Patent ID: 8317628

Claim:
A coupling assembly for a fan drive in an atmospheric cooling tower, comprising: a flange member having a radially extending flange having a first outer pattern of attachment points; a flex element having a second outer pattern of fastener attachment points, and also having a first inner pattern of fastener attachment points, wherein said flex element comprises a plurality of discs stacked adjacent one another wherein said flex element is coated with an elastomeric coating; a set of spacers wherein a spacer is disposed in between each individual disc of said plurality of discs and located between the first outer pattern and the second outer pattern of fastener attachment points; a collar having a second inner pattern of fastener attachment points; and a set of first fasteners that pass through all of the outer attachment points to fasten the flex element and the flange to each other maintaining spacing between the flange and the flex element due to the spacers being trapped therebetween; and a second set of fasteners that pass through all the inner attachment points, to fasten the flex element and the collar together in an abutting relationship.