Patent ID: 6139437
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: F16D,Y10S

Abstract:
A double universal joint angle equalizing apparatus including:first and second mechanical linkages arranged to link swiveling of a driving axis about first and second axes intersecting at a first pivot point to equivalent swiveling of a driven axis about third and fourth axes intersecting at a second pivot point, the driving and driven axes being rotational axes of driving and driven shafts, respectively, a connector being arranged between driving and driven end yokes;the first and second mechanical linkages being arranged to move in concert to couple swivel of the driving shaft about the second axis to equal swivel of the driven shaft about the fourth axis, and also being arranged for contrasting movement to couple swivel of the driving shaft about the first axis to equal swivel of the driven shaft about the third axis;a connecting axis extending through the first and second pivot points;the driving shaft being mounted to a driving universal joint, the driving axis substantially passing through the first pivot point and being arranged to swivel relative to the connecting axis about the first pivot point;the driven shaft being mounted to a driven universal joint, the driven axis substantially passing through the second pivot point and being arranged to swivel relative to the connecting axis about the second pivot point;driving and driven cross members supported in the connector and also in the driving and driven end yokes, respectively, the first and second axes both being axes of the driving cross member and passing through the first pivot point, the first and second axes being separated by a driving separation angle, and the third and fourth axes both being axes of the driven cross member and passing through the second pivot point, the third and fourth axes being separated by a driven separation angle, the driving separation angle being substantially equal to the driven separation angle; andthe first axis being an axis of rotation of a connection between the driving end yoke and the driving cross member, the second axis being an axis of rotation of a connection between the connector and the driving cross member, the third axis being an axis of rotation of a connection between the driven end yoke and the driven cross member, and the fourth axis being an axis of rotation of a connection between the connector and the driven cross member.