Patent ID: 8635779

Claim:
A method of servicing a coupling connecting two non-collinear associated shafts, the coupling including: a pair of sleeves, each sleeve having a yoke provided at an end portion thereof, the yokes being offset by 90° to one another, a knuckle provided between each yoke of the respective sleeves, the knuckle including a body having a plurality of openings, the openings being offset by 90° to one another, a plurality of bushings, each bushing being positioned in one of the openings, and a plurality of separate pins threadingly engaged to yokes for releasably connecting the yokes to the knuckle, an end portion of each pin engaging one of the bushings, wherein each yoke includes opposing ears, the knuckle being positioned between the opposing ears of each yoke, each ear including an aperture extending therethrough, and each pin includes a cylindrical shaped body which is separated into a first, non-threaded section having a first diameter and a second, threaded section having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the first section being positioned in one of the openings of the knuckle, the second section threadingly engaging one of the apertures, wherein each pin further includes a third, non-threaded section having a third diameter smaller than the second diameter of the second section, the second section being interposed between the first and third sections, the third section being at least partially positioned in the aperture, and wherein each ear of each yoke includes a threaded bore positioned near the aperture such that the bore is in communication with the aperture, and further including a plurality of set screws, each set screw being threadingly received in one of the bores, an end of the set screw protruding at least partially into the aperture and engaging the third section of the pin; the method of servicing comprising: loosening a pair of opposed pins on one of the yokes such that an end portion of each pin is spaced from the corresponding bushing which disengages that yoke from the knuckle; separating the disengaged yoke from the coupling; removing a worn bushing; inserting a different bushing in the knuckle opening; positioning the yoke to reengage the knuckle; and tightening the pins on the yoke until the end portion of each pin engages the corresponding bushing.