Patent ID: 6231262
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
A torque coupler for frictionally clamping a hub to a shaft, comprising:a radially-deformable unitary inner ring having a plurality of longitudinal slots, said longitudinal slots extending from each end of said inner ring, said inner ring having a cylindrical inner surface and an outer surface, first and second opposed conical surfaces defined on respective regions of said outer surface;a first outer ring surrounding said inner ring in said region of said first conical surface and having a conical inner surface matable with said first conical surface;a second outer ring surrounding said inner ring in said region of said second conical surface and having a conical inner surface matable with said second conical surface; andmeans for hydraulically displacing said first and said second outer rings axially of each other to radially deform said inner ring into clamping relationship with at least one of said hub and said shaft, said means for hydraulically displacing including:an annular ridge on one of said first and said second outer rings;an annular groove defined in the other of said first and said second outer rings, said annular groove being matable with said annular ridge, an annular hydraulic chamber defined between said annular groove and said annular ridge;means for providing pressurized hydraulic medium to said hydraulic chamber; anda dry, durable lubricant provided on a surface of at least one of said annular ridge and said annular groove; wherein said means for providing pressurized hydraulic comprises:a passageway in one of said first and second outer rings, said passageway fluidly connecting said hyraulic chamber and an outer surface of said one of said first and said second outer rings; andan input ring attached to said one of said first and said second outer rings, a hydraulic fitting supported by said input ring in sealing contact with said passageway, said input ring comprising:a two-part ring-shaped member having a first portion and a second portion, said hydraulic fitting being disposed on one of said first portion and said second portion; andmeans to interconnect said first and said second outer rings and to dispose said hydraulic fitting into sealing engagement with said passageway.