Flexible couplings for power transmissions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10280985-B2
Application number	US-201615139065-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2016
Priority date	Dec 23, 2015
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

A flexible coupling includes an input body, an output body offset from the input body, and a flexible lattice body. The flexible lattice body includes a flex beam member coupling the input body to the output body. The flex beam member has a rounded cross-sectional area with a centrally disposed minimum cross-sectional area to reduce peak stress in the flex beam member while transferring torque and accommodating misalignment between the input body and the output body. The flexible coupling is jointless, simplifying fabrication, and has a free-form geometry, reducing weight.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible coupling, comprising:
an input body;
an output body offset from the input body;
a flexible lattice body coupling the input body to the output body, wherein the flexible lattice body includes a flex beam member with a rounded cross-sectional area; and
an interconnect member connected to the flex beam member with a spherical shape, wherein a minimum load-carrying area of the interconnect is larger than a maximum load carrying area of the flex beam member.

2. The flexible coupling as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rounded cross-sectional area has a circular shape or an elliptical shape.

3. The flexible coupling as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rounded cross-sectional area of the flex beam member extends along the entire longitudinal length of the flex beam member.

4. The flexible coupling as recited in claim 1 , wherein the flex beam member tapers between opposed leading and trailing ends to a point of minimum thickness therebetween.

5. The flexible coupling as recited in claim 1 , further including an interconnect member connected to the flex beam member with a spherical shape.

6. The flexible coupling as recited in claim 5 , wherein the interconnect member connects to the flex beam member at a blended surface having a saddle-shaped profile spanning the members.

7. The flexible coupling as recited in claim 5 , further including a spar member connected to the interconnect member and coupling the interconnect member to the input body or to the output body.

8. The flexible coupling as recited in claim 1 , further including a spar member connected to the input body or the output body, the spar member further connected to the flex beam member.

9. The flexible coupling as recited in claim 8 , wherein the spar body extends both radially and axially from the input body or output body to the interconnect member.

10. The flexible coupling as recited in claim 8 , wherein the spar member defines a rounded cross-sectional area along substantially the entire length of the spar member.

11. The flexible coupling as recited in claim 1 , wherein the flexible coupling is a jointless body of unitary construction.

12. A flexible coupling, comprising:
an input body;
an output body offset from the input body;
a flexible lattice body coupling the input body to the output body, wherein the flexible lattice body includes a flex beam member with a rounded cross-sectional area; and
a spar member connected to the input body or the output body, the spar member further connected to the flex beam member,
wherein the spar member tapers between a relatively large cross-sectional area adjacent the input body or output body and a relatively small cross-sectional area adjacent to the flex beam member.

13. A flexible coupling, comprising:
an input body;
an output body offset from the input body;
a flexible lattice body coupling the input body to the output body, wherein the flexible lattice body includes a flex beam member with a rounded cross-sectional area; and
a spar member connected to the input body or the output body, the spar member further connected to the flex beam member,
wherein the spar member connects to the input body or the output body at a blended surface.

14. The flexible coupling as recited in claim 13 , wherein the blended surface has a saddle-shaped profile spanning the spar member and the input body or the output body.

15. A flexible coupling, comprising:
an input body;
an output body offset from the input body; and
a flexible lattice body including:
a flex beam member disposed between the input body and the output body, wherein the flex beam includes a rounded cross-sectional area extending about a longitudinal axis defined by the flex beam member;
a first interconnect member connected to an end of the flex member, wherein the flex beam member connects to the interconnect member at a blended surface, wherein the blended surface has a saddle-shaped profile;
a first spar member coupling the first interconnect member to the input body, wherein the first spar member extends in both a radial and an axial direction relative to a rotation axis defined by the flexible coupling, wherein the first spar member connects to the first interconnect member at a blended profile, wherein the blended profile has a saddle-shaped profile;
a second interconnect member connected to the flex beam member at an end opposite the first interconnect member, wherein the flex beam member connects to the interconnect member at a blended surface, wherein the blended surface has a saddle-shaped profile; and
a second spar member coupling the second interconnect member to the output body, wherein the second spar member extends in both a radial and an axial direction relative to the rotation axis defined by the flexible coupling, wherein the second spar member connects to the second interconnect member at a blended surface, wherein the blended surface has a saddle-shaped profile.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Mathis Jeffrey

Classifications

• F16D3/58 Primary

  the intermediate members being made of rubber or like material · CPC title

• F16D3/005

  incorporating leaf springs, flexible parts of reduced thickness or the like acting as pivots · CPC title

• F16D3/78 Primary

  shaped as an elastic disc or flat ring, arranged perpendicular to the axis of the coupling parts, different sets of spots of the disc or ring being attached to each coupling part, e.g. Hardy couplings · CPC title