Hub-to-shaft connector and method for couplings

Abstract

Abstract A METHOD FOR CONNECTING A SHAFT COUPLING HUB TO A SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH BY INSERTING THE SHAFT END INTO A BORE IN THE HUB, THE SHAFT END PREFERABLY INCLUDING A PAIR OF DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED FLAT SURFACES AND A PAIR OF DIAMETERICALLY OPPOSED ARCUATE SURFACES, AND, DURING INSERTION OF THE SHAFT END, SIMULTANEOUSLY URGING BOTH THE FLAT AND ARCUATE SURFACES INTO WEDGING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HUB. THE PREFERRED APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THE METHOD COMPRISES A CONNECTOR HAVING A HUB CONNECTED TO THE COUPLING WITH A BORE FOR RECEIVING THE SHAFT END. THE HUB INCLUDES A PAIR OF DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED WEDGE KEYS AND A PAIR OF DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED BORE LINERS BETWEEN THE KEYS, ALL OF WHICH ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH CORRESPONDING SURFACES ON THE SHAFT END. BOTH KEYS AND BORE LINERS ARE ADAPTED IN AXIALLY CONVERGING RECESSES IN THE BORE AND ARE ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT ALONG AXIALLY CONVERGING PATHS PROVIDED BY THE RECESSES THEREBY WEDGING THE SHAFT END BETWEEN THE KEYS AND BORE LINERS AND, IN EFFECT, WITH THE HUB. THE KEYS AND BORE LINERS ARE SUITABLY RETAINED IN THE RECESSES, THEY MAY BE SPRING LOADED TO URGE THEM ALONG AXIALLY DIVERGING PATHS UPON REMOVAL OF THE SHAFT END TO PROVIDE AN ENLARGED ENTRANCE FOR RE-ENTRY OF THE SHAFT END. IF DESIRED, THE CONNECTOR MAY BE CONSTRUCTED TO USE A SINGLE KEY AND SINGLE BORE LINER OR TO USE PAIRS OF DIMETRICALLY OPPOSED KEYS AND BORE LINERS WITH ONLY ONE OF EACH PAIR BEING MOVEABLE ALONG AN AXIALLY CONVERGING PATH. THE KEYS AND BORE LINERS ARE PREFERABLY CONSTRUCTED TO BE AUTOMATICALLY WEDGED BETWEEN THE HUB AND SHAFT END BY INSERTION OF THE SHAFT END BUT, IF DESIRED, MAY BE CONSTRUCTED TO BE MANUALLY WEDGED THEREBETWEEN AFTER INSERTION OF THE SHAFT END IN THE HUB.

Inventors

• 👤 Kenneth K Carman

Bibliographic Details