Flexible torsional coupling

Claim 2

A flexible torsional coupling for transmitting power and including an outer ring, an inner ring concentrically arranged with said outer ring and radially spaced therefrom, a resilient material located between said rings and bonded thereto for transmitting torque between said rings, said inner ring having an outwardly and radially extending abutment, said outer ring having an inwardly and radially extending abutment, said radially extending abutments being circumferentially spaced from one another to provide an opening therebetween whereby said abutments are normally out of engagement with one another so that torque is transmitted by said resilient material, said resilient material also being bonded to said abutments along the radially extending sides thereof, said material also defining an opening adjacent said abutments along that side of said abutment which is opposite to the adjacent abutment to thereby permit flexing of said material away from said abutment, the material bonded abutment of said outer ring adapted to bear against the material bonded abutment of said inner ring when said resilient material torsionally stretches beyond a predetermined point.

Claim 3

The coupling set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said resilient material is of generally converging cross-section shape in a radially outwardly extending direction, whereby the shear stress in said resilient material adjacent said inner ring is approximately the same as the shear stress in the resilient material adjacent said outer ring.

Claim 4

The coupling set forth in claim 1 including a central hub having external gear teeth, said inner ring has internal gear teeth in constant mesh with the external teeth of said hub, and said hub has means for driving connection with a shaft.

Claim 5

The coupling set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said inner ring has inertia plate means affixed thereto for creating additional mass.

Claim 6

The coupling set forth in claim 1 including an engine housing, said coupling is rotatable within said housing, and cooling air duct means within said housing and placing the exterior of said housing in air communication with said resilient material whereby as said coupling rotates, it acts to suck air through duct means and past said resilient material.

Claim 7

A flexible torsional coupling for transmitting power and including an outer ring, an inner ring concentrically arranged with said outer ring and radially spaced therefrom, a resilient material located between said rings and bonded thereto for transmitting torque between said rings, said resilient material being of generally converging cross-section shape in a radially outwardly-extending direction, whereby the shear stress in said resilient material adjacent said inner ring is approximately the same as the shear stress in the resilient material adjacent said outer ring, said inner ring having an outwardly and radially extending abutment, said outer ring having an inwardly and radially extending abutment, said radially extending abutments being circumferentially spaced from one another to provide an opening therebetween whereby said abutments are normally out of engagement with one another so that torque is transmitted by said resilient material, said resilient material also being bonded to said abutments along the radially extending sides thereof, said material also defining an opening adjacent said abutments along that side of said abutment which is opposite to the adjacent abutment to thereby permit flexing of said material away from said abutment, the material bonded abutment of one of said rings having a cushion of resilient material bonded thereto and on its side which is located adjacent the abutment of said other ring, the abutment of said outer ring adapted to bear against the abutment of said inner ring when a predetermined amount of torque causes said resilient material to torsionally stretch beyond a predetermined point.

Claim 8

A flexible torsional coupling for transmitting power and including an outer ring, an inner ring concentrically arranged with said outer ring and radially spaced therefrom, a resilient material located between said rings and bonded thereto for transmitting torque between said rings, said resilient material being of generally converging cross-section shape in a radially outwardly-extending direction, whereby the shear stress in said resilient material adjacent said inner ring is approximately the same as the shear stress in the resilient material adjacent said outer ring, said inner ring having an outwardly and radially extending abutment, said outer ring having an inwardly and radially extending abutment, said radially extending abutments being circumferentially spaced from one another to provide an opening therebetween whereby said abutments are normally out of engagement with one another so that torque is transmitted by said resilient material, said resilient material also being bonded to said abutments along the radially extending sides thereof, said material also defining an opening adjacent said abutments along that side of said abutment which is opposite to the adjacent abutment to thereby permit flexing of said material away from said abutment, the material bonded abutment of one of said rings having a cushion of resilient material bonded thereto and on its side which is located adjacent the abutment of said other ring, the abutment of said outer ring adapted to bear against the abutment of said inner ring when a predetermined amount of torque causes said resilient material to torsionally stretch beyond a predetermined point.

Claim 9

The coupling set forth in claim 6 including a central hub having external gear teeth, said inner ring has internal gear teeth in constant mesh with the external teeth of said hub, and said hub has means for driving connection with a shaft.

Claim 10

The coupling set forth in claim 6 further characterized in that said inner ring has inertia plate means affixed thereto for creating additional mass.

Claim 11

The coupling set forth in claim 6 including an engine housing, said coupling is rotatable within said housing, and cooling air duct means within said housing and placing the exterior of said housing in air communication with said resilient material whereby as said coupling rotates, it acts to suck air through said duct means and past said resilient material.

Claim 12

A marine power transmission including an engine flywheel, a power shaft, and a flexible torsional coupling for transmitting power from said flywheel to said shaft, said coupling comprising an outer ring fixed to said flywheel, an inner ring concentrically arranged with said outer ring and radially spaced therefrom, a resilient material located between said rings and bonded thereto for transmitting torque between said rings, said inner ring having an outwardly and radially extEnding abutment, said outer ring having an inwardly and radially extending abutment, said radially extending abutments being circumferentially spaced from one another to provide an opening therebetween whereby said abutments are normally out of engagement with one another so that torque is transmitted by said resilient material, said resilient material also being bonded to said abutments along the radially extending sides thereof, said material also defining an opening adjacent said abutments along that side of said abutment which is opposite to the adjacent abutment to thereby permit flexing of said material away from said abutment, the material bonded abutment of said outer ring adapted to bear against the material bonded abutment of said inner ring when said resilient material torsionally stretches beyond a predetermined point; and means connecting said inner ring to said shaft.

Claim 13

A marine power transmission including an engine flywheel, a power shaft, and a flexible torsional coupling for transmitting power from said flywheel to said shaft, said coupling comprising an outer ring fixed to said flywheel, an inner ring concentrically arranged with said outer ring and radially spaced therefrom, a resilient material located between said rings and bonded thereto for transmitting torque between said rings, said inner ring having an outwardly and radially extEnding abutment, said outer ring having an inwardly and radially extending abutment, said radially extending abutments being circumferentially spaced from one another to provide an opening therebetween whereby said abutments are normally out of engagement with one another so that torque is transmitted by said resilient material, said resilient material also being bonded to said abutments along the radially extending sides thereof, said material also defining an opening adjacent said abutments along that side of said abutment which is opposite to the adjacent abutment to thereby permit flexing of said material away from said abutment, the material bonded abutment of said outer ring adapted to bear against the material bonded abutment of said inner ring when said resilient material torsionally stretches beyond a predetermined point; and means connecting said inner ring to said shaft.

Claim 14

The coupling set forth in claim 10 further characterized in that said resilient material is of generally converging cross-section shape in a radially outwardly extending direction, whereby the shear stress in said resilient material adjacent said inner ring is approximately the same as the shear stress in the resilient material adjacent said outer ring.

Claim 15

The coupling of claim 10 wherein said means includes a central hub having external gear teeth, said inner ring has internal gear teeth in constant mesh with the external teeth of said hub, and said hub has means for driving connection with a shaft.

Claim 16

The coupling of claim 10 further characterized in that said inner ring has inertia plate means affixed thereto for creating additional mass.

Claim 17

A marine power transmission including an engine housing, an engine flywheel rotatably mounted in said engine housing, an output housing secured to said engine housing, a power shaft journalled in said output housing, and a flexible torsional coupling for transmitting power from said flywheel to said shaft, said coupling comprising an outer ring fixed to said flywheel, an inner ring concentrically arranged with said outer ring and radially spaced therefrom, a resilient material located between said rings and bonded thereto for transmitting torque between said rings, said inner ring having an outwardly and radially extending abutment, said outer ring having an inwardly and radially extending abutment, said abutments normally being out of engagement with one another so that torque is transmitted by said resilient material said resilient material also being bonded to said abutments along the radially extending sides thereof, said material also defining an opening adjacent said abutments along that side of said abutment which is opposite to the adjacent abutment to thereby permit flexing of said material away from said abutment, the abutment of said outer ring adapted to bear against the abutment of said inner ring when said resilient material torsionally stretches beyond a predetermined point; means connecting said inner ring to said shaft; and cooling air duct means within said output housing and placing the exterior of said output housing in air communication with said resilient material whereby as said coupling rotates, it acts to suck air through said duct means and past said resilient material.

Claim 18

A marine power transmission including an engine housing, an engine flywheel rotatably mounted in said engine housing, an output housing secured to said engine housing, a power shaft journalled in said output housing, and a flexible torsional coupling for transmitting power from said flywheel to said shaft, said coupling comprising an outer ring fixed to said flywheel, an inner ring concentrically arranged with said outer ring and radially spaced therefrom, a resilient material located between said rings and bonded thereto for transmitting torque between said rings, said inner ring having an outwardly and radially extending abutment, said outer ring having an inwardly and radially extending abutment, said abutments normally being out of engagement with one another so that torque is transmitted by said resilient material said resilient material also being bonded to said abutments along the radially extending sides thereof, said material also defining an opening adjacent said abutments along that side of said abutment which is opposite to the adjacent abutment to thereby permit flexing of said material away from said abutment, the abutment of said outer ring adapted to bear against the abutment of said inner ring when said resilient material torsionally stretches beyond a predetermined point; means connecting said inner ring to said shaft; and cooling air duct means within said output housing and placing the exterior of said output housing in air communication with said resilient material whereby as said coupling rotates, it acts to suck air through said duct means and past said resilient material.

Claim 19

The coupling set forth in claim 14 further characterized in that said resilient material is of generally converging cross-section shape in a radially outwardly extending direction, whereby the shear stress in said resilient material adjacent said inner ring is approximately the same as the shear stress in the resilient material adjacent said outer ring.

Claim 20

The coupling set forth in claim 14 wherein said connecting means includes a central hub having external gear teeth, said inner ring has internal gear teeth in constant mesh with the external teeth of said hub, and said hub has means for driving connection with a shaft.