Patent ID: 6514147
Filing Date: 2003-02-04
Classification: F16B,F16D

Abstract:
An axially flexible shaft coupling for a vehicle, comprising:a substantially annular plate having a plurality of mounting holes formed therein and having a relatively higher stiffness for rotational directions than a stiffness for axial directions; a first group of coupled portions fixedly connected to a first shaft and circumferentially spaced with respect to each other; a second group of coupled portions fixedly connected to a second shaft and circumferentially spaced with respect to each other; the first and second groups of coupled portions being coupled with each other through the substantially annular plate placed therebetween, so that the first group of coupled portions circumferentially alternate with the second group of coupled portions; the substantially annular plate having coupling arm portions each extending between two adjacent mounting holes of the mounting holes to absorb vibrations for the axial directions by elastic deformation of each of the coupling arm portions; and a radial width of each of the coupling arm portions being dimensioned to be narrower than a radial width of a peripheral region of each of the mounting holes.