Bergman, U.S. Pat. No. 3,321,935 to Wildhaber, U.S. Pat. No. 3,183,684 to Zeidler, U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,763 to Moore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,671 to Gavriles and U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,784 to Mark.
Certain ones of these prior art couplings have general deficiencies in performance and/or durability. For example, in the spider coupling described in the '784 Mark patent, the rubber blocks
24
are not bonded to the inner member lugs
22
, thus they do not effectively transfer loads to the outer member drive ring
10
. Further, the rubber blocks
24
will have the tendency to abrade against the drive ring's trapezoidal openings
14
due to slight angular and/or parallel misalignment. As a result, the drive train including the Mark's '784 device must be torn down periodically in order to replace the rubber blocks
24
. Accordingly there has been a long felt, and unmet need for a coupling capable of transmitting large torques, accommodating misalignments and which exhibits extended durability such that replacement intervals are decreased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an elastomer coupling which includes a rigid outer member and an elastomer component cooperative therewith which exhibits excellent durability. The durability improvement is provided by adhering a thin polyurethane coating on an elastomer contact face of the elastomer component. According to the invention, the coupling includes an outer member having a leading contact face, an elastomer component including a driving elastomer contact face, where the elastomer contact face includes a thin polyurethane coating.
In a preferred aspect, the elastomer component includes a rigid inner member having a plurality of radially directed rigid spokes including thin elastomer bonded skins, thus forming a plurality of bonded lugs. Each of the lugs preferably includes parallel surfaces formed thereon. The outer member, which is preferably plastic, includes a plurality of radial recesses formed therein, each including a leading contact face and an opposing trailing contact face. The plurality of bonded lugs are received, preferably in a line fit relationship within the recesses thereby accommodating slight angular and parallel misalignments, yet providing the ability to carry significant torque loads. The inventors herein determined that the durability of the skins on the bonded lugs is dramatically improved by adding the polyurethane coating. Moreover, the coating has the benefit of minimizing lubrication throw-off, such as is experienced on prior art couplings utilizing grease or oil lubrication.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an elastomer coupling is provided which comprises an outer member including a thin flange radially extending from a thicker central section, the thicker central section including a plurality of recesses formed therein each having leading and trailing contact faces, each of said plurality of recesses having a thickness dimension, and an elastomer component having an inner member with a hub including a radially peripheral surface and a plurality of radially directed spokes emanating therefrom, the spokes including preferably parallel surfaces formed thereon, driving and following thin elastomer skins of substantially constant thickness bonded to said parallel surfaces thus forming a plurality of bonded lugs each including driving and following contact faces and having a thickness dimension being substantially equal to said comparable dimension of the recesses such that the plurality of bonded lugs are preferably received in said plurality of recesses in close (line) fit relationship, and preferably a friction reducing polyurethane coating applied at least to the contact surfaces of the plurality of bonded lugs.
In accordance with another aspect, a coupling is provided which comprises an outer member including a thin flange radially extending from a thicker central section, said central section including a plurality of recesses formed radially therein each having preferably parallel leading and trailing contact faces, each said recess having a thickness dimension, and a bonded component including an inner member having a hub including a radially peripheral surface and a plurality of radially directed spokes emanating therefrom, the spokes preferably including parallel surfaces formed thereon, driving and following thin elastomer skins of preferably substantially constant thickness bonded to the parallel surfaces, thus forming a plurality of bonded lugs having a thickness dimension being preferably substantially equal to the thickness dimension of the recesses such that the plurality of bonded lugs are received in the plurality of recesses in preferable close (line) fit relationship.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for improving the durability of an elastomer coupling, comprising the steps of providing a first member including a first contact face, providing an elastomer component including an elastomer contact face opposing and adapted for operable contact and movement relative to the first contact face, and applying a thin polyurethane coating to said elastomer contact face. Preferably, the coating is applied over a suitable adhesive and processed according to a method prescribed herein.
The coupling advantageously provides improved durability as compared to prior art couplings.
Moreover, the coupling advantageously provides high torque carrying capacity while exhibiting light weight.
Moreover, the coupling advantageously provides minimal debris throw-off during rotation.
The above-mentioned and further features, advantages, and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying descriptions of the preferred embodiments and attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1803937 (1931-05-01), Jansson
patent: 2444904 (1948-07-01), Worley
patent: 2504750 (1950-04-01), Strachovsky
patent: 3183684 (1965-05-01), Zeidler
patent: 3321935 (1967-05-01), Wildhaber
patent: 3620043 (1971-11-01), Gantschnigg
patent: 4050266 (1977-09-01), Bergman
patent: 4194373 (1980-03-01), Jennings et al.
patent: 4240763 (1980-12-01), Moore
patent: 4445606 (1984-05-01), Van Laningham
patent: 4452591 (1984-06-01), Fishbaugh et al.
patent: 4477225 (1984-10-01), Burkam
patent: 4667530 (1987-05-01), Mettler et al.
patent: 4913671 (1990-04-01), Gavriles et al.
patent: 5052991 (1991-10-01), Yamaguchi et al.
patent: 5085289 (1992-02-01), Chance
patent: 5129797 (1992-07-01), Kanamaru
patent: 5435784 (1995-07-01), Mark
patent: 5564981 (1996-10-01), Iwabuchi et al.
patent: 5573462 (1996-11-01), Sweeney et al.
patent: 5677007 (1997-10-01), Tsai
patent: 3435469 A1 (1985-04-01), None
Lord Corporation, Chemical Products, Product Information,ChemglazeZ320A/B, DS10-7181, 6/97.
Lord Corporation, Elastomer Products, Product Information,Chemlok® 252X, DS10-2052D, 12/94.
Lord Corporation, Mechanical Products,Engineering Guide and Catalog for Vibration, Shock and Noise Control Products, For Industrial Applications, 3/96-15M, pp 109-118.
Gwinn James T.
Klapsinos George M.
Binda Greg
Browne Lynne H.
Gnibus Michael M.
Lord Corporation
Wayland Randall S.
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