Flexible shaft connection and method
First Claim
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1. A coupling assembly for a fan drive in an atmospheric cooling tower, comprising:
- a flange member having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of attachment points;
a flex element having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points, wherein said flex element comprises a plurality of discs stacked adjacent one another wherein said flex element is coated with an elastomeric coating;
a set of spacers wherein a spacer is disposed in between each individual disc of said plurality of discs and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points;
a collar having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points; and
a set of first fasteners that pass through all of the outer attachment points to fasten the flex element and the flange to each other maintaining spacing between the flange and the flex element due to the spacers being trapped therebetween; and
a second set of fasteners that pass through all the inner attachment points, to fasten the flex element and the collar together in an abutting relationship.
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Abstract
A coupling assembly that provides rotational shaft couplings or connections. The aforementioned coupling assembly pertains to such connections or couplings which can transmit rotational torque between two shafts and/or hubs, while accommodating center-line misalignment between the shafts on both sides of the coupling wherein the coupling assembly may be provided at each end of a shaft or the like.
14 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A coupling assembly for a fan drive in an atmospheric cooling tower, comprising:
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a flange member having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of attachment points; a flex element having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points, wherein said flex element comprises a plurality of discs stacked adjacent one another wherein said flex element is coated with an elastomeric coating; a set of spacers wherein a spacer is disposed in between each individual disc of said plurality of discs and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a collar having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points; and a set of first fasteners that pass through all of the outer attachment points to fasten the flex element and the flange to each other maintaining spacing between the flange and the flex element due to the spacers being trapped therebetween; and a second set of fasteners that pass through all the inner attachment points, to fasten the flex element and the collar together in an abutting relationship. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A coupling assembly for a fan drive in an atmospheric cooling tower comprising:
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a flange member having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a first flex element having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a second flex element having a third outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a first set of spacers disposed in between said flange and said first flex element and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a second set of spacers disposed between the first flex element and the second flex element and located between the second outer pattern and the third outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a collar having a third inner pattern of fastener attachment points; and a third set of spacers disposed between the first flex element and the second flex element between the first inner pattern and second inner pattern of fastener attachment points, wherein an elastomeric coating encases said first and second flex element. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A coupling assembly for a fan drive in an atmospheric cooling tower, comprising:
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a shaft; a first mounting means having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a first flexing means having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a second flexing means having a third outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a first set of spacing means disposed in between said flange and said first flexing means and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a second set of spacing means disposed between the first flexing means and the second flexing means and located between the second outer pattern and the third outer pattern of fastener attachment points; and a second mounting means having a third inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a third set of spacing means disposed between the first flexing means and the second flexing means between the first inner pattern and second inner pattern of fastener attachment points wherein an elastomeric coating encases said first and second flexing means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A fan drive assembly for an atmospheric cooling tower comprising:
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a motor; a shaft; a gear box; a pair of couplings, one at each end of the shaft, one coupling joining the shaft to the motor, and one coupling joining the shaft to the gear box; wherein each coupling comprises; a flange member having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a first flex element having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a second flex element having a third outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a first set of spacers disposed in between said flange and said first flex element and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a second set of spacers disposed between the first flex element and the second flex element and located between the second outer pattern and the third outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a collar having a third inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a third set of spacers disposed between the first flex element and the second flex element between the first inner pattern and second inner pattern of fastener attachment points, wherein an elastomeric coating encases said first and second flex element. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A coupling method for a fan drive in an atmospheric cooling tower, comprising:
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providing a shaft; providing a pair of coupling devices at either end of the shaft, wherein the coupling devices each comprise; a flange member having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a first flex element having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a second flex element having a third outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points; a first set of spacers disposed in between said flange and said first flex element and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a second set of spacers disposed between the first flex element and the second flex element and located between the second outer pattern and the third outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a collar having a third inner pattern of fastener attachment points; and a third set of spacers disposed between the first flex element and the second flex element between the first inner pattern and second inner pattern of fastener attachment points, wherein an elastomeric coating encases said first and second flex element. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A coupling assembly for a fan drive in an atmospheric cooling tower, comprising:
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a flange member having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of attachment points; a flex element having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points, wherein said flex element comprises a plurality of discs stacked adjacent one another wherein said flex element is coated with an elastomeric coating; a collar having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points; and a set of first fasteners that pass through all of the outer attachment points to fasten the flex element and the flange to each other maintaining spacing between the flange and the flex element due to a set of spacers, wherein a spacer is disposed in between each individual disc of said plurality of discs and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points; and a second set of fasteners that pass through all the inner attachment points, to fasten the flex element and the collar together in an abutting relationship.
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Specification