초록 ▼

A flexible connector may include a tube having an open end and a lower end distal from the open end, an inner surface of the open end comprising a plurality of apices forming a substantially polygonal lower cross-section, an upper shaft having an insert end disposed insertably in the open end, an ou

A flexible connector may include a tube having an open end and a lower end distal from the open end, an inner surface of the open end comprising a plurality of apices forming a substantially polygonal lower cross-section, an upper shaft having an insert end disposed insertably in the open end, an outer surface of the insert end comprising a plurality of substantially planer flats forming a substantially polygonal upper cross-section normal to the driven axis of rotation, the upper cross-section being substantially similar to the lower cross-section, and an elastic member disposed compressably between each of the flats and each of the apices.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A flexible connector comprising: a drive shaft having a drive axis of rotation and a drive end, a drive lug disposed fixedly at a surface of said drive end, said drive lug being offset substantially from said drive axis of rotation; a lower shaft disposed insertably within sa

What is claimed is: 1. A flexible connector comprising: a drive shaft having a drive axis of rotation and a drive end, a drive lug disposed fixedly at a surface of said drive end, said drive lug being offset substantially from said drive axis of rotation; a lower shaft disposed insertably within said drive end, said lower shaft having a driven lug disposed fixedly at a surface of said lower shaft substantially abutably to said drive lug; a tube having an open end and a lower end distal from said open end, said lower end disposed fixedly at said lower shaft substantially parallel to said drive axis of rotation, an inner surface of said open end comprising a plurality of apices forming a substantially polygonal lower cross-section normal to said drive axis of rotation; an upper shaft having an insert end disposed insertably in said open end, an upper end distal from said insert end, and a driven axis of rotation, said upper end having a drive aperture substantially normal to said driven axis of rotation, an outer surface of said insert end comprising a plurality of substantially planer flats forming a substantially polygonal upper cross-section normal to said driven axis of rotation, said upper cross-section being substantially similar to said lower cross-section; an elastic member disposed compressably between each of said flats and each of said apices; a driven shaft having a driven end, an insert aperture having a substantially polygonal insert cross-section disposed fixably in said driven end, said insert cross-section being substantially congruent to said upper cross-section, said insert end disposed insertably within said insert aperture, said driven shaft having a driven aperture proximate to said drive aperture; and a bolt disposed insertably within said drive aperture and said driven aperture; wherein a torque applied to said drive shaft forces said drive lug against said driven lug, transmitting said torque to said lower shaft and said tube; wherein said torque applied to said tube compresses said elastic members against said flats, transmitting said torque to said insert end and said upper end; and wherein said insert end transmits said torque to said insert aperture and said driven shaft. 2. The flexible connector of claim 1, further comprising a drive blade disposed substantially helically about said drive shaft. 3. The flexible connector of claim 2, further comprising a drive housing disposed substantially concentrically about said drive blade, said drive housing and said drive blade comprising a drive auger. 4. The flexible connector of claim 3, comprising further: a hanger disposed in said drive housing; and a bearing disposed insertably at an end of said hanger; wherein said drive end is disposed rotatably in said bearing. 5. The flexible connector of claim 1, further comprising a driven blade disposed substantially helically about said driven shaft. 6. The flexible connector of claim 5, further comprising a driven housing disposed substantially concentrically about said driven blade, said driven housing and said driven blade comprising a driven auger. 7. The flexible connector of claim 1, wherein said lower cross-section is selected from the group consisting of: a square, a triangle, a quadrilateral, a pentagon, a hexagon, a rhombus, and a trapezoid. 8. The flexible connector of claim 1, wherein said upper cross-section is selected from the group consisting of: a square, a triangle, a quadrilateral, a pentagon, a hexagon, a rhombus, and a trapezoid. 9. The flexible connector of claim 1, comprising further an actuator operably connected to said drive shaft, said actuator applying said torque to said drive shaft.