Patent ID: 6325723
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A radially soft drive coupling for interconnecting a drive shaft and a driven shaft isolating transmission of vibration from said drive shaft to said driven shaft, said drive coupling having a magnitude of design torque level and comprisinga) a housing including a first connector for attachment to one of said drive and driven shafts;b) a hub at least partially contained within said housing including a second connector for attachment to another of said drive and driven shafts;c) a radially soft elastomer member having a radial spring rate whose magnitude, when expressed in lb/in, is in the range of between one half and three times said magnitude of design torque level expressed in lb-in, said elastomer member being bonded to one of said housing and said hub and having frictional engagement with the other of said housing and said hub to transmit torsional load therebetween; said radially soft elastomer member being axially precompressed between said housing and said hub increasing frictional engagement with the other of said housing and said hub and producing additional radial softening of said elastomer whereby said driven member is substantially vibrationally isolated from said drive member.