Patent ID: 8429804

Claim:
A method of joining a first shaft to a second shaft for a transfer of torque comprising: providing a hub having a flange portion and an elongated annular sleeve portion together defining a common passageway through the hub, the sleeve portion having a plurality of substantially longitudinal slits therein extending from a distal end toward the flange portion to form a plurality of sleeve segments, the sleeve portion further having an outer surface comprising a first set of surface features; providing an elongated annular collar having an inner surface having a second set of surface features configured to engage the first set of surface features of the sleeve portion of the hub; attaching the collar to the sleeve portion of the hub; inserting a first shaft into a first end of the passageway; inserting a second shaft into an opposing end of the passageway; and urging the collar axially away from the flange portion to an operative position along the sleeve portion whereby the axial movement urges the sleeve segments radially inward to exert a clamping force, thereby clamping the first shaft to the second shaft by sleeve segments common to the first and second shafts, wherein the clamping force exerted by the sleeve segments is sufficient to prevent relative movement of the first shaft with respect to the second shaft when the first and second shafts are rotated about a common axis.