Drive shaft coupling

• US 5,154,652 A
• Filed: 01/14/1992
• Issued: 10/13/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eric J. Ecklesdafer
• Original Assignee: Eric J. Ecklesdafer
• Inventors: Ecklesdafer, Eric J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotelo, Jesus D.
• Application Number:
  US07/821,845
• Time in Patent Office: 273 Days
• Field of Search: 440/83, 440/113, 403/310-313, 464/182, 464/170
• US Class Current: 440/83
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 23/34 Propeller shafts; Paddle-wheel shafts; Attachment of propellers on shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/04 with clamping hub; with hub and longitudinal key
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/0864 due to tangential loading of the hub, e.g. a split hub
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/5781 Bolted

Abstract

A coupling is provided for releasably joining two abutting sections of a drive shaft such as used to drive an inboard power boat. An inner sleeve within the coupling is replaceable and permits one shaft to rotate relative to the other within the coupling if a predetermined torque setting is exceeded without damaging the coupling. The torque "breakaway" point for the coupling can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the bolts connecting the two halves of the coupling around the shafts.

Claims

1. A bifurcated drive shaft comprising in combination a first elongated shaft adapted to abut and turn a second elongated shaft disposed in longitudinal alignment therewith;

each of said shafts being provided with a circumferential groove proximate their respective abutting ends;

said shafts being releasable joined to each other by an outer sleeve comprising two longitudinally divided outer halves which surround and frictionally engage said abutting shaft ends and are joined together by a plurality of elongated fastener means disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shafts and on opposing sides thereof;

two of said elongated fastener means tangentially engaging each of said circumferential grooves on opposing sides of each shaft to prevent longitudinal displacement of said shafts relative to on another;

a second, replaceable, protective inner sleeve means longitudinally divided into two sections and disposed concentrically between said outer halves and said shafts to permit either of said shafts to turn within said sleeve means independently if the relative torque differential between the shafts exceeds a predetermined value and such that tightening of said fastener means frictionally engages said inner and outer sleeves around said shafts such that rotation of said first shaft is imparted to said second shaft.

2. The drive shaft of claim 1 wherein said fastener means are bolts.

3. The drive shaft of claim 1 wherein additional fastener means are provided to join said outer halves of said sleeve which do not engage either of said shafts or the grooves therein.