US3841774A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Expandable shaft key
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1972-12-05
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1992-12-05
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to an expandable shaft key for securing the hub of a gear or pulley to a shaft such as the shaft of a motor. According to one embodiment of the invention, an expandable key includes first and second key parts that slidably engage each other along sloping surfaces. Each of the key parts has a threaded bore. A threaded rod constitutes an intermediate member interposed between the first and second key parts. The threaded intermediate member has coarse screw threads where it engages the bore of the first key part and fine screw threads where it engages the bore of the second key part. Upon rotation of the threaded intermediate member, the pitch differential between the fine and coarse threads causes the first and second key parts to be drawn together, whereby the inclination of the sloping surfaces will cause the key assembly to expand in a radial direction. The axes of the two bores are radially displaced as the two key parts are drawn together and the ends of the threaded intermediate member are thereby forced into misalignment. The deformation of the intermediate member produces a force that resists the accidental disassembly of the key parts which might otherwise result from normal machinery vibration.
Inventors
- 👤 J Maxey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:09
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D1/00; F16D1/06; F16D1/08; F16D1/09; F16D1/093; F16D1/0876; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/29; Y10T403/297; Y10T403/70; Y10T403/7018; Y10T403/7021; Y10T403/7024; Y10T403/7047; Y10T403/7051; Y10T403/7052; Y10T403/7056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An expandabLe key assembly constructed to interconnect first and second members having aligned keyways, said expandable key assembly having a generally rectangular cross section, said key assembly comprising a first key part, a second key part and an intermediate member interconnecting said parts, said first and second key parts each being of elongated construction nd having a sloping surface, said sloping surface of said first key part being in slidable engagement with said sloping surface of said second key part, said first and second key parts each having an enlarged end with a threaded axial bore, said intermediate member having a first threaded portion threadedly engaging the bore of said first key part and a second threaded portion threadedly engaging the bore of said second key part, said intermediate member being constructed to be rotated and to produce axial and of said first key part relative to said second key part and concomitant transverse radial displacement of said first key part relative to said second key part.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
An expandabLe key assembly constructed to interconnect first and second members having aligned keyways, said expandable key assembly having a generally rectangular cross section, said key assembly comprising a first key part, a second key part and an intermediate member interconnecting said parts, said first and second key parts each being of elongated construction nd having a sloping surface, said sloping surface of said first key part being in slidable engagement with said sloping surface of said second key part, said first and second key parts each having an enlarged end with a threaded axial bore, said intermediate member having a first threaded portion threadedly engaging the bore of said first key part and a second threaded portion threadedly engaging the bore of said second key part, said intermediate member being constructed to be rotated and to produce axial and of said first key part relative to said second key part and concomitant transverse radial displacement of said first key part relative to said second key part.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
195 words
An expandable key assembly constructed to interconnect first and second members having aligned keyways, said expandable key assembly having a generally rectangular cross section, said key assembly comprising a first key part, a second key part and an intermediate member interconnecting said parts, said first and second key parts each being of elongated construction and having a sloping surface, said sloping surface of said first key part being in slidable engagement with said sloping surface of said second key part, said first and second key parts each having an enlarged end with a threaded axial bore, said intermediate member having a first threaded portion threadedly engaging the bore of said first key part and a second threaded portion threadedly engaging the bore of said second key part, said first threaded portion of said intermediate member having relatively coarse pitch screw threads, said second threaded portion of said intermediate member having relatively fine pitch screw threads, said intermediate member being constructed to be rotated and to produce axial displacement of said first key part relative to said second key part and concomitant transverse radial displacement of said first key part relative to said second key part.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
195 words
An expandable key assembly constructed to interconnect first and second members having aligned keyways, said expandable key assembly having a generally rectangular cross section, said key assembly comprising a first key part, a second key part and an intermediate member interconnecting said parts, said first and second key parts each being of elongated construction and having a sloping surface, said sloping surface of said first key part being in slidable engagement with said sloping surface of said second key part, said first and second key parts each having an enlarged end with a threaded axial bore, said intermediate member having a first threaded portion threadedly engaging the bore of said first key part and a second threaded portion threadedly engaging the bore of said second key part, said first threaded portion of said intermediate member having relatively coarse pitch screw threads, said second threaded portion of said intermediate member having relatively fine pitch screw threads, said intermediate member being constructed to be rotated and to produce axial displacement of said first key part relative to said second key part and concomitant transverse radial displacement of said first key part relative to said second key part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
144 words
An expandable key assembly constructed to interconnect first and second members having aligned keyways, said key assembly comprising a first key part, a second key part and an intermediate member interconnecting said parts, said first and second key parts each having a bore, said intermediate member having a first threaded portion threadedly engaging the bore of said first key part and a second portion engaging the bore of said second key part, said intermediate member being constructed to be rotated to produce axial displacement of said first key part relative to said second key part, means responsive to relative axial displacement of said first and second key parts constructed to produce relative transverse displacement between said key parts, said transverse displacement of said key parts causing deformation of said intermediate member whereby a force is produced that resists accidental displacement of said intermediate member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
144 words
An expandable key assembly constructed to interconnect first and second members having aligned keyways, said key assembly comprising a first key part, a second key part and an intermediate member interconnecting said parts, said first and second key parts each having a bore, said intermediate member having a first threaded portion threadedly engaging the bore of said first key part and a second portion engaging the bore of said second key part, said intermediate member being constructed to be rotated to produce axial displacement of said first key part relative to said second key part, means responsive to relative axial displacement of said first and second key parts constructed to produce relative transverse displacement between said key parts, said transverse displacement of said key parts causing deformation of said intermediate member whereby a force is produced that resists accidental displacement of said intermediate member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An expandable key assembly according to claim 3 and including: said first and second key parts each having an enlarged end with a threaded bore, second portion of said intermediate member being threaded and threadedly engaging the threaded bore of said second key part.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
An expandable key assembly according to claim 4 and including: said intermediate member having a tool receiving portion adapted to permit the use of a tool to cause the rotation of said intermediate member, said first threaded end of said intermediate member having relatively coarse pitch screw threads, said second threaded end of said intermediate member having relatiVely fine pitch screw threads.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
260 words
An expandable key assembly constructed to interconnect first and second members having aligned key-ways, said expandable key assembly of generally rectangular cross section, said key assembly comprising a first key part, a second key part and an intermediate member interconnecting said parts, said first and second key parts each being of elongated construction and having first and second sloping surfaces, said first and second key parts each having an enlarged end with a threaded bore, said first and second sloping surfaces of said first key part being in slidable engagement with said first and second sloping surfaces of said second key part, said intermediate member having a first threaded end threadedly engaging the bore of said first key part and a second threaded end threadedly engaging the bore of said second key part, said intermediate member having a tool receiving portion adapted to permit the use of a tool to cause the rotation of said intermediate member, said first threaded end of said intermediate member having relatively coarse pitch screw threads, said second threaded end of said intermediate member having relatively fine pitch screw threads, said intermediate member being constructed to be rotated whereby the differential in pitch between said first and second threaded ends of said intermediate member will produce axial displacement between said first and second key parts and concomitant transverse displacement of said first key part relative to said second key part and elastic deformation of said intermediate member, said elastic deformation of said intermediate member producing a force that resists accidental displacement of said intermediate member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
260 words
An expandable key assembly constructed to interconnect first and second members having aligned key-ways, said expandable key assembly of generally rectangular cross section, said key assembly comprising a first key part, a second key part and an intermediate member interconnecting said parts, said first and second key parts each being of elongated construction and having first and second sloping surfaces, said first and second key parts each having an enlarged end with a threaded bore, said first and second sloping surfaces of said first key part being in slidable engagement with said first and second sloping surfaces of said second key part, said intermediate member having a first threaded end threadedly engaging the bore of said first key part and a second threaded end threadedly engaging the bore of said second key part, said intermediate member having a tool receiving portion adapted to permit the use of a tool to cause the rotation of said intermediate member, said first threaded end of said intermediate member having relatively coarse pitch screw threads, said second threaded end of said intermediate member having relatively fine pitch screw threads, said intermediate member being constructed to be rotated whereby the differential in pitch between said first and second threaded ends of said intermediate member will produce axial displacement between said first and second key parts and concomitant transverse displacement of said first key part relative to said second key part and elastic deformation of said intermediate member, said elastic deformation of said intermediate member producing a force that resists accidental displacement of said intermediate member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |