Composite flexible coupling for interconnecting two shafts

Claim 2

A flexible coupling for interconnecting two rotatable bodies, said coupling comprising at least two resilient sheet-metal rings of generally polygonal outline and having each a plurality of corners and a corresponding number of sides extending between said corners, said corners of each ring being alternately connected to said rotatable bodies and normally lying in a common plane, said sides normally beinG curved at least partially out of said plane, the corners of said rings lying in parallel planes; at least one spacer between said rings at each of said corners; a clamping body overlying each of said rings at each of said corners, each of said rings being sandwiched at each of said corners between a respective clamping body and a respective spacer, said spacers and said clamping bodies having respective rounded edges extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the respective side; and an elastomeric body between the edge of each of said clamping bodies and its respective ring.

Claim 3

The coupling defined in claim 1 wherein each of said rings is curved at each of said sides away from the respective side of the other ring.

Claim 4

The coupling defined in claim 1 wherein said rings are formed substantially S-shaped at said sides.

Claim 5

The coupling defined in claim 1 wherein each of said rings is constituted by a plurality of side members each forming one of said sides and each connected to the neighboring side members at said corners.

Claim 6

A flexible coupling for interconnecting two rotatable members, said coupling comprising: at least two substantially coextensive resilient sheet metal polygon rings having corners and sides connecting said corners; means connecting said rings together at said corners, the sides of said rings between said corners being bowed symmetrically away from the opposing side of the other ring; a body of elastomeric material filling the space between each pair of outwardly bowed opposing sides; and means for connecting alternate corners to one of said members and the other corners to the other of said members.

Claim 7

A flexible coupling for interconnecting two rotatable members, said coupling comprising: at least two substantially coextensive resilient sheet metal polygon rings having corners and sides connecting said corners; means connecting said rings together at said corners, the sides of said rings between said corners being bowed symmetrically away from the opposing side of the other ring; a body of elastomeric material filling the space between each pair of outwardly bowed opposing sides; and means for connecting alternate corners to one of said members and the other corners to the other of said members.

Claim 8

A flexible coupling for interconnecting two rotatable members, said coupling comprising: at leawt two substantially coextensive resilient sheet metal polygon rings having corners and sides connecting said corners; means connecting said rings together at said corners, the sides of said rings between said corners being bowed symmetrically away from the opposing side of the other ring; a body of elastomeric material filling the space between each pair of outwardly bowed opposing sides. Rigid spacers received between said rings at each of said corners, the bodies of elastomeric material extending between each of said pair of sides from a spacer in one corner and terminating at the spacer at the opposite corner; a respective clamping body at each of said corners overlying the respective ring and of a width equal to that of the respective ring, each clamping body having an outwardly turned lip along the respective side and curving away therefrom, said clamping body sandwiching said rings and spacers at each of said corners between the respective clamping bodies and rings and having an outwardly bent portion of a width equal to that of the respective ring and overlying same, said outwardly turned portions terminating in edges extending generally radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the coupling; and means for connecting alternate corners to one of said members and the other corners to the other end of said members.

Claim 9

A flexible coupling for interconnecting two rotatable members, said coupling comprising: at leawt two substantially coextensive resilient sheet metal polygon rings having corners and sides connecting said corners; means connecting said rings together at said corners, the sides of said rings between said corners being bowed symmetrically away from the opposing side of the other ring; a body of elastomeric material filling the space between each pair of outwardly bowed opposing sides. Rigid spacers received between said rings at each of said corners, the bodies of elastomeric material extending between each of said pair of sides from a spacer in one corner and terminating at the spacer at the opposite corner; a respective clamping body at each of said corners overlying the respective ring and of a width equal to that of the respective ring, each clamping body having an outwardly turned lip along the respective side and curving away therefrom, said clamping body sandwiching said rings and spacers at each of said corners between the respective clamping bodies and rings and having an outwardly bent portion of a width equal to that of the respective ring and overlying same, said outwardly turned portions terminating in edges extending generally radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the coupling; and means for connecting alternate corners to one of said members and the other corners to the other end of said members.