GB2045884A - Safety guards for cardan shafts - Google Patents

Abstract

The safety guard (for Cardan shafts and the like) comprises a tubular sheath component 10 on which the collar 16 of a funnel-shaped or equivalent guard cowl is mounted. Circumferential tongues 30, punched from the tubular sheath component 10 at the collar 16 are expanded and deformed outwards in order in their turn to deform zones of the collar and thus ensure the connection. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety guards for cardan shafts The model relates to a safety guard for Cardan shafts and the like, comprising a tubular sheath component on which the collar of a funnel-shaped or equivalent guard cowl is mounted.

According to the model, circumferential tongues are provided punched from the tubular component at the collar, these being expanded and deformed outwards in order in their turn to deform zones of the collar, so ensuring the connection.

The tongues can be formed in opposing pairs extending circumferentially, and the tongues of one pair can be adjacent and spaced apart by a separation bridge. The tongues can be punched from the outwardly deformed material during the deformation itself. The material of the collar becomes deformed (and possibly punched through) by virtue of the deformation (and punching) of the tongues.

One embodiment of the model is shown on the drawing, in which: Figure 1 is an overall view in partial longitudinal section of a Cardan shaft with the sheath; Figure2 is an enlarged detail of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an external view of a shaft with part of the terminal guard; Figure 4 is a cross-section on the line IV-IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an end detail of the tubular sheath; and Figures 6 and 7 show a mounting collar and its position on a joint.

As shown on the accompanying drawing, the reference numerals 1 and 3 indicate two tubular portions of non-circular cross-section, which can slide one in the other to constitute the telescopic shaft of a cardan drive, of which two articulated transmission joints are indicated by 5 and 7. Drive shafts of this type are characteristic, and are known for many uses, in particular but not exclusively for agriculture. These shafts must be protected by a safety guard to prevent the shaft being able to grip clothes or the like and thus drag and injure the operators. For this purpose, a telescopic tubular sheath is provided in two portions 9 and 10, which are combined with two terminal cowl or funnelshaped guards, indicated overall by 12 and 14.

In particular the funnel-shaped guard such as the guard 14 is mounted over the end of the sheath 10 by means of a flat ring collar 16, which forms part of the terminal funnel-shaped guard, this latter being engaged by an annular ring 18 in a groove 20 formed on the shaft in the connection zone between the tubular part 1 and the fork 7A of the articulated joint 7. The ring 18 comprises an edge for engagement in the groove 20, and is held externally in a seat in the terminal guard 14. The ring 18 is connected by screws 22 to the funnel-shaped guard 14, and comprises two projections 24 and 26 which are accessible from the outside of the funnel-shaped guard 14. The first projection 24 is arranged to allow a chain or another flexible member to be hooked thereon, and able to prevent the guard from being spontaneously dragged by the rotating shaft on which it is mounted.The other projection 26 is used for iubricating from the outside the groove 20 in which the ring 18 is engaged.

The collar 16 is engaged with the tubular sheath 10 (and the corresponding element of the opposite guard 14 is engaged with the tubular sheath 9) by forming tongues 30 substantially of tangential extension as shown in particular in Figures 4 and 5. After the collar 16 has been mounted on the sheath 1, zones of the material of the sheath 1 are punched and permanently deformed so as to form the tongues 30 (Figure 4), thus causing the material of the collar 16 to deform, which becomes expanded possibly to the point of itself being punched through by the deformation of the tongues 30. Consequently, the simple formation and outward deformation of the tongues 30 give rise to coupling between the parts 10 and 14 and between the parts 9 and 12.

The tongues 30 can be double and opposite each other, and can be spaced apart so that a bridge 30A remains between them. A bridge correspondingly remains in the material of th collar 16.

1. A safety guard for Cardan shafts and the like, comprising a tubular component on which the collar of a funnel-shaped or equivalent guard cowl is mounted, wherein in said guard circumferential tongues punched from the tubular component at the collar are expanded and deformed outwards in order in their turn to deform zones of the collar, thus ensuring the connection.

2. A safety guard as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the tongues are formed as opposing pairs, and are possibly spiced apart by a bridge.

3. A guard as claimed in the preceding claims, wherein the tongues are punched out by the effect of the deformation and are received in compartments formed by them in the material of the collar, which can also reach the state of being cut through.

4. A safety guard for Cardan drive shafts, comprising a tubular sheath and funnel-shaped terminal parts mounted thereon and engaged by means of outwardly deformed tongues; all as described and represented.

5. A safety guard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Safety guards for cardan shafts The model relates to a safety guard for Cardan shafts and the like, comprising a tubular sheath component on which the collar of a funnel-shaped or equivalent guard cowl is mounted. According to the model, circumferential tongues are provided punched from the tubular component at the collar, these being expanded and deformed outwards in order in their turn to deform zones of the collar, so ensuring the connection. The tongues can be formed in opposing pairs extending circumferentially, and the tongues of one pair can be adjacent and spaced apart by a separation bridge. The tongues can be punched from the outwardly deformed material during the deformation itself. The material of the collar becomes deformed (and possibly punched through) by virtue of the deformation (and punching) of the tongues. One embodiment of the model is shown on the drawing, in which: Figure 1 is an overall view in partial longitudinal section of a Cardan shaft with the sheath; Figure2 is an enlarged detail of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an external view of a shaft with part of the terminal guard; Figure 4 is a cross-section on the line IV-IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an end detail of the tubular sheath; and Figures 6 and 7 show a mounting collar and its position on a joint. As shown on the accompanying drawing, the reference numerals 1 and 3 indicate two tubular portions of non-circular cross-section, which can slide one in the other to constitute the telescopic shaft of a cardan drive, of which two articulated transmission joints are indicated by 5 and 7. Drive shafts of this type are characteristic, and are known for many uses, in particular but not exclusively for agriculture. These shafts must be protected by a safety guard to prevent the shaft being able to grip clothes or the like and thus drag and injure the operators. For this purpose, a telescopic tubular sheath is provided in two portions 9 and 10, which are combined with two terminal cowl or funnelshaped guards, indicated overall by 12 and 14. In particular the funnel-shaped guard such as the guard 14 is mounted over the end of the sheath 10 by means of a flat ring collar 16, which forms part of the terminal funnel-shaped guard, this latter being engaged by an annular ring 18 in a groove 20 formed on the shaft in the connection zone between the tubular part 1 and the fork 7A of the articulated joint 7. The ring 18 comprises an edge for engagement in the groove 20, and is held externally in a seat in the terminal guard 14. The ring 18 is connected by screws 22 to the funnel-shaped guard 14, and comprises two projections 24 and 26 which are accessible from the outside of the funnel-shaped guard 14. The first projection 24 is arranged to allow a chain or another flexible member to be hooked thereon, and able to prevent the guard from being spontaneously dragged by the rotating shaft on which it is mounted.The other projection 26 is used for iubricating from the outside the groove 20 in which the ring 18 is engaged. The collar 16 is engaged with the tubular sheath 10 (and the corresponding element of the opposite guard 14 is engaged with the tubular sheath 9) by forming tongues 30 substantially of tangential extension as shown in particular in Figures 4 and 5. After the collar 16 has been mounted on the sheath 1, zones of the material of the sheath 1 are punched and permanently deformed so as to form the tongues 30 (Figure 4), thus causing the material of the collar 16 to deform, which becomes expanded possibly to the point of itself being punched through by the deformation of the tongues 30. Consequently, the simple formation and outward deformation of the tongues 30 give rise to coupling between the parts 10 and 14 and between the parts 9 and 12. The tongues 30 can be double and opposite each other, and can be spaced apart so that a bridge 30A remains between them. A bridge correspondingly remains in the material of th collar 16. CLAIMS

1. A safety guard for Cardan shafts and the like, comprising a tubular component on which the collar of a funnel-shaped or equivalent guard cowl is mounted, wherein in said guard circumferential tongues punched from the tubular component at the collar are expanded and deformed outwards in order in their turn to deform zones of the collar, thus ensuring the connection.

2. A safety guard as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the tongues are formed as opposing pairs, and are possibly spiced apart by a bridge.

3. A guard as claimed in the preceding claims, wherein the tongues are punched out by the effect of the deformation and are received in compartments formed by them in the material of the collar, which can also reach the state of being cut through.

4. A safety guard for Cardan drive shafts, comprising a tubular sheath and funnel-shaped terminal parts mounted thereon and engaged by means of outwardly deformed tongues; all as described and represented.

5. A safety guard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.