POWER SHAFT COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING MECHANISM

• US 3,760,920 A
• Filed: 08/14/1972
• Issued: 09/25/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William H. Delfeld
• Original Assignee: William H. Delfeld
• Inventors: Delfeld, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, Charles J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heald, Randall
• Application Number:
  US05/280,690
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 64/9,23 192/93R,99A,99B,99R,47R,89A,48.1,67,48.5
• US Class Current: 192/93.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 11/14 with clutching members movable only axially F16D11/02, F16D11/08 take precedence

Abstract

A power shaft coupling arrangement, specifically designed for marine use, which can shift axially for connecting and disconnecting an engine and a transmission so as to allow operation of the engine separately from the transmission. To disconnect or uncouple the shaft arrangement, a locking means at the engine end of the shaft is moved to a stowed position. A shift means carrying a yoke is cammed into engagement with a shift land on the shaft so as to shift the power shaft axially for separating crown tooth couplings at each end of the power shaft from the corresponding teeth on the engine and transmission units. Support blocks and the yoke keep the shaft in correct alignment so that engine and transmission are both disconnected from the shaft. In addition, a seal arrangement on the transmission end of the power shaft arrangement is engaged with either the transmission unit or a support unit so as to seal the engine end of the shaft against water splash from the transmission end while the shaft is either in coupled or in uncoupled position.

Claims

1. A power shaft coupling arrangement comprising in combination:

a. a shaft disposed between an associated drive means and an associated driven means and adapted to move axially from a coupled position to a decoupled position and vice versa for connecting and disconnecting said drive means and driven means, respectively;

b. said shaft having a forward portion provided with means to engage to said drive means when in said coupled position so that torque is received by said shaft, and said shaft having an aft portion provided with means to engage to said driven means when in said coupled position so that torque is transferred to said driven means, and c. a shifting mechanism mounted adjacent said shaft provided with an actuating means for coupling and uncoupling of said shaft and a gripping means adapted to grip and to hold said shaft outer surface upon actuation of said actuating means for shifting said shaft coincident to its own axis from a coupled pOsition to an uncoupled position and to move said shaft from said uncoupled position to said coupled position and releasing said gripping means when in said coupled position whereby said engagement means of said forward and aft portion of said shaft portion of said shaft becomes engaged to said drive and driven means respectively.

2. A power shaft coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shifting mechanism mounted adjacent said shaft carries a fixedly mounted cam, said cam having a contoured surface for guiding said gripping means when said gripping means is actuated for movement by said actuating means so that said gripping means after gripping said shaft outer surface moves parallel to said shaft whereby axial shifting of said shaft is accomplished.

3. A power shaft coupling as claimed in claim 2 wherein spring means are provided for connecting said gripping means to said actuating means for biased attachment to said cam contour and for assuring disengagement of said gripping means from said shaft during said coupled position.

4. A power shaft as claimed in claim 3 wherein said shaft is provided with a. a shift land portion complementing with said gripping means during actuation of said actuating means and during said uncoupled position;

and b. support means fixedly located adjacent said shaft adapted to make contact with said shift land portion when retaining said shaft into said uncoupled position together with said gripping means.

5. A power shaft as claimed in claim 4 wherein said shaft is provided with a. a stop-locking means including a locking means mechanism and retaining means, said retaining means adapted to prevent axial movement of said shaft during said coupled position so that said engagement means at said forward and said aft portion remain in an engaged condition, and b. said locking mechanism adapted to be manually operated for unlocking said retaining means when in said coupled position so that said retaining means is displaced in a stowing location and locked by said locking means to obtain free axial movement of said shaft for uncoupling thereof.

6. A power shaft as claimed in claim 5 wherein a sealing means of flexible material, for preventing liquid from entering said power shaft arrangement and shifting mechanism, is mounted between said aft portion and adjacent associated structure so that continued sealing is provided in said coupled and said uncoupled position.

7. A power shaft coupling arrangement comprising in combination:

p1 a. a shaft having a forward portion, an inbetween portion and an aft portion;

b. gear tooth means provided at said forward and said aft portion for complementing engagement with an associated drive means and an associated driven means, for receiving and transmitting torque, respectively;

p1 c. a stop-locking means comprising a collar with locking pin for locking and retaining said shaft gear tooth means in coupled engagement with said associated drive and driven means; and

d. a shifting mechanism mounted adjacent said shaft and provided with a pivotally mounted shift handle carrying a gripping means, said gripping means adapted to grab said shaft inbetween portion, so that said shaft, after said stop-locking means is manually unlocked and said handle is actuated, becomes movable in axial direction and said gripping means upon further actuation of said handle moves said shaft whereby both said gear tooth means disengage from said associated complementing engagements and said shaft becomes displaced coincident with its axis in an uncoupled condition.

8. A power shaft coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein said shifting means employs a fixedly mounted cam for guiding said gripping means about during coupling and uncoupling of said shaft and wherein said gripping means is biasedly connected to said handle and held against said cam so that accurate movement of said gripping means by actuation of said shift handle is accomplished.

9. A power sHaft coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 8 wherein said shifting means is provided with fixedly mounted support means which are positioned opposite of said gripping means so that said shaft in said uncoupled condition is held in axial alignment against and inbetween said support means and said gripping means.

10. A power shaft coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said shaft inbetween portion is provided with a shift land having a contour for receiving said gripping means and for engaging with said support means in said uncoupled displaced condition.