US5577859A — Arrangement for connecting a rotatable shaft havi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 408 words

An arrangement for connecting a rotatable shaft, having an end portion with channel toothing formed thereon and a circumferential groove formed adjacent to an end surface of the end portion, and a structural component for transmitting a torque therebetween, said arrangement comprising: a sleeve to be fixedly secured to the structural component and having inner channel toothing for cooperation with the channel toothing formed on the end portion of the shaft, said sleeve having a first portion for receiving the end portion of the shaft and having a plurality of axially extending longitudinal splines formed on an inner surface of said first portion and defining said inner channel toothing, and a second portion connected with said first portion by a divergent taper transition portion and having, in a circumferential region thereof adjacent to said transition portion at least one hole; a closure member for closing said at least one hole and displaceable within said second portion; a spring located inside said second portion for biasing said closure member to a closing position thereof, said spring being supported, at an end thereof remote from the closure member, on a support fixedly connected with the sleeve; said closure member being displaceable against a biasing force of said spring upon being acted on by the end portion of the shaft; a locking ball extendable into said at least one hole formed in said second portion of said sleeve and into the groove formed in the end portion of the shaft for retaining said shaft in said sleeve, said locking ball having a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of said at least one hole and selected to exceed more than twice a depth of the groove formed in the end portion of the shaft; a bushing enveloping said sleeve and axially displaceable therealong, said bushing having a bore for receiving said sleeve and having a first bore portion for receiving said first portion of said sleeve and having an inner end coinciding with said transition portion of said sleeve when said sleeve is disconnected from the shaft, and a groove formed in an inner surface of the bushing bore adjacent to said inner end of said first bore portion for receiving said locking ball; and spring means for biasing said bushing to a position in which said locking ball is displaced from said groove formed in said inner surface, upon insertion of the end portion of the shaft into said sleeve.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 408 words

An arrangement for connecting a rotatable shaft, having an end portion with channel toothing formed thereon and a circumferential groove formed adjacent to an end surface of the end portion, and a structural component for transmitting a torque therebetween, said arrangement comprising: a sleeve to be fixedly secured to the structural component and having inner channel toothing for cooperation with the channel toothing formed on the end portion of the shaft, said sleeve having a first portion for receiving the end portion of the shaft and having a plurality of axially extending longitudinal splines formed on an inner surface of said first portion and defining said inner channel toothing, and a second portion connected with said first portion by a divergent taper transition portion and having, in a circumferential region thereof adjacent to said transition portion at least one hole; a closure member for closing said at least one hole and displaceable within said second portion; a spring located inside said second portion for biasing said closure member to a closing position thereof, said spring being supported, at an end thereof remote from the closure member, on a support fixedly connected with the sleeve; said closure member being displaceable against a biasing force of said spring upon being acted on by the end portion of the shaft; a locking ball extendable into said at least one hole formed in said second portion of said sleeve and into the groove formed in the end portion of the shaft for retaining said shaft in said sleeve, said locking ball having a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of said at least one hole and selected to exceed more than twice a depth of the groove formed in the end portion of the shaft; a bushing enveloping said sleeve and axially displaceable therealong, said bushing having a bore for receiving said sleeve and having a first bore portion for receiving said first portion of said sleeve and having an inner end coinciding with said transition portion of said sleeve when said sleeve is disconnected from the shaft, and a groove formed in an inner surface of the bushing bore adjacent to said inner end of said first bore portion for receiving said locking ball; and spring means for biasing said bushing to a position in which said locking ball is displaced from said groove formed in said inner surface, upon insertion of the end portion of the shaft into said sleeve.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first portion of said sleeve has a length shorter than a length of said second portion of said sleeve, and said transition portion comprises a tapering surface connecting outer surfaces of said first and second portions.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 69 words

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein a width of an annular space of said bushing which is limited, on one hand, by a bottom of said groove formed in said inner surface and, on the other hand, by an upper surface of said closure member, when said closure member is in the closing position thereof, is equal at least to the diameter of said locking ball.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure member biasing spring is formed as a helical spring, and said support is formed as a disc which is secured in said second portion with a press fit.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second portions of said sleeve have different inner diameters defining a shoulder which forms a stop for said closure member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 42 words

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bushing bore has a second bore portion forming, together with an outer surface of said second portion of said sleeve, an annular space in which said bushing biasing spring means is located.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

An arrangement as set forth in claim 6, wherein an axial length of said annular space is approximately equal to a length of said busing biasing spring means in a compressed condition thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sleeve has a length which exceeds the length of said bushing.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said groove formed in said inner surface is located in a middle region of said bushing.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said taper transition portion of said sleeve represents a limb.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said busing biasing spring means has a spring constant larger than the spring constant of said closure member biasing spring.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-11-26	2000-05-27	2000-11-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-11-26	2004-05-27	2004-11-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-11-26	2008-05-27	2008-11-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Arrangement for connecting a rotatable shaft having an end portion with channel toothing formed thereon and a structural component

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