Flexible coupling

Claim 2

A coupling member for transmitting torque between driver and driven shafts, comprising: a plurality of closely spaced concentric spring elements each composed of a plurality of spirally wound and spaced-apart wires, the wires of circumjacent spring elements forming opposite helices; and a rubber matrix of essentially annular cross section substantially encompassing the wires and substantially disposed between said spring elements, said rubber matrix adhered to and lending support to the wires of each spring element; whereby application of torque to the coupling member in a predetermined direction moves two circumjacent spring elements radially toward each other stressing the rubber matrix therebetween to define a locked structure.

Claim 3

A coupling member for transmitting torque between driver and driven shafts, comprising: a plurality of concentric spring elements, each composed of spirally wound and spaced-apart wires, the wires of circumjacent spring elements forming opposite helices; a rubber matrix of essentially annular cross section substantially encompassing said spring elements, said rubber matrix adhered to and lending support to the wires of each spring element; and a rubber-impregnated textile material disposed between at least one pair of circumjacent spring elements, whereby said textile material prevents substantial physical contact between the sandwiching pair of circumjacent spring elements.

Claim 4

A coupling member for transmitting torque between driver and driven shafts, comprising: a plurality of concentric spring elements, each composed of spirally wound and spaced-apart wires, the wires of circumjacent spring elements forming opposite helices; a rubber matrix of essentially annular cross section substantially encompassing said spring elements, said rubber matrix adhered to and lending support to the wires of each spring element; and a rubber-impregnated textile material disposed between at least one pair of circumjacent spring elements, whereby said textile material prevents substantial physical contact between the sandwiching pair of circumjacent spring elements.

Claim 5

A coupling member as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises concentric inner and outer sleeves disposed at each end of the spring elements, said inner and outer sleeves sandwiching and adhered to said rubber matrix.

Claim 6

A coupling member as set forth in claim 1 wherein the wires of said spring elements are for transmitting torque between driver and driven shafts, comprising: a plurality of concentric spring elements, each composed of spirally wound and spaced-apart wires, the wires of circumjacent spring elements forming opposite helices and spiraled at a helical angle between the range of 51* and 84*; and a rubber matrix of essentially annular cross section substantially encompassing said spring elements, said rubber matrix adhered to and lending support to the wires of each spring element.

Claim 7

A coupling member as set forth in claim 1 for transmitting torque between driver and driven shafts, comprising: a plurality of concentric spring elements, each composed of spirally wound and spaced-apart wires, wherein the percentage of fill of the spaced-apart wires of a spring element is between the range of 43 and 80 percent, the wires of circumjacent spring elements forming opposite helices; and a rubber matrix of essentially annular cross section substaNtially encompassing said spring elements, said rubber matrix adhered to and lending support to the wires of each spring element.

Claim 8

A coupling member as set forth in claim 1 for transmitting torque between driver and driven shafts, comprising: a plurality of concentric spring elements, each composed of spirally wound and spaced-apart wires wherein the spring index for the wires of a spring element is between the range of 26 and 79, and the wires of circumjacent spring elements forming opposite helices; and a rubber matrix of essentially annular cross section substantially encompassing said spring elements, said rubber matrix adhered to and lending support to the wires of each spring element.

Claim 9

A flexible coupling for transmitting torque between driver and driven shafts, comprising: a plurality of closely spaced concentric spring elements of substantially cylindrical shape, each composed of a plurality of spirally wound and spaced-apart wires, the wires of circumjacent spring elements forming opposite helices; a rubber matrix of essentially annular cross section encompassing the wires and substantially disposed between said spring elements, said rubber matrix adhered to and lending support to the wires of each spring element; whereby application of torque to the coupling in a predetermined direction moves two circumjacent spring elements radially toward each other stressing the rubber matrix therebetween to define a locked structure; and an end cap disposed at each end of the concentric spring elements, said end cap including an inner hub having a plurality of axial serrations, and a concentric outer sleeve having a plurality of axial serrations offset from the axial serrations of said hub, said hub and said sleeve sandwiching a portion of said rubber matrix and said spring elements.

Claim 10

A flexible coupling for transmitting torque between driver and driven shafts, comprising: a plurality of closely spaced concentric spring elements of substantially cylindrical shape, each composed of a plurality of spirally wound and spaced-apart wires, the wires of circumjacent spring elements forming opposite helices; a rubber matrix of essentially annular cross section encompassing the wires and substantially disposed between said spring elements, said rubber matrix adhered to and lending support to the wires of each spring element; whereby application of torque to the coupling in a predetermined direction moves two circumjacent spring elements radially toward each other stressing the rubber matrix therebetween to define a locked structure; and an end cap disposed at each end of the concentric spring elements, said end cap including an inner hub having a plurality of axial serrations, and a concentric outer sleeve having a plurality of axial serrations offset from the axial serrations of said hub, said hub and said sleeve sandwiching a portion of said rubber matrix and said spring elements.

Claim 11

A flexible coupling for transmitting torque between driver and driven shafts, comprising: a plurality of concentric spring elements, each composed of spirally wound and spaced-apart wires, the wires of circumjacent spring elements forming opposite helices; a rubber matrix of essentially annular cross section encompassing said spring elements, said rubber matrix adhered to and lending support to the wires of each spring element; an end cap disposed at each end of the concentric spring elements, said end cap including an inner hub having a plurality of axial serrations, and a concentric outer sleeve having a plurality of axial serrations offset from the axial serrations of said hub, said hub and said sleeve sandwiching a portion of said rubber matrix and said spring elements; and a centering means for limiting movement between said end caps to angular misalignment.

Claim 12

A flexible coupling for transmitting torque between driver and driven shafts, comprising: a plurality of concentric spring elements, each composed of spirally wound and spaced-apart wires, the wires of circumjacent spring elements forming opposite helices; a rubber matrix of essentially annular cross section encompassing said spring elements, said rubber matrix adhered to and lending support to the wires of each spring element; an end cap disposed at each end of the concentric spring elements, said end cap including an inner hub having a plurality of axial serrations, and a concentric outer sleeve having a plurality of axial serrations offset from the axial serrations of said hub, said hub and said sleeve sandwiching a portion of said rubber matrix and said spring elements; and a centering means for limiting movement between said end caps to angular misalignment.

Claim 13

An end cap for transmitting torque to and from a coupling member of the type having a plurality of concentric spring elements disposed within a rubber matrix, which comprises: an inner hub having a plurality of axial serrations; and a concentric outer sleeve having a plurality of axial serrations offset from the axial serrations of said hub, said hub and said sleeve defining an annular area for sandwiching the ends of a coupling member.

Claim 14

An end cap for transmitting torque to and from a coupling member of the type having a plurality of concentric spring elements disposed within a rubber matrix, which comprises: an inner hub having a plurality of axial serrations; and a concentric outer sleeve having a plurality of axial serrations offset from the axial serrations of said hub, said hub and said sleeve defining an annular area for sandwiching the ends of a coupling member.

Claim 15

A flexible coupling for transmitting torque between driver and driven shafts, comprising: a plurality of closely spaced concentric spring elements of substantially cylindrical shape, each composed of a plurality of spirally wound and spaced-apart wires, the wires of circumjacent spring elements forming opposite helices; a rubber matrix of essentially annular cross section substantially encompassing the wires and substantially disposed between said spring elements, said rubber matrix adhered to and lending support to the wires of each spring element; whereby application of torque to the coupling in a predetermined direction moves two circumjacent spring elements radially toward each other stressing the rubber matrix therebetween to define a locked structure; concentric inner And outer sleeves disposed at each end of the spring elements, said inner and outer sleeves sandwiching and adhered to said rubber matrix; and an end cap attached to said inner and outer sleeves for attaching to the driver and driven shafts.

Claim 16

A flexible coupling for transmitting torque between driver and driven shafts, comprising: a plurality of closely spaced concentric spring elements of substantially cylindrical shape, each composed of a plurality of spirally wound and spaced-apart wires, the wires of circumjacent spring elements forming opposite helices; a rubber matrix of essentially annular cross section substantially encompassing the wires and substantially disposed between said spring elements, said rubber matrix adhered to and lending support to the wires of each spring element; whereby application of torque to the coupling in a predetermined direction moves two circumjacent spring elements radially toward each other stressing the rubber matrix therebetween to define a locked structure; concentric inner And outer sleeves disposed at each end of the spring elements, said inner and outer sleeves sandwiching and adhered to said rubber matrix; and an end cap attached to said inner and outer sleeves for attaching to the driver and driven shafts.

Claim 17

A flexible coupling for transmitting torque between driver and driven shafts, comprising: a plurality of concentric spring elements, each composed of spirally wound and spaced-apart wires, the wires of circumjacent spring elements forming opposite helices; a rubber matrix of essentially annular cross section substantially encompassing said spring elements, said rubber matrix adhered to and lending support to the wires of each spring element; concentric inner and outer sleeves disposed at each end of the spring elements, said inner and outer sleeves sandwiching and adhered to said rubber matrix; an end cap attached to said inner and outer sleeves for attaching to the driver and driven shafts; and a centering means for limiting movement between said end caps to angular misalignment.

Claim 18

A flexible coupling for transmitting torque between driver and driven shafts, comprising: a plurality of concentric spring elements, each composed of spirally wound and spaced-apart wires, the wires of circumjacent spring elements forming opposite helices; a rubber matrix of essentially annular cross section substantially encompassing said spring elements, said rubber matrix adhered to and lending support to the wires of each spring element; concentric inner and outer sleeves disposed at each end of the spring elements, said inner and outer sleeves sandwiching and adhered to said rubber matrix; an end cap attached to said inner and outer sleeves for attaching to the driver and driven shafts; and a centering means for limiting movement between said end caps to angular misalignment.