Coupling for connecting a rotating member to a shaft

Claim 1

A coupling comprising, a sleeve adapted to connect a rotating member to a shaft, said sleeve having an axial bore therein, said axial bore receiving an end of said shaft, a thrust plate attached to an end of said sleeve remote from said shaft, at least two circumferentially-spaced keyways in said coupling extending through said sleeve from one end thereof to the other end, a wedge-shaped key in each said keyway, said shaft having two diametrically-opposed, axially-extending surfaces thereon, surfaces of said keys adjacent said shaft slidably engaging said surfaces of said shaft, said keyways being deeper at the ends thereof adjacent said springs whereby said wedge-shaped keys are urged toward the shallower end of said keyways, a retaining ring fixed to the end of said coupling adjacent said shaft, and a thrust plate fixed to the end of said sleeve opposite said retaining ring, a bore in said first key, a spring in said bore in said first key engaging said retaining ring, urging said first key to slide toward said thrust ring, a second bore in the end of said second key adjacent said thrust ring, a second spring in said second bore, said second spring engaging said first key and said thrust ring, urging said second key to slide toward said retaining ring whereby said first key and said second key are urged in opposite directions by said springs and toward the center of said shaft.