With Disparate Spacer Between Plural Separable Elements Patents (Class 464/95)
  • Patent number: 11891107
    Abstract: A flex coupling assembly for coupling a first shaft to a second shaft of a shaft assembly. The flex coupling assembly decouples axial and torsional stiffness from bending stiffness of the shaft assembly, thereby dampening the transmission of noise and vibration between the first and second shafts. The flex coupling assembly includes an inner housing subassembly and an outer housing subassembly. The inner housing subassembly includes an inner housing and a resilient flex coupling disposed in an outer housing cavity of an outer housing of the outer housing subassembly. A retention member is fixed to an outer housing to retain the inner housing subassembly in the outer housing cavity. The inner and outer housing subassemblies can rotate and translate relative to a common axis, while the inner and the outer housings restrict bending between the inner and outer housing subassemblies, thereby restricting bending between the first and second shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Partyka, Sergio R. Molinar, William J. Knight, Terry E. Burkhard
  • Patent number: 11719308
    Abstract: The present invention of damping segmental ring structure for subway tunnels built in grim environments of deformable ground can mitigate the stress-concentration of the tunnel lining structures. The deformable ground can be caused by differential settlement or high-intensity earthquakes. Embodiments of the invention have self-adjustment features and forms for deformation and rotation, which comprise one adapter in the middle, two transitional grooved segmental structures, and an internal steel tube. All three forms comprised 3 or 4 pieces with the same features so they can be easily installed, transported and erected on sites and bolts are used to bolt them together to form an integrity structure with damping characteristics. The damper placed in the middle comprises two loading plates that form the shell of the damper, the internal core of the damper which includes interbedded installed rubber pads and steel plates within the loading plates and spring systems that compress the internal core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventors: Dongyuan Wang, Long Shi, Jianguo Fan, Jixiang Li, Ying Han
  • Patent number: 11668349
    Abstract: A flex coupling assembly for coupling a first shaft to a second shaft of a shaft assembly. The flex coupling assembly includes a lower housing having a housing wall bounding a cavity between a first end having an end face and an open second end. A first shaft is fixed to the end face and extends along an axis. An upper flange, spaced from the lower housing, has a second shaft fixed thereto extending along the axis. A retention member, disposed in the cavity, is operably fixed to the upper flange. A resilient flex coupling, disposed between the end face and the flange, is operably fixed to the upper flange and the retention member and to the lower housing. The lower housing and the flange are moveable axially toward and away from one another and rotatably about the axis via flexing of the resilient flex coupling which dampens noise and vibrations between the first and second shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Partyka, Sergio R. Molinar, William J. Knight
  • Patent number: 11407503
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt drive assembly for a drive train of a helicopter, comprising a drive shaft that can be functionally connected to a crankshaft of a drive machine of the helicopter, wherein the drive shaft is functionally connected to a belt disk via a torsional vibration damper, wherein the belt disk can rotate via a bearing mechanism on a bearing shaft connected to the drive shaft for conjoint rotation therewith, wherein the belt disk can receive a belt that is functionally connected to a rotor system of the helicopter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jörg Litzba, I, Martin Kühne
  • Patent number: 11098766
    Abstract: A coupling assembly arranged between an input shaft and a rotor shaft of a supercharger includes a first hub, a second hub, a first side coupling assembly, a second side coupling assembly, a central hub and a plurality of coupler pins. The first hub is mounted for concurrent rotation with the input shaft. The second hub is mounted for concurrent rotation with the rotor shaft. The first side coupling assembly has a first side coupling body and a first side elastomeric insert. The first side coupling body includes an inboard body portion having a first series of pockets and an outboard body portion having a second series of pockets. The first side elastomeric insert has a first and second plurality of lobes. The pockets of the first and second series of pockets are tangentially offset relative to each other and each receive respective first and second plurality of lobes therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventor: Mark Harold Pratley
  • Patent number: 11072976
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus can be used to reduce noise in motor assemblies, such as those used in architectural coverings. An example apparatus includes a first driver configured to be coupled to and rotated by an output shaft of a motor, a second driver, and a plurality of vibration-absorbers disposed between the first driver and the second driver. The second driver is configured to be coupled to a rotating member to transfer rotational motion from the first driver to the rotating member via the vibration-absorbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Anthony, Daniel M. Fogarty, Paul A. Brayford, Robert Fisher, II, Daniel A. Huber, Jan Pruegner, Clark Brace, Kevin Dann, Max Oelschlager, Todd Nelson, Nickolas C. Buccola, Jr., Michael Goldberg
  • Patent number: 11035419
    Abstract: A multi-plate clutch includes a plate fin and first and second flanges connected to one another in a torque-transmitting manner via the plate fin. A screw fastener braces the plate fin on a first lamellar bore with the first flange, and a first spacer element is arranged on the plate fin to support a first axial movement of the second flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: FLENDER GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Kleinewegen, Jens Steggemann
  • Patent number: 10794429
    Abstract: A coupling device is provided for connecting a motor to a transmission of a vehicle, particularly of a railway vehicle, with at least one first flange, at least one second flange, at least one first thread-reinforced joint mechanism, at least one second thread-reinforced joint mechanism, and at least one connection assembly that is arranged between the first and the second thread-reinforced joint mechanism. The at least one first thread-reinforced joint mechanism and the at least one second thread-reinforced joint mechanism define a connection area between them in the direction of the center axis of the coupling device, with it being possible to connect the first thread-reinforced joint mechanism starting from this connection area to the at least one connection assembly and the first flange, and to connect the second thread-reinforced joint mechanism to the at least one connection assembly and the at least one second flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: SIEMENS MOBILITY GMBH, Süddeutsche Gelenkscheibenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Armin Huber, Wolfgang Orthofer, Josef Eberler, Klaus Joos, Martin Ebenhofer, Marc Brandl
  • Patent number: 10415647
    Abstract: A coupling assembly arranged between an input shaft and a rotor shaft of a supercharger includes a first hub, a second hub, a first side coupling assembly, a second side coupling assembly, a central hub and a plurality of coupler pins. The first hub can be mounted with the input shaft. The second hub can be mounted with the rotor shaft. The first side coupling assembly can have a first side coupling body and a first side elastomeric insert. The second side coupling assembly can have a second side coupling body and a second side elastomeric insert. The central hub can define central hub bores therein. The plurality of coupler pins can be received in the central hub bores. The first and second side elastomeric inserts provide dampening between (i) the first side coupling body and the central hub and (ii) the second side coupling body and the central hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Harold Pratley, William Bruce Witherspoon, Michael Coates
  • Patent number: 10138945
    Abstract: A flexible coupling includes a flexible torque disc comprising a plurality of mount points and a first coupling member mounted to a first subset of said mount points. The coupling also includes one or more second coupling members each mounted to a second subset of said mount points. The first coupling member comprises one or more flanges substantially parallel with said torque disc and the one or more second coupling members each has a groove engaging with said one or more flanges so as to limit the displacement of said first coupling member with respect to said second coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: CROMPTON TECHNOLOGY GROUP LIMITED
    Inventors: Ian Thomas Chase, Aniel Tom Ganatra
  • Patent number: 9200977
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide couplings or interfaces usable, for example, in the high speed balance testing of rotors are provided. A coupling includes a main body portion having an extended thin portion therein which is configured to fit a shaft of the balancing machine and an extended insert portion which is configured to fit an opening in the rotor. A plurality of connection elements is disposed in holes in the main body portion of the coupling and a ring is disposed over the extended insert and proximate exits of the holes in the main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Casadio, Sergio Palomba, Giovanni Ballerini, Adriano Grossi
  • Patent number: 8771089
    Abstract: An elastic joint body for a shaft arrangement for the articulated connection of two shaft sections includes a plurality of bushings disposed in the circumferential direction at predetermined angular distances relative to a central axis of the joint body, a plurality of loop bundles, and a rubber elastic casing. Each loop bundle loops around two adjacent bushings and each bushing is looped by at least two of the plurality of loop bundles. Each of the plurality of bushings is provided with a plurality of bushing components. A first bushing component has an axial shaft section against which one of the loop bundles rests and wherein a second bushing component has a radial collar section against which the loop bundle rests. The first bushing component rests, without fixing, against the second bushing component in a contact zone offset relative to the loop bundle in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: SGF Sueddeutsche Gelenkscheibenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Scheper, Jan Hoffman, Joachim Reihle, Marc Brandl, Thomas Lechner
  • Patent number: 8663022
    Abstract: An elastic joint body for a shaft arrangement for the articulated connection of two shaft sections, comprising a plurality of bushes (12) disposed in circumferential direction at predetermined angular distances in relation to a center line of the joint body, a plurality of loop assemblies (22, 24, 26), wherein each loop assembly (22, 24, 26) is looped around in each case two adjacent bushes (12) and at least two loop assemblies (22, 24, 26) are looped around each bush (12), a support device (10) that is disposed for axially guiding the plurality of loop assemblies (22, 24, 26) on at least one of the bushes, and a rubber-elastic sheath, into which the loop assemblies (22, 24, 26), the support device (10) and the bushes (12) are at least partially embedded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventors: Marc Brandl, Wolfgang Nindel, Joachim Reihle, Thomas Ochsenkuehn, Josef Stubenrauch, Bernd Scheper, Juergen Leinfelder
  • Patent number: 8616986
    Abstract: A shaft coupling mechanism 1 for an electric power steering apparatus includes a coupling base body 3 coupled to a rotating shaft 2 on a side of an electric motor; a coupling base body 5 coupled to a steering shaft 4; rotation transmitting members 6 and 7 interposed between both coupling base bodies 3 and 5 and adapted to transmit the rotation of the rotating shaft 2 in an R direction to the steering shaft 4 through both coupling base bodies 3 and 5; an intermediate interposed member 8 interposed between the coupling base bodies 3 and 5; and a coupling means 9 for coupling the rotation transmitting members 6 and 7 to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Oiles Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Nakagawa, Hiroshi Ohashi
  • Patent number: 8033919
    Abstract: An elastic shaft coupling has a drive-side interface and an output-side mechanical interface. Both interfaces are intended in each case for connecting the shaft coupling to an adjacent machine element. The shaft coupling has at least two elastic rubber elements which are connected behind one another between the drive-side and the output-side interfaces and the axial material thickness of which increases in each case at a growing radial spacing from the center axis of the shaft coupling. To reduce the amount of rubber of the shaft coupling with retention of its elastic properties, the respective rubber elements are of non-uniform configuration with regard to their torsional rigidity and to be precise are so non-uniform that the torsional rigidity of one of the two rubber elements is always at least one and a half times as great as the torsional rigidity of the other rubber element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Hackforth GmbH
    Inventor: John Baikie
  • Patent number: 6517441
    Abstract: A rotary assembly for a game machine includes a disk connected to a casing and the disk has passages defined therethrough. Three driving members are piled up and received in the casing and bearings are located between the driving members. Three first conductive members are respectively located between the driving members and each first conductive member has a conductive protrusion which movably extends through a slot defined through the casing. Three second conductive members are located between the driving members and engaged with the driving members. The second conductive members each have through holes which are located in alignment with the passages in the disk. Wires connected to the first conductive members extend through the through holes and the passages. The wires fare not tangled when the disk is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventor: Jih-Shang Huang
  • Patent number: 6354950
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible shaft coupling whose two coupling halves, each comprising a connecting flange, are connected to one another by means of a lamella packet collar so as to rotate together but be axially and angularly movable relative to one another, wherein the lamella packet collar is comprised of several lamellas axially spaced by spacer elements and is fastened by means of circumferentially distributed fastening and clamping elements alternatingly to the two connecting flanges. For reducing or preventing noise which is caused by the bending movements of the lamellas as a result of the angular misalignment compensation, it is provided that the lamellas are connected with one another by an elastic material in a positive-locking manner in that the lamellas are embedded in the elastic material so that the elastic material is also arranged between the lamellas and at the outer sides of the lamella packet collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: ATEC-Weiss GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Rudolf Weiss
  • Patent number: 6179716
    Abstract: The present invention provides an eccentric shaft coupling having a high durability, capable of dealing with a great torque load and transmitting correctly rotational movement. Two pairs of protrusions of cylindrical boss flanges secured to extremities of two rotating shafts are linked through an intermediate disk with phases shifted by 90° from each other. The intermediate disk is made of a material having a satisfactory strength and rigidity. Each of the two pairs of protrusions is put slidably between plane portions of two liners, each having a partial cylindrical shape, whose cross section is enclosed by an arc and a secant, inserted dismountably into a cylindrical cavity along inner walls to be guided. Only the liners, each having a partial cylindrical shape, whose cross section is enclosed by an arc and a secant, are subjected to strong wear and therefore, when they are worn, they can be easily exchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Asa Electronic Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Asa
  • Patent number: 6145419
    Abstract: A method of drive decoupling, and a drive decoupling device, utilized in connecting a driving member to a driven members that is attachable to a workpiece to be rotated about a drive axis, includes a laminated plurality of flexible sheet material, attached to the driving member by at least one off axis connection and to the driven member by at least one other off axis connection circumferentially spaced from the one off axis connection, and which is torsionally rigid in a plane perpendicular to the drive axis so as to accommodate any eccentricity developed through misalignment of the driving member and driven member. The coupling device is centrally apertured so that a headstock can extend therethrough. A pair of drive decoupling devices are also provided in series by connecting the driven member of one to the driving member of another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Unova UK Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Laycock
  • Patent number: 5551919
    Abstract: A steering column assembly having a steering wheel connected to a steering box by upper and lower shafts. A universal joint having a flexible cross member connects the upper and lower shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Berci Cherpician
  • Patent number: 4664636
    Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a cycloidal propeller is disclosed which has elastic support rings and elastic thrust rings. At least the elastic thrust rings are clamped between two frustoconical surfaces which are substantially parallel to each other. One surface is on a ring attached to the propeller base plate and the other is on a ring attached to the propeller foundation. The position of the rings may be changed to adjust the natural frequency of the mounting, for better damping of the forces from the propeller. The elastic support rings are preferably also clamped between parallel frustoconical surfaces. The angle of inclination of all the frustoconical surfaces in relation to the plane of the propeller base plate is between 32.degree.-38.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignees: J. M. Voith GmbH, Muller-BBM GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Blickle, Werner Fork, Hermann Wunder
  • Patent number: 4487592
    Abstract: A torsional vibration isolator coupling displaying particular utility in automotive vehicles powered by internal combustion engines of the diesel or otto type. An input torque shaft having undesirable torsional vibrations, such as a torque directly derived from an internal combustion engine, is coupled to an input torque disc. The periphery of the input torque disc is coupled by an elastomer member and an intermediate rigid disc member to the periphery of a torque output disc, the periphery of the latter also carrying an elastomer member. The two torque discs are parallel and coaxial. A torque output shaft is carried by the torque output disc. A rigid cylindrical retainer axially clamps and axially compresses the elastomer members against their sandwiched torque discs. The output torque is substantially free of torsional vibrations, thus extending the life of power brake, power steering, and the like units driven by the torque output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Assignee: Household Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis L. Strader
  • Patent number: 4421496
    Abstract: A drive coupling for connecting a drive shaft to a driven shaft, comprising a first flexible disc connected to one of the shafts, a second flexible disc, spaced-apart from the first flexible disc, two solid members each connected to at least a respective one of the flexible discs, said two solid members being located between the flexible discs in overlapping relationship with each other axially of the coupling thereby to shorten the drive coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Inventors: Reginald S. Emerson, Norman Morris
  • Patent number: 4389204
    Abstract: A resilient shaft coupling. The parts of the coupling are supported by being radially braced against one another, but are movable relative to one another to a limited extent in the axial direction. One of the parts of the coupling contains an outer flange secured to a cylindrical jacket, the free end of which merges into an inwardly projecting flange. The other, inner part of the coupling contains a matching flange to which a bearing ring is rigidly secured and has an external collar coaxial with the axis of rotation and separated by a narrow annular gap from the inner wall of the jacket. The gap contains at least one bearing bushing which is adjacent the collar and jacket and radially braces parts against one another without preventing axial motion thereof. The parts are interconnected by at least one resilient annular member secured on one side to the matching flange and on the other side to the outer flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Hackforth GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jurgen Walter