US3574277A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Frictionless universal joint
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1969-04-04
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Granted: 1971-04-13
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Expires: 1989-04-04
Abstract
Abstract The invention disclosed herein describes a universal joint having two coupling members pivotally connected to a gimbal plate about two axes of rotation. The pivot members that interconnect the relatively rotating members each include a pair of sleeves flexibly connected to each other by a plurality of leaf springs. The relative flexing of each pair of sleeves permits each pivot member to be fixedly mounted within bores formed within the respective coupling members and gimbal plate, thereby enabling the universal joint to operate frictionlessly without lubrication.
Inventors
- 👤 Sherwood D Mayall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:22
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D3/00; F16D3/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A universal joint comprising: a first coupling member having a base portion and a first pair of tines extending outwardly therefrom in a longitudinal direction; a second coupling member having a base portion and a second pair of tines extending outwardly therefrom in a longitudinal direction, said first coupling member facing said second coupling member with said first and second pairs of tines perpendicularly positioned with respect to each other, each tine having means for forming a bore on the interior surface thereof; a gimbal plate located between the base portions of the first and second coupling members, and between the perpendicularly spaced tines, said gimbal plate having means for forming four bores on the outer periphery thereof registering with the bores of said tines; and a plurality of pivot means interconnecting said gimbal plate to the tines of said coupling members, each of said pivot means having a first sleeve fixedly mounted within one of the bores in said gimbal plate, a second sleeve fixedly mounted within one of said bores in said tines, and spring bias means for interconnecting said first and second sleeves, said means for forming said bores in said tines further comprising means on said tines for removably securing said second sleeves within the bores formed in said tines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A universal joint comprising: a first coupling member having a base portion and a first pair of tines extending outwardly therefrom in a longitudinal direction; a second coupling member having a base portion and a second pair of tines extending outwardly therefrom in a longitudinal direction, said first coupling member facing said second coupling member with said first and second pairs of tines perpendicularly positioned with respect to each other, each tine having means for forming a bore on the interior surface thereof; a gimbal plate located between the base portions of the first and second coupling members, and between the perpendicularly spaced tines, said gimbal plate having means for forming four bores on the outer periphery thereof registering with the bores of said tines; and a plurality of pivot means interconnecting said gimbal plate to the tines of said coupling members, each of said pivot means having a first sleeve fixedly mounted within one of the bores in said gimbal plate, a second sleeve fixedly mounted within one of said bores in said tines, and spring bias means for interconnecting said first and second sleeves, said means for forming said bores in said tines further comprising means on said tines for removably securing said second sleeves within the bores formed in said tines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said first, and second pivot means is further defined wherein said first sleeve includes a first cylindrical segment extending into the interior of said second sleeve, and said second sleeve having a second cylindrical segment extending into the interior of said first sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the interior surface of said first cylindrical segment faces the interior surface of said second cylindrical segment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein a first leaf spring is connected to the interior of said first sleeve and said second cylindrical segment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein a second leaf spring is connected to the interior of said second sleeve and said first cylindrical segment, said second leaf spring being angularly displaced with respect to said first leaf spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein the first leaf spring is connected to the interior of said first sleeve and the interior surface of said second cylindrical segment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention in accordance with claim 6 wherein a second leaf spring is connected to the interior of said second sleeve and the interior surface of said first cylindrical segment, said second spring being angularly displaced from said first spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for removably securing said second sleeves within the bores formed in said tines comprises a clamp block removably attached to the external end thereof with said bores being formed therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for forming the bores in said gimbal plate further comprising means on said gimbal plate for removably securing said first sleeves within the bores formed in said gimbal plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein said means for removably securing said first sleeves within the bores formed in said gimbal plate comprises said gimbal plate being formed by a pair of plates removably attached to each other with the plurality of bores formed therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
202 words
A universal joint comprising: a first coupling member having a base portion and a first pair of tines extending outwardly therefrom in a longitudinal direction; a second coupling member having a base portion and a second pair of tines extending outwardly therefrom in a longitudinal direction, said first coupling member facing said second coupling member with said first and second pairs of tines perpendicularly positioned with respect to each other, each tine having a bore formed on the interior surface thereof; a gimbal plate located between the base portions of the first and second coupling members, and between the perpendicularly spaced tines, said gimbal plate having four bores formed on the outer periphery thereof registering with the bores of said tines, said gimbal plate comprises a pair of plates fixedly attached to each other having a plurality of bores formed therebetween; and a plurality of pivot means interconnecting said gimbal plate to the tines of said coupling members, each of said pivot means having a first sleeve fixedly mounted within one of the bores in said gimbal plate, a second sleeve fixedly mounted within one of said bores in said tines, and spring bias means for interconnecting said first and second sleeves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
202 words
A universal joint comprising: a first coupling member having a base portion and a first pair of tines extending outwardly therefrom in a longitudinal direction; a second coupling member having a base portion and a second pair of tines extending outwardly therefrom in a longitudinal direction, said first coupling member facing said second coupling member with said first and second pairs of tines perpendicularly positioned with respect to each other, each tine having a bore formed on the interior surface thereof; a gimbal plate located between the base portions of the first and second coupling members, and between the perpendicularly spaced tines, said gimbal plate having four bores formed on the outer periphery thereof registering with the bores of said tines, said gimbal plate comprises a pair of plates fixedly attached to each other having a plurality of bores formed therebetween; and a plurality of pivot means interconnecting said gimbal plate to the tines of said coupling members, each of said pivot means having a first sleeve fixedly mounted within one of the bores in said gimbal plate, a second sleeve fixedly mounted within one of said bores in said tines, and spring bias means for interconnecting said first and second sleeves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
209 words
A universal joint comprising: a first coupling member having a base portion and a first pair of tines extending outwardly therefrom in a longitudinal direction; a second coupling member having a base portion and a second pair of tines extending outwardly therefrom in a longitudinal direction, said first coupling member facing said second coupling member with said first and second pairs of tines perpendicularly positioned with respect to each other, each tine having a bore formed on the interior surface thereof, each tine of said first and second pair of tines includes a clamp block removably atTached to the external end thereof with said bores being formed therebetween; a gimbal plate located between the base portions of the first and second coupling members, and between the perpendicularly spaced tines, said gimbal plate having four bores formed on the outer periphery thereof registering with the bores of said tines; and a plurality of pivot means interconnecting said gimbal plate to the tines of said coupling members, each of said pivot means having a first sleeve fixedly mounted within one of the bores in said gimbal plate, a second sleeve fixedly mounted within one of said bores in said tines, and spring bias means for interconnecting said first and second sleeves.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
209 words
A universal joint comprising: a first coupling member having a base portion and a first pair of tines extending outwardly therefrom in a longitudinal direction; a second coupling member having a base portion and a second pair of tines extending outwardly therefrom in a longitudinal direction, said first coupling member facing said second coupling member with said first and second pairs of tines perpendicularly positioned with respect to each other, each tine having a bore formed on the interior surface thereof, each tine of said first and second pair of tines includes a clamp block removably atTached to the external end thereof with said bores being formed therebetween; a gimbal plate located between the base portions of the first and second coupling members, and between the perpendicularly spaced tines, said gimbal plate having four bores formed on the outer periphery thereof registering with the bores of said tines; and a plurality of pivot means interconnecting said gimbal plate to the tines of said coupling members, each of said pivot means having a first sleeve fixedly mounted within one of the bores in said gimbal plate, a second sleeve fixedly mounted within one of said bores in said tines, and spring bias means for interconnecting said first and second sleeves.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-12 | 1974-10-12 | 1975-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-12 | 1978-10-12 | 1979-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-12 | 1982-10-12 | 1983-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |