Shaft coupling with high torsional elasticity

• US 6,953,399 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Centa-Antriebe Kirschey GmbH (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Centa-Antriebe Kirschey GmbH (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Inventors: Kirschey, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunwoody, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US10/636,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20040058735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 464/17, 464/88, 464/92, 464/93, 464/87, 464/96
• US Class Current: 464/92
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/74 the intermediate member or members being made of rubber or other rubber-like flexible material

Abstract

An elastic shaft coupling with high torsional elasticity having segments formed by steel sheet segment plates vulcanized to an elastomeric body and in which blocking elements bridge the radial gaps of the segments of each coupling half so as to brace the plate segments against axial deformation. All of the elastomeric bodies are vulcanized to the segments or to rings from which segments are divided in a common vulcanization procedure.

Claims

1. A shaft coupling with high torsional elasticity for connecting a drive with a driven unit, said shaft coupling having a first generally annular coupling half connected to said drive and a second generally annular coupling half connected to said driven unit, each of said coupling halves comprising a plurality of coplanar plate segments having radial gaps between them, said shaft coupling comprising elastomeric bodies between corresponding plate segments and vulcanized to juxtaposed surfaces of said plate segments, the plate segments being composed of metal sheet having at least main surfaces of the sheet which constitute the axial surfaces thereof formed as nonmachined faces;

and blocking elements at said radial gaps coupling the plate segments of each half together across the respective gap and bracing the plate segments against axial deformation, each of said blocking elements being connected to one of said plate segments at an edge of the respective plate segment and extending across the respective gap to engage over a neighboring plate segment.

3. The shaft coupling defined in claim 1 wherein said plate segments are composed of steel sheet.

4. The shaft coupling defined in claim 1 wherein all of said elastomeric bodies are vulcanized between the respective plate segments together.

15. The shaft coupling defined in claim 3 wherein said plate segments are composed of steel sheet.

2. A shaft coupling with high torsional elasticity for connecting a drive with a driven unit, said shaft coupling having a first generally annular coupling half connected to said drive and a second generally annular coupling half connected to said driven unit, each of said coupling halves comprising a plurality of coplanar plate segments having radial gaps between them, said shaft coupling comprising elastomeric bodies between corresponding plate segments and vulcanized to juxtaposed surfaces of said plate segments, the plate segments being composed of metal sheet having at least main surfaces of the sheet which constitute the axial surfaces thereof formed as nonmachined faces;

and blocking elements at said radial gaps coupling the plate segments of each half together across the respective gap and bracing the plate segments against axial deformation, said blocking elements being disposed at respective edges of the plate segments and extending cross the respective gaps to engage a neighboring plate segment whereby the blocking elements mutually brace the plate segments against axial deformation.

16. The shaft coupling defined in claim 2 wherein all of said elastomeric bodies are vulcanized between the respective plate segments together.

5. A shaft coupling with high torsional elasticity for connecting a drive with a driven unit, said shaft coupling having a first generally annular coupling half connected to said drive and a second generally annular coupling half connected to said driven unit, each of said coupling halves comprising a plurality of coplanar plate segments having radial gaps between them, said shaft coupling comprising elastomeric bodies between corresponding plate segments and vulcanized to juxtaposed surfaces of said plate segments, the plate segments being composed of metal sheet having at least main surfaces of the sheet which constitute the axial surfaces thereof formed as nonmachined faces;

and blocking elements at said radial gaps coupling the plate segments of each half together across the respective gap and bracing the plate segments against axial deformation, at least one of said blocking elements comprising a pair of lugs, each of said lugs being affixed to one of said plate segments and reaching over a neighboring plate segment in a peripheral direction.

6. The shaft coupling defined in claim 5 wherein at least one of said blocking elements comprises two lugs which are affixed on opposite sides of one of said plate segments and has projecting portions straddling the neighboring plate segment.

7. The shaft coupling defined in claim 5 wherein said lugs are affixed on the same side of a plate segment and a neighboring plate segment to reach across a radial gap between said plate segments and axially brace said segments against one another.

8. The shaft coupling defined in claim 5 wherein said lugs are lugs are provided on the same plate segment.

9. The shaft coupling defined in claim 5 wherein said lugs are provided on plate segments on opposite sides of a respective radial gap.

10. The shaft coupling defined in claim 5 wherein said lugs are disposed so as to peripherally engage one another.

11. The shaft coupling defined in claim 5 wherein at least one of said lugs is connected to a respective plate segment by a fastener and is prevented from rotating by a pin transfixing said lug and the respective plate segment.

12. The shaft coupling defined in claim 5 wherein said lugs are provided along a periphery of the respective plate segments and are flush with said periphery.

13. The shaft coupling defined in claim 5 wherein said lugs conform to circular arc segments.

14. The shaft coupling defined in claim 5 wherein said lugs are coextensive with one another on opposite sides of a plate segment and are connected together by fasteners passing through a respective plate segment.

17. The shaft coupling defined in claim 5 wherein said plate segments are composed of steel sheet.

18. The shaft coupling defined in claim 5 wherein all of said elastomeric bodies are vulcanized between the respective plate segments together.