Self aligning coupling for mixing system
First Claim
1. A shaft coupling assembly comprising:
- a structural member having an interior surface bounding an opening that has an inlet, the interior surface comprising;
a coupling surface encircling a portion of the opening;
one or more receiving surfaces disposed between the coupling surface and the inlet of the opening, the one or more receiving surfaces each sloping away from the opening; and
one or more alignment ribs, each radially, inwardly projecting from one of the one or more receiving surfaces into the opening; and
an elongated shaft having a central longitudinal axis that extends between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the shaft comprising a driver configured to be received within the opening of the structural member, the driver having an exterior surface along the length thereof, the exterior surface comprising;
an engaging surface encircling the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and
first and second guide ribs disposed distal of the engaging surface, the first and second guide ribs each extending distally to a distal-most point, the first and second guide ribs bounding a recessed notch therebetween, the first and second guide ribs being configured such that when the driver is being inserted distally into the opening with the first and second guide ribs being aligned with the one or more alignment ribs, the first guide rib contacts a first one of the one or more alignment ribs so that the first guide rib must be offset from the first alignment rib before the driver can be fully received within the opening, wherein each guide rib has opposing side edges that taper inward distally to intersect at the distal-most point in a substantially V-shaped configuration and wherein one of the side edges of the first guide rib intersects one of the side edges of the second guide rib so that the notch is V-shaped.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shaft coupling assembly includes a hub bounding an opening. The interior surface of the hub includes an annular coupling surface and a receiving surface, the receiving surface sloping away from opening. An alignment rib projects from the receiving surface into the opening. An elongated shaft includes a driver that is configured to be received within the opening of the hub. The driver has an exterior surface that includes an annular engaging surface, a guide surface, and a guide rib radially, outwardly projecting from the guide surface. The guide rib is configured such that when the driver is being inserted within the opening with the guide rib being aligned with the alignment rib, the guide rib contacts the alignment rib so that the guide rib must be offset from the alignment rib before the driver can be fully received within the opening.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A shaft coupling assembly comprising:
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a structural member having an interior surface bounding an opening that has an inlet, the interior surface comprising; a coupling surface encircling a portion of the opening; one or more receiving surfaces disposed between the coupling surface and the inlet of the opening, the one or more receiving surfaces each sloping away from the opening; and one or more alignment ribs, each radially, inwardly projecting from one of the one or more receiving surfaces into the opening; and an elongated shaft having a central longitudinal axis that extends between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the shaft comprising a driver configured to be received within the opening of the structural member, the driver having an exterior surface along the length thereof, the exterior surface comprising; an engaging surface encircling the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and first and second guide ribs disposed distal of the engaging surface, the first and second guide ribs each extending distally to a distal-most point, the first and second guide ribs bounding a recessed notch therebetween, the first and second guide ribs being configured such that when the driver is being inserted distally into the opening with the first and second guide ribs being aligned with the one or more alignment ribs, the first guide rib contacts a first one of the one or more alignment ribs so that the first guide rib must be offset from the first alignment rib before the driver can be fully received within the opening, wherein each guide rib has opposing side edges that taper inward distally to intersect at the distal-most point in a substantially V-shaped configuration and wherein one of the side edges of the first guide rib intersects one of the side edges of the second guide rib so that the notch is V-shaped. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 27)
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17. A shaft coupling assembly comprising:
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a structural member having an interior surface bounding an opening and an inlet to the opening, the interior surface of the structural member comprising; a coupling surface that encircles the opening, the coupling surface having a substantially polygonal transverse cross section that comprises a plurality of spaced apart coupling corner surfaces and a coupling side surface extending between each adjacent pair of coupling corner surfaces, an inside corner being formed at the intersection between each coupling corner surface and each coupling side surface; a frustoconical receiving surface that encircles the opening and is disposed between the coupling surface and the inlet of the opening; and a plurality of spaced apart alignment ribs projecting along a face of the frustoconical receiving surface into the opening such that the frustoconical surface extends between adjacent alignment ribs, each of the alignment ribs being longitudinally aligned with one of the coupling side surfaces and no alignment ribs being longitudinally aligned with one of the coupling corner surfaces; and an elongated shaft having a central longitudinal axis that extends between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the shaft comprising a driver that is configured to be received within the opening of the structural member, the driver having an exterior surface along the length thereof, the exterior surface of the driver comprising; an engaging surface encircling the longitudinal axis of the shaft and having a substantially polygonal transverse cross section, the engaging surface being configured to be received within the portion of the opening bounded by the coupling surface so that when the shaft is rotated the engaging surface engages the coupling surface to facilitate rotation of the structural member; a guide surface disposed distal of the engaging surface, the guide surface terminating at a rounded nose; and a plurality of spaced apart guide ribs radially outwardly projecting from the guide surface. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification