Flexible Shaft Connection and Method
First Claim
1. A coupling assembly for a fan drive in an atmospheric cooling tower, comprising:
- a flange member having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of attachment points;
a flex element having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points;
a set of spacers disposed in between the first flex element and the flange and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points;
a collar having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points; and
a set of first fasteners that pass through all of the outer attachment points to fasten the flex element and the flange to each other maintaining spacing between the flange and the flex element due to the spacers being trapped therebetween; and
a second set of fasteners that pass through all the inner attachment points, to fasten the flex element and the collar together in an abutting relationship.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coupling assembly is provided at each end of a shaft. The coupling assemblies include flange member having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of fastener attachment points, a first flex element having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points, a second flex element having a third outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points, a first set of spacers disposed in between the first flex element and the flange and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, a second set of spacers disposed between the first flex element and the second flex element and located between the second outer pattern and the third outer pattern of fastener attachment points, a collar having a third inner pattern of fastener attachment points, and a third set of spacers disposed between the first flex element and the second flex element between the first inner pattern and second inner pattern of fastener attachment points. A variation is disclosed which uses a single flex element.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A coupling assembly for a fan drive in an atmospheric cooling tower, comprising:
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a flange member having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of attachment points; a flex element having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a set of spacers disposed in between the first flex element and the flange and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a collar having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points; and a set of first fasteners that pass through all of the outer attachment points to fasten the flex element and the flange to each other maintaining spacing between the flange and the flex element due to the spacers being trapped therebetween; and a second set of fasteners that pass through all the inner attachment points, to fasten the flex element and the collar together in an abutting relationship. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A coupling assembly for a fan drive in an atmospheric cooling tower comprising:
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a flange member having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a first flex element having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a second flex element having a third outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a first set of spacers disposed in between the first flex element and the flange and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a second set of spacers disposed between the first flex element and the second flex element and located between the second outer pattern and the third outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a collar having a third inner pattern of fastener attachment points; and a third set of spacers disposed between the first flex element and the second flex element between the first inner pattern and second inner pattern of fastener attachment points. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A coupling assembly for a fan drive in an atmospheric cooling tower, comprising:
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a shaft; a first mounting means having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a first flowing means having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a second flexing means having a third outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a first set of spacing means disposed in between the first flexing means and the flange and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a second set of spacing means disposed between the first flexing means and the second flexing means and located between the second outer pattern and the third outer pattern of fastener attachment points; and a second mounting means having a third inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a third set of spacing means disposed between the first flexing means and the second flexing means between the first inner pattern and second inner pattern of fastener attachment points. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A fan drive assembly for an atmospheric cooling tower comprising:
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a motor; a shaft; a gear box; a pair of couplings, one at each end of the shaft, one coupling joining the shaft to the motor, and one coupling joining the shaft to the gear box; wherein each coupling comprises; a flange member having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a first flex element having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a second flex element having a third outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a first set of spacers disposed in between the first flex element and the flange and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a second set of spacers disposed between the first flex element and the second flex element and located between the second outer pattern and the third outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a collar having a third inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a third set of spacers disposed between the first flex element and the second flex element between the first inner pattern and second inner pattern of fastener attachment points. - View Dependent Claims (23, 25)
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24. A coupling method for a fan drive in an atmospheric cooling tower, comprising:
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providing a shaft; providing a pair of coupling devices at end of the shaft, wherein the coupling devices each comprise; a flange member having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a first flex element having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a second flex element having a third outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a first set of spacers disposed in between the first flex element and the flange and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a second set of spacers disposed between the first flex element and the second flex element and located between the second outer pattern and the third outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a collar having a third inner pattern of fastener attachment points; and a third set of spacers disposed between the first flex element and the second flex element between the first inner pattern and second inner pattern of fastener attachment points.
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Specification