US3685314A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible universal joint
Assignee: Kaman Aerospace Corp
•
Filing: 1971-03-25
•
Granted: 1972-08-22
•
Expires: 1991-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A flexible universal joint for connecting two elements having axes intersecting at the center of the joint comprises two sets of flexible members, each set being comprised of first and second flexible members, extending between the elements. Each flexible member has four leg sections serially interconnected and arranged in opposed pairs with connecting points located between the leg sections. Each set of flexible members is formed by joining one diagonal pair of connecting points on the first flexible member to a mating diagonal pair of connecting points on the second flexible member of the same set. The sets of flexible members extend coaxially of one another between the elements and are attached to the elements by means of the non-mated diagonal pairs of connecting points of each set. The attachment points of the non-mated pairs with each element are distributed at 90* intervals about the axes of the elements so that the two coaxial sets of flexible members have corresponding parts phased 90* from one another about the common axis of the sets and thereby cause the transverse bending axes of the flexible joint to be coincident at the geometric center of the joint.
Inventors
- 👤 William G Flannelly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 00:33
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D3/00; F16D3/50; F16D3/60; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; F16C11/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
334 words
A flexible universal joint for connecting a first element having a first axis with a second element having a second axis, the first axis and the second axis intersecting at the center of motion of the joint, comprising: first and second coaxial sets of flexible members, each flexible member having four serially interconnected leg sections arranged in opposed pairs and extending between four connecting points arranged in opposed pairs, each of said first and second coaxial sets being composed of first and second flexible members, the first flexible member of each set having the connecting points in one opposed pair joined respectively to the connecting points in one opposed pair on the second flexible member of the corresponding set; first attachment means for coupling the connecting points in the other opposed pair on the first flexible member of the first set to the first element on an axis intersecting the first axis of the first element; second attAchment means for coupling the connecting points in the other opposed pair on the first flexible member of the second set to the first element along an axis intersecting the first axis of the first element and generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the first axis and the axis along which said connecting points of the first member of the first set are coupled to the first element; third attachment means for coupling the connecting points in the other opposed pair on the second flexible member of the first set to the second element on an axis intersecting the second axis of the second element; and fourth attachment means for coupling the connecting points in the other opposed pair on the second flexible member of the second set to the second element along an axis intersecting the second axis of the second element and generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the second axis and the axis along which said connecting points of the second member of the second set are coupled to the second element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
334 words
A flexible universal joint for connecting a first element having a first axis with a second element having a second axis, the first axis and the second axis intersecting at the center of motion of the joint, comprising: first and second coaxial sets of flexible members, each flexible member having four serially interconnected leg sections arranged in opposed pairs and extending between four connecting points arranged in opposed pairs, each of said first and second coaxial sets being composed of first and second flexible members, the first flexible member of each set having the connecting points in one opposed pair joined respectively to the connecting points in one opposed pair on the second flexible member of the corresponding set; first attachment means for coupling the connecting points in the other opposed pair on the first flexible member of the first set to the first element on an axis intersecting the first axis of the first element; second attAchment means for coupling the connecting points in the other opposed pair on the first flexible member of the second set to the first element along an axis intersecting the first axis of the first element and generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the first axis and the axis along which said connecting points of the first member of the first set are coupled to the first element; third attachment means for coupling the connecting points in the other opposed pair on the second flexible member of the first set to the second element on an axis intersecting the second axis of the second element; and fourth attachment means for coupling the connecting points in the other opposed pair on the second flexible member of the second set to the second element along an axis intersecting the second axis of the second element and generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the second axis and the axis along which said connecting points of the second member of the second set are coupled to the second element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A flexible coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second flexible members of said second set extend substantially coaxially within the first and second flexible members of said first set between the first element and the second element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A flexible coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said first attachment means and said second attachment means couple the first flexible members of the first and second sets respectively to the first element coaxially about the first axis of the first element and along axes perpendicular to the first axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A flexible coupling as defined in claim 3 where said third attachment means and said fourth attachment means couple the second flexible members of the first and second sets respectively to the second element coaxially about the second axis of the second element and along axes perpendicular to the second axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A flexible coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible members are flexible rectangular members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
A flexible coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein the leg sections of the first and second flexible members of said first set are dimensionally longer than the leg sections of the first and second flexible members of the second set and the first and second flexible members of said second set extend between the first element and second element coaxially within the first and second flexible members of the first set.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
A flexible coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second flexible members of the first set are rectangular members extending symmetrically from the joined connecting points of the first set to the first element and the second element respectively; and the first and second flexible members of the second set are rectangular members positioned coaxially within the first set of flexible members and extending symmetrically from the joined connecting points of the second set to the first element and the second element respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
A flexible coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second attachment means locate the other opposed pairs of connecting points of the first flexible members along axes perpendicular to each other and to the first axis; and said third and fourth attachment means locate the other opposed pairs of connecting points of the second members along axes perpendicular to each other and to the second axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
A flexible coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein a first rigid member interconnects the joined opposed pairs of connecting points of the first set of flexible members whereby the joined connecting points of the first set of flexible members are held in fixed spacial relationship to one another; and a second rigid member interconnects the joined opposed pairs of connecting points of the second set of flexible members whereby the joined connecting points of the second set of flexible members are held in fixed spacial relationship to one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
105 words
A flexible coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second sEts of flexible members have leg sections of substantially the same length between connecting points; the first and second attachment means connect the other opposed pairs of connecting points on the first flexible members of both sets to the first element on a common circle perpendicular to and coaxial to the first axis; and the third and fourth attachment means connect the other opposed pairs of connecting points on the second flexible members of both sets to the second element on a common circle perpendicular to and coaxial to the second axis.
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) | 1975-08-22 | 1976-02-21 | 1976-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-22 | 1980-02-21 | 1980-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-22 | 1984-02-21 | 1984-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |