Shaft coupling

• US 3,992,120 A
• Filed: 03/13/1975
• Issued: 11/16/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Florian B. Recker
• Original Assignee: Florian B. Recker
• Inventors: Recker, Florian B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kundrat, Andrew V.
• Application Number:
  US05/558,138
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 403/322, 403/325, 403/359, 403/316, 403/317, 403/327, 285/316, 285/85, 285/86, 285/308, 285/315, 285/317, 285/314, 64/6, 64/32 R, 64/4
• US Class Current: 403/317
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/69 Redundant disconnection blocking means
• 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 2001/103 the torque is transmitted via splined connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/387 Fork construction; Mounting of fork on shaft; Adapting shaft for mounting of fork
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/592 Ball detent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7033 including a lock or retainer

Abstract

Apparatus for connecting one shaft to another shaft wherein one of the shafts has a plurality of splines or grooves around the periphery thereof, an intermediate portion of the splined shaft having the splines removed. A housing is adapted to be connected to the other shaft of the coupling and has a central opening therein with splines and grooves around the periphery thereof to mate with the splines and grooves of the first mentioned shaft. A sleeve, also having complimentary splines and grooves therein, is rotatably received within the interior of the housing adjacent the inner end of the splined and grooved section of the housing opening. A collar is disposed about an outer portion of the housing and is interlocked with the sleeve so that rotary motion of the collar results in a similar rotary motion of the sleeve. A partially circular snap ring member is constructed of spring steel and is also disposed around the housing adjacent the collar. One side of the partially circular member being attached to the collar and another side of the semicircular member being attached to the housing. This semicircular member so attached to the collar and housing serves to bias the splines and grooves on the interior of the housing opening. Rotary movement of the collar in a direction opposing the spring forces of the partially circular member will move the splined sleeve to a position wherein the splines and grooves of the splined sleeve are aligned with the splines and grooves within the opening in the housing.

Claims

1. A torque transmitting coupling comprising:

a housing;

an opening in said housing, a portion of said opening being circular and a portion of said opening being noncircular, said opening being adapted to receive a noncircular portion of a shaft;

a sleeve rotatably disposed within said circular portion of said opening, the inner configuration of said sleeve being of the same general shape as the shape of the noncircular portion of the opening in the housing;

a collar surrounding a portion of said housing;

means for interlocking the collar and the sleeve, whereby rotary movement of the collar effects rotary movement of the sleeve; and

a partially circular member being connected adjacent one end thereof to said collar and adjacent the other end thereof to said housing, said partially circular member being a substantially flat member lying in one plane.

2. A torque transmitting coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said partially circular member is constructed of spring steel.

3. A torque transmitting coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said partially circular member is substantially the shape of a conventional snap ring.

4. A torque transmitting coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said noncircular portion of the opening in said housing has a series of equidistantly spaced longitudinal grooves and splines around the inner periphery thereof.

5. A torque transmitting coupling as defined in claim 4 wherein a shaft is adapted to be received in the noncircular portion of the opening in the housing, said shaft having a shape complimentary to the groove and spline shape of said opening and further having an intermediate annular section of said shaft with the splines removed, said annular section being adapted to receive a portion of said sleeve.

6. A torque transmitting coupling as defined in claim 5 wherein said shaft has twenty-one splines about the periphery thereof.

7. A torque transmitting coupling as defined in claim 5 wherein said shaft has six splines around the periphery thereof.

8. A torque transmitting coupling comprising:

a housing;

an opening in said housing, a portion of said opening being circular and a portion of said opening being noncircular, said opening being adapted to receive a noncircular portion of a shaft;

a sleeve rotatably disposed within said circular portion of said opening, the inner configuration of said sleeve being of the same general shape as the shape of the noncircular portion of the opening in the housing;

a collar surrounding a portion of said housing;

means for interlocking the collar and the sleeve, whereby rotary movement of the collar effects rotary movement of the sleeve;

a biasing member being connected adjacent one end thereof to said collar and adjacent the other end thereof to said housing;

a radial notch being disposed in one edge of the collar; and

a radial pin being disposed in the housing adjacent said one edge of the collar, whereby in one rotary position of the collar the radial pin is received in the notch and in another rotary position of the collar the pin is displaced from the notch.

9. A torque transmitting coupling as defined in claim 8 wherein said biasing member is partially circular and non-planer.