초록 ▼

A fail-safe flexible coupling is provided for coupling shafts, typically in an aircraft, wherein the coupling includes a plug coupled to the first shaft and a socket coupled to the first shaft and a socket coupled to the second shaft. The plug is arranged and configured to loosely mate with the sock

A fail-safe flexible coupling is provided for coupling shafts, typically in an aircraft, wherein the coupling includes a plug coupled to the first shaft and a socket coupled to the first shaft and a socket coupled to the second shaft. The plug is arranged and configured to loosely mate with the socket when the shafts are being rotated together by virtue of their primary coupling. When the primary coupling fails, the socket and plug engage each other notwithstanding the failure of the primary coupling between them. The plug is particularly characterized by a screw portion and head portion. The screw portion is threaded into the first shaft. The coupling is secured to the first shaft by the head portion of the plug.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An improvement in a flexible coupling having a first member coupled with a first shaft and a second member coupled to a second shaft with a flexible portion coupling said first and second members, a plug means for coupling to said first shaft and extending therefrom, and a socket means for coupli

1. An improvement in a flexible coupling having a first member coupled with a first shaft and a second member coupled to a second shaft with a flexible portion coupling said first and second members, a plug means for coupling to said first shaft and extending therefrom, and a socket means for coupling to said first shaft and extending therefrom, and a socket means for coupling to said second shaft and mating with plug means so that said first and second shafts continue to be driven when said flexible portion coupling said first and second shaft fails, said improvement comprising: a thickened eccentric portion of said plug means capable of withstanding substantial impact against said socket means; and a substantial enlargement in an opening defined by said socket means for receiving the eccentric portion of said plug means, approximating the shape of said plug means extending within said socket means, said enlargement being characterized by sufficient clearance between said plug means and socket means such that when said plug means is not engaging said socket means and when said flexible portion has failed, thereby decoupling said first and second shafts, said first and second shafts are permitted by said clearance between said plug means and socket means to assume a substantially inclined angle with respect to each other, whereby failure of said flexible coupling becomes immediately visually observable by virtue of said substantial inclination of said first and second shafts with respect to each other. 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the eccentric portion of said plug means has a shoulder portion in the form of two, oppositely disposed lobes, each lobe being provided with at least one flat surface. 3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said enlarged opening defined by said socket means has at least two flat surfaces arranged and configured to contact two corresponding flat surfaces provided on said shoulder portion of said plug means. 4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said plug means is separated from said socket means at each point about the periphery of said plug means by said enlarged opening defined by said socket means so that said plug means may be inclined with respect to said socket means when not engaged thereto by a substantial angle in any direction.