Patent ID: 6186015
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A shaft and hub coupling comprising a cylindrical shaft member and a hub member having a cylindrical opening receiving one end of said shaft member, said hub member having an inner cylindrical surface defining said cylindrical opening and an outer cylindrical surface which is concentric with said inner cylindrical surface, a plurality of hemispherical cavities circumferentially spaced from each other and formed in said inner cylindrical surface, a spherical ball located in each of said hemispherical cavities, said shaft member having a cylindrical outer surface, a plurality of grooves formed in said outer surface of said shaft member for engaging each of said spherical balls and allowing said shaft member and said hub member to be locked to each other for cojoint rotary movement while allowing said shaft member and said hub member to move relative to each other in an axial direction when one of said members is rotated relative to the other of said members, and said hub member having a plurality of exposed and open access holes extending through said outer cylindrical surface of said hub member and through said inner cylindrical surface of said hub member, each of said plurality of access holes adapted to accommodate a cavity forming tool for forming in said inner cylindrical surface one of said plurality of hemispherical cavities that is located diametrically opposite said each of said plurality of access holes.