Patent ID: 7600941
Filing Date: 2009-10-13
Classification: F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A shaft clamping mechanism, comprising: a collar having an opening therethrough for accepting a shaft, the collar comprising a substantially solid, contiguous, non-hinged portion defining more than half of the circumference of the opening, and a clamping portion comprising at least two hinged portions of the collar defining the remaining circumferential portion of the opening; at least two first hinge points each connecting one of the at least two hinged portions of the collar to the solid portion of the collar, each allowing the at least two hinged portions of the collar to rotate or hinge relative to the solid portion of the collar, each first hinge point formed by one or more slots in the collar; and one or more second hinge points coupling the at least two hinged portions of the collar to one another, occurring between the at least two hinged portions, each formed by one or more slots in the clamping portion between the at least two first hinge points and on the same side of the opening as the at least two first hinge points, the second one or more hinge points allowing the at least two hinged portions of the collar to rotate relative to one another, where the location of the at least one second hinge point lies substantially on a straight line connecting the centers of the at least two first hinge points; wherein, when pressure is applied to the clamping portion by a force exerted on the external portion of the collar between the at least two first hinge points the at least two hinged portions hinge at the at least two first hinge points and at least one second hinge point to move the at least two hinged portions of the collar inward toward the opening, to clamp the shaft between the at least two hinged portions and the solid portion.