Patent GB-897263-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to flexible coupling or connecting members
Inventor: CHARLESWORTH THOMAS RICHARD
IPC: F16D3/76
Filed: 1958-03-27
Abstract: 897,263. Universal joints. LAYCOCK ENGINEERING Ltd. March 25, 1959 [March 27, 1958; Oct. 20, 1958 ; Oct. 21, 1958], Nos. 9779/58, 33355/58 and 33518/58. Class 80 (2). [Also in Group XXXII] A flexible coupling comprises outer and inner sleeves 1, 2, Fig. 1, connected by a ring 3 of rubber &c., the ring 3 being either of circular or, as shown, Fig. 2, elliptical cross-section, and the parts being assembled by relative axial movement between the sleeves so that the surface of the ring 2 which in its unstressed condition faces inwardly lies against the outer sleeve 1 and, correspondingly, the surface of the ring 3 which in its unstressed condition lies outwardly, engages the inner sleeve 2, that is, the ring 3 has been rolled through 180 degrees. The flexible coupling may be used as a flexible support or vibration damper in articles such as radius rods, links, shackles, flexible suspensions, antivibration mountings, torque arms, flexible inserts for gear-wheels, or as a flexible coupling for connecting a pair of shafts, or a number of the flexible couplings may take the place of simple pre-compressed rubber bushes in universal joints. As shown, the inner and outer sleeves 1, 2 are formed with grooves 4 into which the rubber of the ring 3 spreads as it is compressed between them. In one form, flanges 7, 8, Fig. 3, for connection to two shafts are coupled by a number of flexible units according to the invention, each comprising a rubber ring 9, rolled through 180 degrees and lying between inner pins 12 bolted to the flange 7 and holes in a disc rigid with the flange 8. The rubber of the rings 9 spreads into annular grooves 14 in the inner and outer members to key the rings in position. As applied to the connection of an inertia ring to an inner sleeve bolted to the flange of an engine crank-shaft, Fig. 5 (not shown), a single groove in the inertia ring and a single groove in a shell bolted to the crank-shaft end are provided, into which the rubber of the ring spreads. A propeller shaft 16, Fig. 6, for connecting a motor-car changespeed gear to the rear wheel drive in an independent rear wheel suspension arrangement, comprises two similar flexible couplings 21 according to the invention at each end of the propeller shaft, bolted at 19 to associated shaft couplings 17, 18 and each having a rubber ring 23 rolled through 180 degrees between inner and outer sleeves 21, 22. The couplings are assembled by inserting the parts in an hydraulic press, inner and outer guide-pieces being associated with the rubber ring during assembly, Fig. 7 (not shown). Two flanged stub shafts 37, 38, Fig. 8, connected to the wheel hub and the output shaft of a differential by Hooke's joints to comprise a torsion shaft for an independentlydriven rear-wheel suspension system or a front wheel drive for a motor car, comprises inner and outer sleeves 39, 43 connected by a number of rubber rings 44, each rolled through 180 degrees. A method of assembling this coupling comprises the use of inner and outer temporary supporting sleeves and a guiding nose piece, used in conjunction with an hydraulic press, Figs. 9, 10 (not shown). A propeller shaft 80, Fig. 11, for connection to the change-speed gear and rear axle shafts of a motor-car, comprises two couplings according to the invention, each consisting of a rubber ring 85, rolled through 180 degrees, and lying between inner and outer part-spherically shaped sleeves 83, 84, this configuration allowing substantially greater angular deflection between the propeller shaft 80 and the connected shaft flanges 81, 82. The outer sleeves 84 are bolted at 87 to the propeller shaft 80, and the inner sleeves 83 are welded to the shaft flanges 81, 82. In another form, a clutch disc 101, Fig. 13, is formed with two annular flanges 107 making an outer sleeve connected by a ring of rubber 102 rolled through 180 degrees to a clutch hub 103. The ring of rubber 102 is rolled into position by guide-rings used in association with an hydraulic press, Fig. 14 (not shown). The first Provisional Specification refers to cementing the rubber ring to the inner and outer sleeves of the coupling.