초록 ▼

A coupler for connecting a drive shaft to a driven member and accommodating a substantial misalignment between the drive shaft and the driven member, while minimizing audible noise and vibration. The coupling includes a hollow core nest element having a plurality of slots formed in one end, two subs

A coupler for connecting a drive shaft to a driven member and accommodating a substantial misalignment between the drive shaft and the driven member, while minimizing audible noise and vibration. The coupling includes a hollow core nest element having a plurality of slots formed in one end, two substantially identical elongate body elements, and a plurality of spring elements. Each elongate body element has two ends, a first end being adapted to couple with either the drive shaft or the driven member, and a second end that includes a plurality of posts that engage the slots of the hollow core nest. An aperture in the hollow core nest is larger than the diameter of the elongate bodies, allowing for the components to move radially relative to each other to accommodate for any offset and misalignment between the longitudinal axes of the drive shaft and the driven member, while the spring elements ensure that the components positively contact one another to reduce audible noise that is otherwise produced by loose fitting components. In one embodiment, a spring element is integrally formed in the slots of the hollow core nest, such that the posts of the body elements are held in engagement with sides of the slots by the spring elements. This embodiment includes an end cap that prevents the posts from becoming disengaged from the slots. Another embodiment employs helical coil springs mounted externally around the hollow core nest.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A coupling for connecting a drive shaft to a driven member, comprising:(a) a hollow core nest having a central aperture and opposed first and second ends, the second end including a plurality of generally longitudinally extending slots; (b) a first elongate body having opposed first and second en

1. A coupling for connecting a drive shaft to a driven member, comprising:(a) a hollow core nest having a central aperture and opposed first and second ends, the second end including a plurality of generally longitudinally extending slots; (b) a first elongate body having opposed first and second ends, an opening being disposed at the first end thereof, said opening being adapted to receive the drive shaft and to be rotatably driven thereby, a plurality of posts being disposed on said second end of the first elongate body, said plurality of posts having a cross-sectional size generally corresponding to a width of at least a first portion of the plurality of the slots, said first elongate body being disposed so that a longitudinal axis thereof passes through the central aperture of the hollow core nest, the plurality of the posts of said first elongate body engaging the first portion of the plurality of the slots; and (c) a second elongate body having opposed first and second ends, and an opening disposed at the first end thereof, said opening being adapted to receive the driven member and to rotatingly drive it, a plurality of posts being disposed on said second end of the second elongate body, said plurality of posts having a cross-sectional size generally corresponding to a width of at least a second portion of the plurality of the slots, said second elongate body being disposed so that a longitudinal axis thereof passes through the central aperture of the hollow core nest and such that the plurality of the posts of said second elongate body engage the second portion of the plurality of the slots, said first elongate body being thereby adapted to transmit a rotational motion from the drive shaft through the hollow core nest, to the second elongate member, and thus, to the driven member, while accommodating misalignment between the drive shaft and the driven member.