Abstract: A transmission shaft assembly of the cardan type for transmitting torque from an input to an output includes a pair of universal joints with an intermediate connecting shaft between the joints. The universal joints are connected to the intermediate shaft on one side and a first coupling flange is connected to each universal joint on its other side. A second coupling flange is detachably connected by screw bolts to the first coupling flange of each universal joint, and each coupling flange has a plane end face with at least two groups of axially projecting gear teeth for torque transmission coupling between the flanges. The teeth of each group on each flange extend in a direction parallel to one another and have inclined side walls for engagement with the side walls of the teeth of the cooperating flange.

Abstract: A bearing system in a universal joint for journaling each of the bearing pins at a cross trunnion includes a journal for receiving each one of the trunnion pins. At least two of the journals are mounted on a drive shaft flange and have projections which engage grooves in an end face of the flange for preventing radial and lateral displacement of the journals with respect to the flange. Each journal has a seating bore for receiving a pin of the cross trunnion. A bearing bushing, having a bottom wall and side walls, is carried in each seating bore. A roller bearing is positioned between the inside of the side walls of the bushing and the trunnion pin carried therein, and a removable guard ring is carried in an annular groove of each journal engaging the bottom wall of its respective bushing for securing the bushing in the seating bore, thereby permitting removal and replacement of the bushing and allowing the use of guard rings having different thicknesses to adjust for clearances.

Abstract: A thrust plate utilized between the end face of a bearing pin of a trunnion in a universal joint and the bottom wall of a bushing on the bearing pin is formed of a wear-resistant heat-stable plastic material and lubricant grooves are formed in at least one surface of the plate. A plurality of protuberances which may be in the form of honeycombs, cams, or cam-ridges are formed in a surface of the plate between the lubricant grooves and occupy an area such that the deformation resistance under compression load will be less than two-thirds of the corresponding resistance value for the plate.

Abstract: A coupling flange on a torque transmitting shaft or the like for coupling in face-to-face relationship with a counter-flange has at least two tooth systems on its coupling surface and each system comprising a plurality of substantially parallel axially projecting teeth having inclined flanks. At least one tooth in each tooth system has a different height, spacing or shape from the other teeth in the tooth system and the tooth systems are engagable with a complementary configuration on the counter-flange so as to connect nonrotatably the flanges.

Abstract: Universal or Cardan joints of a power shaft are joined by an axially sliding coupling which is sealed by a combination bearing and wiper having a low co-efficient of friction. One of the universal joints has an internally splined hub receiving an externally splined pin on an intermediate shaft secured to the other joint so that the axial spacing of the two joints can be varied without loss of power transmission. A sleeve or pipe secured at one end to the pin surrounds the hub and carries in its other end a plastics material sealing ring with a rigid bearing portion and a flexible lip portion riding on the hub to hold the sleeve concentrically around the hub and seal the chamber between the sleeve and hub.

Abstract: A universal joint shaft assembly is balanced by weights carried in rings of C-shaped cross section surrounding the assembly adjacent the universal joints and the weights are retained in balancing positions by locally deforming the outer peripheral leg or arm of the C-shaped ring into gripping relation with the weights. Where the weights are made of soft metal, notches of the ring can be pressed into the weights. The C-shaped rings can be anchored to components adjacent the joints of the universal shaft by pressing flaps out of the webs of the rings and securing these flaps to the joint components or can be integral parts of a tube surrounding the shaft.