Spline-type pivots universal joints and flexible couplings

Abstract

Abstract A UNIVERSAL JOINT AND THE LIKE WHICH OBVIATES THE NEED FOR THE CONVENTIONAL DOUBLE-PIVOT, THREE MEMBER ARRANGEMENT BY PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF EQUALLY SPACED BEARING SURFACES ON EACH OF A PAIR OF COOPERATING MEMBERS. ONE OF THE MEMBERS IS THE SHAFT OR MALE PORTION AND IS PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR SHAPED AND PROFILED SEGMENTS INTEGRALLY FORMED THEREON. THE OTHER MEMBER IS THE HOUSING OR FEMALE PORTION AND HAS A LIKE NUMBER OF RECESSED SURFACES FORMED WITH AN ARCUATE CONFIGURATION. THE SHAPE OF THIS ARCUATE CONFIGURATION MAY BE VARIED ACCORDING TO THE INTENDED USE. FOR EXAMPLE, IT MAY BE CIRCULAR WITH A RADIUS EQUAL TO THAT OF THE CIRCULAR PROFILED SEGMENTS, IF ONLY SMALL RELATIVE MOVEMENT IS DESIRED, OR OF LARGER RADIUS IF A LARGE AMOUNT OF RELATIVE MOVEMENT IS DESIRED. IT MAY ALSO BE CYLINDRICAL IF IT IS DESIRABLE TO HAVE MOVEMENT SUCH AS THAT OBTAINED WITH A SPLINED SHAFT. THE SURFACE OF THE ARCUATE CONFIGURATION IS ALSO PROVIDED WITH A BUSHING FOR PROTECTION AGAINST WEAR AND FOR SELF-LUBRICATION SUCH AS A TEFLON INSERT.

Inventors

• 👤 Gottfried K Gantschnigg

Bibliographic Details