COUPLING SYSTEM BETWEEN HUB AND SHAFT

Abstract: A system for the transmission of power formed by a block that has a channel, groove or canal of some length, one or more keys that come in contact with the groove, guide, or with the walls of the channel and with the key or keys holding a shaft or quill in eccentric holes in the keys. The system serves to eliminate or compensate for vibration caused by bent shafts or quills as well as the noise and wear that these can produce.

Description: Technical Field of the Inver.'iicn The invention consists of a system for coupling structures together for the transmission of power. It is especially useful in the reduction or complete elimination of vibration and noise caused by mis-shapen or mistreated pieces, such as shafts and pulleys. The usual uses of the invention that is described are for applications between shafts or quills and a plurality of pulleys, discs or similar items. History of the Invention In the prior development, there has been described a light industrial drill press. During the development of said drill press, it was found out the lighter the drill press, the more sensitive the drill press was to vibrate caused by various rotating pieces. To solve this problem, the present invention incorporates a coupling or transmission system with characteristics that permit eccentric movements of a shaft that either transmits or receives power. The specific embodiment of the invention includes a special key as a transmission part between a shaft and a pulley. The systems of the present invention essentially consists of a key that has a hole in it. Through this hole slides a quill or shaft and therefore the two pieces provide a rotating structure. The drive key is located in a groove, guide or channel against which it presses, or is pressed to transmit rotary power. In this design, the hole in the key is generally rectangular to fit with a quill or shaft that has one or two flat faces and is thereby r.o. completely a wound shaft. The hole in the drive key is longer than for a tight fit with the shaft, so as to permit sliding movement of the shaft or quill in the hole in one plane. The groove, guide or channel in which the drive key fits is longer than the key to permit the free sliding of the key in the other plane to compensate for any eccentric spin of the quill or shaft. The above described system thereby functions with great efficiency. It has been determined that the eccentricity of the shaft or quill is taken up by the free sliding movement of the shaft with respect to the drive key during rotation of both parts and by the free sliding movement of the drive key with respect to the groove, guide or channel also during rotation of both parts. Although the above described system can compensate for eccentricities in the system, the system can permit vibrations in the system which can generate disturbing noise. This is due to torsional vibration which in turn is due to the great number of changes in rotational velocity that occur in all quills or shafts. Factors that contribute to this vibrational effect are things such as varying electric power, belt vibration or motor vibration. The present invention additionally permits compensation of vibration in quills and shafts, so that the system can run without noise while at the same time have the other advantages described above and which will become evident as further described in this application. Objects of the Invention One objective of this invention is a system for transmitting power while compensating for vibration, eccentricity and noise. Another objective is a system for the transmission of poster that will run or operate for long periods of time. Still another objective is a system of power transmission that is easy and cheap to manufacture and will have universal application. With the object of illustrating the invention, a set of drawings are attached in which the following is shown: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of drive keys used in combination. Figure 2 is a perspective view of one drive key thicker than that shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a drive key with a rectangular hole in the center. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a drive key including absorptive material such as rubber or springs for absorbing vibration. Figure 5 is a perspectlve view of a series of drive keys each relatively thin for applications of heavy loading or with large torsion. Figure 6 is a perspective view of an adjustable drive key. Figure 7 is a sectional view of the drive key shown in Figure 3, and located in a working position inside a pulley. Figure 8 is a sectional view of the drive key shown in Figure 4, and located in a working position inside a pulley. Figure 9 is a sectional view of the drive key shown in Figure 5, and located in a working position inside a pulley. Figure 10 is a sectional view of the drive key shown in Figure 6, and located in a working position inside a pulley. Figure 11 is a sectional view of the pair of drive keys shown in Figure 1 and located in a working position inside a pulley. Figure 12 is a sectional view of the drive key shown in Figure 2 and located in a working position inside a pulley. Figure 13 is a bottom view of Figure 11 showing the pair of drive keys of Figure 1 located in the channel, groove or guide of a pully. Figure 14 is a view of the drive key shown in Figure 2, inside its channel, groove or guide. Figure 15 is a view of the drive key shown in Figure 3, in its channel, groove or guide. Figure 16 is a view of the drive key shown in Figure 4, inside its channel, groove or guide. Figure 17 is a view of a set of the drive keys shown in Figure 5 in its channel, groove or guide, with a strip of rubber acting as a shock absorber between the keys and the channel. Figure 18 is a view of the adjustable drive key shown in Figure 6 and with a rubber shock absorber between the key and the channel. Detailed Description of the Drawings The present invention consists of a coupling system for the transmission of power that permits relative movement between the parts that form the coupling system. It consists of a channel, groove or guide 100 illustrated in Figures 3 through 18 in which are one or more drive keys illustrated in Figures 1 through 6. Each drive key has a hole 101, longer than the width of the shaft that passes through the hole. This hole serves to enter into contact with a quill or shaft 102. In the preferred configurations of the invt'i#tion, the groove 100 is longer than the key to permit the sliding or displacement of a key or keys along the length of the groove. At the same time, the long hole 101 in the key, prmits the sliding along the length of the hole of the quill or shaft 102. This provides two axis of sliding which may be identified as the "x" and "y" axis. The long hole 101 in the key is therefore transverse to the channel 100. A quill or shaft, 102, if slightly bent, describes an eccentric rtlovement on rotation and this movement is compensated for on one axis by a sliding of the key along the length of the groove, and along the other axis by the sliding space in the hole 101 in the drive key. In this manner, the transmission of power between the quill or shaft 102 and a pulley or disc 103 is continuous and positive while at the same time the eccentric movement, such as by a bent quill or shaft 102, is compensated for. The system of the present invention permits utilization of keys of various sizes and shapes. It is possible to use drive keys completely metallic or keys with their contact surfaces covered with resilient material such as rubber. The present invention may also use springs in compression between the drive key and the groove 100 in which it is located to absorb noise and vibration due to the reasons described above. Ideally, drive keys without rubber or springs are better since they do not require as much maintenance in continuous use. In Figure 1, 11 and 13, a pair of drive keys are shown located in the channel 100, in a relationship and function such as has been described above. Each one of these keys llas a long hole 101, not at the center of the key. This means tlwat in each key1 there is an eccentric area 104, whose weight will increase considerably when the system is in rotation. The eccentric area forces each key against the corresponding wall of the channel 100, or against the quill or shaft 102, depending on where the eccentric weight is on the key. Vibration and/or noise is thereby absorbed by the pressure that is exerted by each key on the quill or shaft 102 and/or against the wall of the channel 100. The weight increment of the eccentric area 104 (in rotation) is a function of the distance the eccentric area 104 is in relation to the center of quill or shaft 102, the velocity in revolutions per minute of the quill or shaft 102 and the weight of the eccentric area 104. It is to be appreciated that the number of keys does not have to be limited to two. You can stack three or more keys and the effect will be the same. However, it is recommended but not necessary that the eccentric area 104 of each drive key is in an opposite position to the next key, so that the eccentric weight is compensated. If this is not done, the weight of the eccentric areas 104 can itself produce some vibration of a minor value. In Figure 2, 12 and 14, a drive key is illustrated similar to that illustrated in Figure 1. Bowever, this key is thicker and can be utilized by itself, or in pairs or in more than pairs. It also can be used in combination with. the drive keys shown in Figure 1. The drive key shown in Figure 3, 7 and 15 is located in channel 100 in the same manner as for the other drive keys thp drive kev is positionek1 to 11ave the long hole 101 in the key transverse to the channel 100. t))e hole in this drive key is perfectly centered. If desired, it is possible to cover the sides that come in contact with the walls of channel 100 with a resiliant material, or use a spring, on one or more sides 105 to permit vibration and noise to be absorbed. The drive key of Figures 4, 8 and 16 is similar to that of Figure 3, and with a long hole 101 centered in the drive key. In this assembly, portions of the drive key are covered with resiliant material, such as rubber to absorb vibration and noise. In this case, a portion of the key is shown with rubber 106 on the exterior, to contact the walls of the channel 100, and a portion of the interior of the key is also shown with rubber 107, to contact the quill or shaft 102. In Figures 5, 9 and 17, a group of thin keys is shown. The object of this assembly is to show the great versatility in the use of drive keys, the number of which can vary in accordance with the load, method of key fabrication and space available in the channel 100. Besides this, it is possible to intermix drive keys of various materials to obtain special effects. For example pieces of resiliant materials can be placed between drive keys to absorb vibration and noise. The drive key of Figures 6, 10 and 18 includes a threaded member and locking nut and is thereby adjustable in size and can be adapted as necessary to the size of the quill or shaft. This drive key typicnlly includes a portion ol area t)0i#t is eccentric and is thereby similar to the eccentric 104 in Figure 1. This drive key may also includes a layer of resilient material 106. Having described the invention as above, the following are the appended claims.

Claims: C L A I M e 1. A coupling apparatus for rotary power tr.nl1smission between a first rotatable member such as a quill or shaft and a second concentric rotatable member such as a shaft, pulley or disc, including a channel, guide or groove of some length formed in the second rotatable member and having at one guide surface, one or more drive keys positioned within tlle channel, guide or groove to contact and slide therein, and the first rotatable member rotatable coupled to the drive key or keys to give or receive power to or from the drive key or keys. 2. The coupling apparatus of claim 1 wherein, the key or keys additionally includes at least one opening to receive the first rotatable member. 3. The coupling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the opening in each drive key is elongated in one dimension to permit the displacement of the first rotatable member along the length of the opening. 4. The coupling apparatus of claim 1 wherein one or more drive keys are used, each one with an eccentric area formed by a noncentered opening in the drive key to receive the first rotatable member and to allow displacement of the drive key by centrifugal force and hold the key, supported against the guide surface of the channel, guide or groove and/or against the quill or shaft to suppress vibration and noise. 5. The coupling apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more drive keys are used and include resilient material to act as a shock absorber against noise or vibration.

Inventors: CUSE, ARTHUR R.
Applicants: CUSE, ARTHUR R.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: F16D3
IPC codes: F16H55, F16D3, F16D1