Patent ID: 8408837

Claim:
A shaft coupling assembly for use with rotary valves, comprising: an elongated member; a coupling portion coupled to the elongated member and having a cross-sectional shape that has a first dimension along a first axis that is substantially larger than a second dimension along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and a first opening configured to receive a rectangular shaft, wherein the coupling portion includes: at least a first flexible member having a first surface that at least partially defines the first opening and a second surface that at least partially defines the cross-sectional shape of the coupling portion, the first surface having a first recessed portion to form a first clamping surface of the first opening adjacent a first end of the first surface and a second clamping surface of the first opening adjacent a second end of the first surface opposite the first end, the first recessed portion to enable the first flexible member to concentrate a clamping force to the first and second clamping surfaces of the first surface, at least a second flexible member having a third surface that at least partially defines the first opening and a fourth surface that at least partially defines the cross-sectional shape of the coupling portion, and wherein the second flexible member has a cross-sectional area that is larger than a cross-sectional area of the first flexible member, and at least a third flexible member having a fifth surface that at least partially defines the first opening and a sixth surface that at least partially defines the cross-sectional shape of the coupling portion.