Universal joint coupling

Claim 2

A universal joint coupling for pivotally connecting two shaft ends to each other, each of said shaft ends having a longitudinal axis, comprising first and second pivoting means, said first and second pivoting means comprising mating convex and concave surfaces respectively, means for fixedly securing said convex and concave surfaces to separate said shafts, whereby the first and second pivoting means cooperate with each other in permitting the pivoting of the shaft ends relative to each other, first and second gear means having cooperating flanks, means for affixing each of said gear means to a respective one of said shaft ends whereby the first and second gear means cooperate with each other for transmitting torque from one shaft end to the other shaft end, and resilient means located between adjacent cooperating flanks, said resilient means yielding at least in directions defined by said longitudinal axes.

Claim 3

The universal joint coupling according to claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprise a plurality of vibration mounts.

Claim 4

The universal joint coupling according to claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprise vibration dampening means.

Claim 5

The universal joint coupling according to claim 2, wherein each of said vibration mounts comprises a rubber cushion and lateral metal plates said rubber cushion being connected to said metal plates, and means for rigidly connecting said metal plates to said flanks, whereby a displacement of the resilient means relative to said flanks in the direction of said longitudinal axes is prevented.

Claim 6

The universal joint coupling according to claim 1, wherein said first gear means comprise a first bushing and first gear teeth forming an integral part of said first bushing inside of the first bushing and means for securing said first bushing to one of said shaft ends, said second gear means comprising a further bushing and further gear teeth forming an integral part of said further bushing on the outside of the further bushing, said first and further gear teeth comprising said cooperating flanks sufficiently spaced from each other in a torque transmitting direction for locating said resilient means between adjacent cooperating flanks.

Claim 7

The universal joint coupling according to claim 1, wherein adjacent coupling flanks of said gear means extend substantially in parallel to each other.

Claim 8

A universal joint coupling for pivotally connecting two shafts to each other, each of said shafts having a longitudinal axis and a coupling shaft end, comprising an intermediate connecting piece having first and second ends, first coupling means arranged between one of said shaft ends and the first end of said intermediate connecting piece, second coupling means arranged between the other of said shaft ends and the second end of saId intermediate connecting piece, each of said first and second coupling means comprising pivoting means, means for securing said pivoting means to a respective one of said shaft ends and to a respective end of said intermediate connecting piece whereby the pivoting means cooperate with each other in permitting the pivoting of the shafts and of the intermediate connecting piece relative to each other, gear means having cooperating flaNks, means for connecting said gear means to a respective one of saId shaft ends and to a respective end of said intermediate connecting piece, whereby the gear means cooperate with each other for transmitting torque from one of said shafts through the intermediate connecting piece to the other shaft, and resilient means located between adjacent cooperating flanks, said resilient means yielding at least in a direction defined by said longitudinal axes.

Claim 9

A universal joint coupling for pivotally connecting two shafts to each other, each of said shafts having a longitudinal axis and a coupling shaft end, comprising an intermediate connecting piece having first and second ends, first coupling means arranged between one of said shaft ends and the first end of said intermediate connecting piece, second coupling means arranged between the other of said shaft ends and the second end of saId intermediate connecting piece, each of said first and second coupling means comprising pivoting means, means for securing said pivoting means to a respective one of said shaft ends and to a respective end of said intermediate connecting piece whereby the pivoting means cooperate with each other in permitting the pivoting of the shafts and of the intermediate connecting piece relative to each other, gear means having cooperating flaNks, means for connecting said gear means to a respective one of saId shaft ends and to a respective end of said intermediate connecting piece, whereby the gear means cooperate with each other for transmitting torque from one of said shafts through the intermediate connecting piece to the other shaft, and resilient means located between adjacent cooperating flanks, said resilient means yielding at least in a direction defined by said longitudinal axes.

Claim 10

The universal joint coupling according to claim 7, wherein said resilient means comprise a plurality of vibration mounts rigidly connectEd to the respective flanks.

Claim 11

The universal joint coupling according to claim 7, wherein said resilient means comprise vibration dampening means.

Claim 12

The universal joint coupling according to claim 7, wherein said gear means comprise gear teeth sufficiently spaced from each other in a torque transmitting direction for locating said resilient means between adjacent cooperating flanks.

Claim 13

The universal joint coupling according to claim 7, wherein said pivoting means comprise cooperating concave and convex surfaces.