Universal coupling

• US 4,673,376 A
• Filed: 07/16/1986
• Issued: 06/16/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABB Trallfa Robot AS (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Graco Robotics Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Fender, Norman N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kundrat, Andrew V.
• Application Number:
  US06/886,120
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 464/156, 464/158, 464/159, 464/150, 279/16, 279/42, 403/290, 403/114, 403/90, 403/383, 403/359
• US Class Current: 464/158
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/06 Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/20 one coupling part entering a sleeve of the other coupling part and connected thereto by sliding or rolling members F16D3/18, F16D3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32311 Ball and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/535 with separate force-applying means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7098 Non-circular rod section is joint component

Abstract

A universal coupler for flexibly joining together two members along an axis, wherein one member has a projecting neck having an enlarged curved polyhedron head, wherein each of the faces of the polyhedron have a radius of curvature measured in a plane parallel to the axis, and wherein the second member has a threaded end and an internal polyhedron receptor opening, the polyhedron opening being complementary to the head, and wherein the threaded end incorporates a plurality of slots running parallel to the axis, and a threaded locknut for fitting over the threaded end and for capturing the polyhedron head within the polyhedron receptor opening.

Claims

1. A universal coupler for attaching two members together along an axis and for permitting limited off-axis displacement of either of the members and for transmitting rotational torque therebetween, comprising

(a) a male coupler affixed to one of said members, said male coupler comprising a narrowed neck portion and a curved polyhedron head attached thereto and having a plurality of curved faces;

(b) a female coupler affixed to the other of said members, said female coupler comprising a socket having interior polyhedron faces corresponding in number to said polyhedron head curved faces, and having a plurality of slots therethrough, each slot separating adjacent polyhedron faces, said female member further comprising a tapered exterior threaded portion extending substantially over said socket and at least partially along said slots; and

(c) a threaded locknut fitted to said threaded portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said polyhedron head further comprises six curved faces in hexagonal relationship.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said curved faces are formed by a radius from a point along said axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said socket interior polyhedron faces each further comprise a smooth face running parallel to said axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said polyhedron head further comprises a plurality of curved faces wherein each arc of curvature lies in a plane parallel to said axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said polyhedron head further comprises six curved faces in hexagonal relationship.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said curved faces are formed by a radius from a point along said axis.