System for connecting a shaft to a joint

• US 20070032303A1
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shaft-Form-Engineering GmbH
• Original Assignee: Shaft-Form-Engineering GmbH
• Inventors: Disser, Claus, Niederhufner, Manfred
• Granted Patent: US 8,070,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 464/145
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/116 the interengaging parts including a continuous or interrupted circumferential groove in the surface of one of the coupling parts circlips for retaining hubs on shafts F16B21/18
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2300/12 Mounting or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/223 the rolling members being guided in grooves in both coupling parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/845 allowing relative movement of joint parts due to the flexing of the cover
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 403/07 Split ring stop or abutment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/4966 Deformation occurs simultaneously with assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7026 Longitudinally splined or fluted rod

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for connecting a shaft to a joint, and to a corresponding method, wherein a shaft journal embodied on the end of the shaft that is to be connected to the joint can be inserted into a recess of a joint connection. The aim of the invention is to be able to pre-assemble an d axially align the shaft and the recess in a simple manner. To this end, the shaft journal and the recess are adapted to each other in such a way that the shaft journal can be displaced in the recess in an essentially weak manner in a first section T₁ of the insertion path E, and a large amount of force is expended for the displacement of the shaft journal in the recess in a section T₂ of the insertion path E.

Claims

1. System for connecting a shaft (3) to a joint (2), in which a shaft journal (17, 17′

) configured on the end of the shaft (3) to be connected with the joint (2) can be inserted into a recess (15, 15′

) of a joint connection (4, 4′

), wherein the shaft journal (17, 17′

) and the recess (15, 15′

) are adapted to one another in such a manner that in a first part (T1) of the insertion path (E), it is possible to displace the shaft journal (17, 17′

) in the recess (15, 15′

) essentially without force, and in a second part (T2) of the insertion path (E), a great expenditure of force must be applied for displacement of the shaft journal (17, 17′

) in the recess (15, 15′

).

2. Connection system according to claim 1, wherein the first part (T1) of the insertion path (E) amounts to at least 50%, preferably 60 to 70% of the total insertion path (E).

3. Connection system according to claim 1, wherein radial play exists between a front section of the shaft journal (17, 17′

) and an entry section of the recess (15, 15′

), in the first part (T1) of the insertion path (E), and that in the second part (T2) of the insertion path (E), the shaft journal (17, 17′

) and the recess (15, 15′

) are configured to fit precisely with one another.

4. Connection system according to claim 1, wherein a radial play between the shaft journal (17, 17′

) and the recess (15, 15′

) constantly decreases over the course of the second part (T2) of the insertion path (E).

5. Connection system according to claim 1, wherein a profiling (16, 18) for a transfer of torque is provided on the outer surface of the shaft journal (17, 17′

) and the inner surface of the recess (15, 15′

).

6. Connection system according to claim 1, wherein the shaft journal (17, 17′

) and/or the recess (15, 15′

) has an end stop (19).

7. Connection system according to claim 6, wherein the shaft (3) has a flange (19) at the transition to the shaft journal (17, 17′

), which rests against the face of the joint connection (4, 4′

) after the shaft journal (17, 17′

) has been inserted into the central recess (15, 15′

).

8. Connection system according to claim 1, wherein the shaft journal (17, 17′

) can be locked in place in the recess (15, 15′

), against axial displacement.

9. Connection system according to claim 8, wherein the shaft journal (17, 17′

) can be locked in place in the recess (15, 15′

) by means of a split ring.

10. Connection system according to claim 1, wherein a placement point for a tool is provided on the shaft (3) and/or on the joint connection (4, 4′

).

11. Method for connecting a shaft (3) to a joint (2) by means of a connection system (1, 1′

) according to claim 1, wherein the shaft journal (17, 17′

) of the shaft (3) is inserted by hand, for pre-assembly, in the first part (T1) of the insertion path (E), and inserted into the recess (15, 15′

), using a tool, in the second part (T2) of the insertion path (E).