GB1402706A - Torque transmitting couplings - Google Patents

Abstract

1402706 Universal joints A S LAMBURN 13 July 1972 [15 April 1971] 9568/71 Heading F2U Resilient bodies 33, compressed between torque-transmitting concave surfaces 32, 34, Fig. 2, of shaft coupling members 14, 20, respectively, are arranged to roll in a generally axial direction, consequent upon a relative axial and/or angular displacement of the respective rotational axes of the coupling members 14, 20, at least one of the rolling surfaces being convex in contour, in its cross-section on a plane through the rotational axis, as shown in Fig. 1, and the rolling surfaces are arranged so that the axial and/or angular displacement, from an undeflected position, will impart to each resilient body 33 a rolling action which provides a progressively increasing resistance to the displacement. In a transverse plane, the surfaces 32, 34 may also be shaped such that relative torsional displacement will impart to each body 33 a rolling action which provides a progressively increasing resistance to the torsional displacement, as shown in Fig. 2, lower portion. Each surface 34 may carry a rib 35 for retaining body 33, which may have a corresponding recess, and/or a recess 36 may serve the same purpose. A part-spherical resilient bearing bush 16 is interposed between a spigot 12, projecting from member 14, and a seating 19, within member 20, and constrains the intersection of the rotational axes. Bush 16 may be composed of elastomeric material which is coated, at 17, 18, with dry anti-friction material, e.g. PTFE, and it may be stiffened by rigid inserts (41), Figs. 4, 5 (not shown), of a shape permitting deformation, Figs. 8, 9 (not shown) of body 16 during its assembly into sealing 19. Alternatively, two pairs of nesting segments (43, 44), Figs. 6, 7 (not shown), composed of a harder elastomer or nylon, may be inserted successively, undeformed, through aperture 40. The outer coupling member 14 may be fabricated from separate portions, welded at points 38, Fig. 2. Alternatively, member 14 may be formed in situ, either from a cylindrical tube or from a partly pre-formed tube, freely passed over the undeformed bodies 33, and indented by converging wedge-shaped tools (39), Fig. 3 (not shown), thereby also stressing bodies 33 into a compressively deformed state.