Air-cooled resilient coupling assembly

Claim 2

A coupling assembly comprising; a sump in said housing; a plurality of air intake passages arranged in said housing wherein at least one of said plurality of air intake passages is located so as to be in heat transferring relation to said sump whereby the flow of air through at least one of said passages cools lubricating oil contained within said sump; a plurality of air exhaust ports disposed about the periphery of said housing; and a plurality of peripheral irregularities on said coupling serving as fan elements to draw cooling air into said housing through said intake passages and to induce a flow of cooling air around said coupling for receiving heat energy therefrom with the air being discharged from said housing through said exhaust ports thereby permitting a reduced-temperature operating environment for said coupling assembly.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said plurality of air intake passages are located so as to deliver cooling air from outside said housing adjacent the radially innermost point in said housing.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein said exhaust ports are located radially outwardly of said coupling and in substantial radial alignment therewith.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 wherein said coupling includes resilient means whereby said coupling assembly is a resilient coupling assembly.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1 including a plurality of vanes rotatable with said coupling to further increase the flow of cooling air about said coupling.

Claim 7

A coupling assembly comprising: a drive coupling having an irregular peripheral surface, a stationary housing having a circumferentially disposed wall forming a substantially cylindrical chamber having a central area receiving said coupling; a sump chamber adapted for containing lubricating oil included in said stationary housing, a plurality of substantially exially disposed intake air passages arranged in said housing to channel a supply of cooling air from the exterior of said housing to the central area of said chamber wherein at least one of said intake passages passes through said sump chamber to cool said lubricating oil; and a plurality of exhaust ports arranged in the wall of said chamber radially outwardly of said coupling and in substantial radial alignment therewith to permit substantially radial discharge of air from said chamber, said irregular peripheral surface of the coupling serving as a fan during its rotation to circulate a flow of cooling air through said chamber in swirling relation about said coupling to increase the transfer of heat energy therefrom to permit said coupling to operate at a lower temperature level to minimize thermal failure.

Claim 8

A coupling assembly comprising: a drive coupling having an irregular peripheral surface, a stationary housing having a circumferentially disposed wall forming a substantially cylindrical chamber having a central area receiving said coupling; a sump chamber adapted for containing lubricating oil included in said stationary housing, a plurality of substantially exially disposed intake air passages arranged in said housing to channel a supply of cooling air from the exterior of said housing to the central area of said chamber wherein at least one of said intake passages passes through said sump chamber to cool said lubricating oil; and a plurality of exhaust ports arranged in the wall of said chamber radially outwardly of said coupling and in substantial radial alignment therewith to permit substantially radial discharge of air from said chamber, said irregular peripheral surface of the coupling serving as a fan during its rotation to circulate a flow of cooling air through said chamber in swirling relation about said coupling to increase the transfer of heat energy therefrom to permit said coupling to operate at a lower temperature level to minimize thermal failure.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 6 wherein said coupling includes resilient means.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 6 further including a plurality of vanes mounted for rotation with said irregular peripheral surface of the coupling to further increase the circulation of cooling air through said cylindrical chamber.