Patent US3908401A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3908401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Torsionally and/or axial soft coupling
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1974-06-20
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1994-06-20
Abstract
Abstract A flexible rotary shaft coupling for marine use in a propeller shaft that isolates the vibration caused by axial forces on the propeller passing through an uneven wake. Torque is carried by a solid pin and link arrangement which produces negligible axial resistance. The coupling housing is substantially cup-shaped on one side and has a plunger on the other side and contains a very dense liquid or a very dense soft rubber mass formed to a hollow cylindrical shape within the coupling due to centrifugal force. This mass resists the fluctuating forces by the variation of the inside diameter of the hollow cylinder formed by centrifugal forces during rotation. Variation of stiffness of the cylindrical column is achieved by varying the distance between the coupling faces or sides.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred B Harbage
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:25
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H23/00; B63H23/30; F; F16; F16D; F16D3/00; F16D3/02; F16D3/14; F16D3/50; F16D3/60; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S464/00; Y10S464/902; Y10S464/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A soft shaft coupling for use in a marine propeller shaft comprising: a cup-shaped side attached to the driven shaft; a plunger-shaped side coupled with said cup-shaped side and attached to the driving shaft; a pin and link arrangement hard coupling said sides together torsionally; and a deformable dense mass activated by centrifugal force, soft coupling said sides together axially and contained with said cup shaped side, whereby the propeller thrust tending to close the coupling is equal and opposite to the force of the dense mass acted on by rotationally induced force, tending to separate the coupling at all rotational speeds.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A soft shaft coupling for use in a marine propeller shaft comprising: a cup-shaped side attached to the driven shaft; a plunger-shaped side coupled with said cup-shaped side and attached to the driving shaft; a pin and link arrangement hard coupling said sides together torsionally; and a deformable dense mass activated by centrifugal force, soft coupling said sides together axially and contained with said cup shaped side, whereby the propeller thrust tending to close the coupling is equal and opposite to the force of the dense mass acted on by rotationally induced force, tending to separate the coupling at all rotational speeds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The soft shaft coupling of claim 1 wherein said pin and link arrangement further comprises: a plurality of driven pins attached and radially extending from said cup-shaped side; a plurality of driving pins attached and radially extending from said plunger shaped side; and a plurality of links connecting said driving pins with said driven pins in a slidable relationship.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The soft shaft coupling of claim 2 wherein said deformable mass comprises: a very dense soft rubber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The soft shaft coupling of claim 3 wherein said deformable mass comprises: a soft flowable rubber material mixed with particles of heavy metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The soft shaft coupling of claim 2 wherein said deformable mass comprises: a dense liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The soft shaft coupling of claim 5 wherein said dense liquid is mercury.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The soft shaft coupling of claim 2 further comprising: an thrust limiting stop connected inside said cup-shaped side.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |