Abstract: A link-type coupling particularly suited for use in connecting a drive shaft to a rotor hub in an aircraft for permitting the hub to rotate about an axis that may be angularly misaligned with respect to the rotational axis of the drive shaft. The coupling includes a series of links arranged tangentially with respect to the hub and shaft and connected thereto by laminated elastomeric bearings at the ends of the links. The laminated elastomeric bearings accommodate the motion of each link while transferring torque between the shaft and hub.

Abstract: A clutch unit is disclosed for rotatably connecting two coaxial parts mounted for relative rotation. The clutch unit comprises a circular track on one part and at least one self-clamping cam on the other part bearing on a second track carried by the other part. The self-clamping cam comprises a roller having a roller surface and mounted for eccentric rotation about a pin having an outer periphery defining the second track. The roller surface is clampingly engageable with the first track to define an engaged position of the clutch unit. The pin is carried by a radially elastically deformable arm.

Abstract: A flexible power transmission coupling wherein a drive member is connected to a driven member by a link assembly. The links are stacked and connected in series. Each link has a first end, a second end and an intermediate part. The first ends of each link are connected together and to the driven member, the second ends of each link are connected together and to a driven member or vice versa. The intermediate part of each link is convoluted and narrower than the ends. This allows greater axial and angular misalignments between drive and driven members. Also this results in a more linear relation between axial force and deflection of the coupling.

Abstract: A reel of a slot machine is rotatably fitted on a shaft of a motor and coupled to the shaft by an elastic member. When the motor is started, energy is stored in the elastic member, and the reel is suddenly caused to start rotation at a high speed by the energy stored in the elastic member. A projection on the reel engages a drive lever to fix the relative position of the parts after the initial period of relative movement of the shaft and reel. The elastic member can be a coil tension spring or a leaf spring sandwiching the drive lever, a portion of the leaf spring on the rear side of the lever being secured to the reel.

Abstract: A shaft coupling working on the principle of an Oldham's coupling in which rotary members are connected by pairs of guide links (20,26). Additional guide links (28,38), displaced at an angle of 90.degree. to one another, are provided between the first rotary member (14) and the intermediate member (16) and between the intermediate member (16) and the second rotary member (18). The pivotal axes of the additional guide links extend in a crossed direction to the rotational axis of these members. These additional guide links provide resistance against axial forces in the coupling but do permit the coupling to operate with radial misalignment of the input and output shaft.

Abstract: A torsional damper device comprises a first coaxial part in the form of a hub flange formed with circumferential slots and a second coaxial part in the form of two guide rings disposed one on each side of the hub flange. Spacers passing through the slots fasten the guide rings together. Relative angular movement between the first and second coaxial parts is permitted within predetermined limits defined by cooperation of the spacers with lateral edges of the slots. Circumferentially acting elastic members are disposed between the first and second coaxial parts to urge them into an idle configuration. At least one elastic abutment member is carried by one of the coaxial parts and selectively deployable between one of the spacers and at least one of the lateral edges of the associated slot, in order to resist elastically abutment of the spacer against this edge.

Abstract: A shaft coupling is composed of first and second hubs, each of which has a flange provided with a plurality of spring holes over its circumference at one end of a cylindrical portion of the hub, to which transmission shafts are connected, and a plurality of coil springs are fitted in the spring holes in the flange. The first and second hubs are placed so that their flanges face each other with axial clearance left betweem them. The coil springs are set over the two flanges and tightly fitted in the individual spring holes in a compressed state.

Abstract: A torsion damping device for an automotive clutch plate assembly comprising two rotary parts, i.e. a hub with a hub disc and a pair of guide washers fixed to a friction disc. First and second spring stages are operatively circumferentially interposed between the rotary parts, the first stage spring(s) having relative low stiffness and being operative during small relatively angular displacements of the rotary parts and the second stage spring(s) having relatively high stiffness and being operative during larger relative angular displacements of the rotary parts. A friction washer in frictional engagement between the rotary parts and producing most of the frictional torque is freely angularly mounted and has a position in the rest position of the torsion damping device independent of the springs.

Abstract: A shaft-coupling having two halves, each formed with at least two flat, sloping surfaces running at right angles to a load-transfer direction, each pair of sloping surfaces, facing each other on the two halves of the coupling, defining a space therebetween. Arranged in these spaces are sliding wedges each comprising two flat, sliding, surfaces facing away from each other and supported upon a pressure-element. In order to ensure that a shaft-coupling of this kind be suitable for large torsion-angles, absorb high torques and, in addition, has a small structural volume, a spring-element, adapted for the radial spring-action, is provided between at least one sliding wedge and the pressure-element.

Abstract: An improved coupling comprises a driving member rotatable about a first axis, a driven member rotatable about a second axis and a plurality of intermediate floating members disposed between and coupling the driving and driven members so that the rotation axes of the driving and driven members intersect at a common point when the members are angularly misaligned. The floating members are each elongated in one direction. Each floating member has (1) its elongated central axis extending radially with respect to the rotation axes through the common point and lying in a common plane with the elongated central axes of the other floating members, (2), an outer radial end defined by a convex spherical end surface having a center of curvature coincident with the common point, and (3) an inner radial end defined by a concave spherical end surface having a center of curvature coincident with the common point.

Abstract: A vibration damping system in a vehicle is provided with an internal combustion engine, the system being provided with a first flywheel connected to the engine and a second flywheel connected to a drive train mechanism of the vehicle. A damping apparatus, capable of generating an elastic force, as well as a frictional force, is arranged between the flywheels. The total moment of inertia of the portion of the system which is located on the drive side, including the engine and the first flywheel, is equal to the total the moment of inertia of the portion of the system which is located on the driven side, including the drive train mechanism and the second flywheel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clutch disc suitable for vehicles. The clutch disc comprises a spline hub having a polygonal cam flange at its outer periphery; a clutch plate and a retaining plate arranged at both sides of the cam flange; lever pins fixing said both plates together with a space therebetween, said lever pins being positioned on a same circumference; levers supported by the lever pins at their intermediate portions respectively; rollers arranged at respective one ends of the levers; and torsion springs engaging with respective other ends of the levers so that the rollers may be pressed onto cam faces of the flange.

Abstract: The invention concerns a shaft coupling between a section rotating about an input axis and a section rotating about an output axis which permits an angle of flexure between input axis and output axis, incorporating: a first coupling half which is fastenable to the section rotating about the input axis, a second coupling half fastenable to the section rotating about the output axis and a number of flexible connecting elements which are arranged in a fashion so as to permit transmission of torsional moment between the first coupling half and the second coupling half.

Abstract: A torsional damper suitable for use in a friction clutch plate for an automotive vehicle comprises a hub and a disk mounted so as to rotate relative to one another against the action of springs. An intermediate member responsive to centrifugal force moves reversibly between a standby position and an operative position, in order to modify the operating characteristics of the damper. The intermediate member modifies these characteristics in its standby position, and can occupy either of two operative positions, in one of which it has no effect on and in the other of which it also modifies the aforementioned operating characteristics.

Abstract: A flexible coupling comprising first and second hubs and a center member aligned on a longitudinal axis. At least one spool is also aligned on said axis. There is a plurality of discs forming at least three flexible joints between the hubs, center member and spool, wherein no more than two of the flexible joints permit both axial and angular misalignment, the remainder of the flexible joints including piloting means for eliminating angular misalignment while permitting axial misalignment.

Abstract: A sensitive and compact heavy duty torque coupler. It includes elements of a dynamic torque meter. There are deflection elements to permit angular displacement under load, and they include radially situated legs that bend under load. The legs are connected at one end by an axially situated, integrally formed member that twists under load. There are a plurality of the deflection elements forming an annular torque transmitting unit. And, there is a stationary housing for the torque meter.

Abstract: A disc is centered and secured on a shaft by means of flexible webs which extend parallel to the shaft and lie against the inner surface of a central aperture in the disc, and by radially extending tongues fixed to the shaft and entering into corresponding radial slots in the disc. As the assembly rotates, the webs are urged outwards by centrifugal force, to apply a radial compression force to the material of the disc.