Splined coupling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10927899-B2
Application number	US-201815870065-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2018
Priority date	Nov 17, 2017
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

A splined coupling assembly includes: a transfer gear having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of splines at the first end. The splined coupling assembly also includes a transfer housing having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a tubular portion located at the second side. The tubular portion includes a plurality of splines. The plurality of splines of the transfer housing are configured to mesh with the plurality of splines of the transfer gear. The splined coupling assembly further includes a shear ring located in a shear ring groove in the tubular portion- and a retainer configured to retain the shear ring within the shear ring grove.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A splined coupling assembly comprising:
a transfer gear having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of splines at the first end;
a transfer housing having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a tubular portion located at the second side, the tubular portion comprising: a plurality of splines, wherein the plurality of splines of the transfer housing are configured to mesh with the plurality of splines of the transfer gear;
a shear ring located in a shear ring groove in the tubular portion;
a retainer configured to retain the shear ring within the shear ring groove,
wherein the tubular portion further comprises: a first face, a second face opposite the first face, a radially inward surface, and a radially outward surface opposite the radially inward surface, wherein the second face includes an orifice that opens to a chamber defined by the radially inward surface, and wherein the plurality of splines of the transfer housing are internal splines located on the radially inward surface and the plurality of splines of the transfer gear are external splines;

a retainer ring located within the chamber and proximate the second side; and
a disc located within the chamber and proximate the plurality of internal splines, wherein the shear ring groove is located in the radially inward surface, and wherein the shear ring is located between the disc and the retainer ring,
wherein the disc has a ring shape with an open center portion, wherein the transfer gear passed through the open center portion of the disc.

2. The splined coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the retainer is configured to retain the retainer ring within the chamber and proximate the second side, wherein the retainer initiates at a location in the chamber and wraps around the second face, the radially outward surface, and the first face.

3. The splined coupling assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the retainer terminates prior to reaching the external splines.

4. The splined coupling assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the retainer extends into the chamber radially inward of the retainer ring, the shear ring, and the disc.

5. The splined coupling assembly of claim 4 , further comprising:
an O-ring seal located in a seal groove on an outer surface of the transfer gear, wherein the O-ring seal is configured to form a sealed connection with the retainer to prevent lubricating fluid migration out of the chamber in an axial direction.

6. The splined coupling assembly of claim 4 , wherein:
the retainer terminates at the disc.

7. A flight control surface actuation system comprising:
an actuator configured to actuate a flight control surface;
a transmission operably connected to the actuator;
a drive shaft operably connected to the transmission; and
a splined coupling assembly operably connecting the drive shaft to the transmission, the spline coupling assembly comprising:
a transfer gear having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of splines at the first end;
a transfer housing having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a tubular portion located at the second side, the tubular portion comprising: a plurality of splines, wherein the plurality of splines of the transfer housing are configured to mesh with the plurality of splines of the transfer gear;
a shear ring located in a shear ring groove in the tubular portion; and
a retainer configured to retain the shear ring within the shear ring groove,
wherein the tubular portion further comprises: a first face, a second face opposite the first face, a radially inward surface, and a radially outward surface opposite the radially inward surface, wherein the second face includes an orifice that opens to a chamber defined by the radially inward surface, and wherein the plurality of splines of the transfer housing are internal splines located on the radially inward surface and the plurality of splines of the transfer gear are external splines;

a retainer ring located within the chamber and proximate the second side; and
a disc located within the chamber and proximate the plurality of internal splines, wherein the shear ring groove is located in the radially inward surface, and wherein the shear ring is located between the disc and the retainer ring,
wherein the disc has a ring shape with an open center portion, wherein the transfer gear passes through the open center portion of the disc.

8. The flight control surface actuation system of claim 7 , wherein:
the retainer is configured to retain the retainer ring within the chamber and proximate the second side, wherein the retainer initiates at a location in the chamber and wraps around the second face, the radially outward surface, and the first face.

9. The flight control surface actuation system of claim 7 , wherein the first side of the transfer housing further comprises:
a flange located at the first side, the flange including one or more through holes.

10. The flight control surface actuation system of claim 9 , further comprising:
one or more fasteners operably connecting the first side of the transfer housing to the drive shaft, wherein each fastener is located in one of the one or more through holes.

11. The flight control surface actuation system of claim 7 , wherein the transfer gear further comprises:
a plurality of external splines at the second end of the transfer gear.

12. The flight control surface actuation system of claim 11 , wherein the splined coupling assembly is operably connected to the transmission through the external splines at the second end.

13. A method of manufacturing a splined coupling assembly, the method comprising:
forming a transfer gear having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of external splines at the first end;
forming a transfer housing having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a tubular portion located at the second side, the tubular portion comprising a first face, a second face opposite the first face, a radially inward surface, a radially outward surface opposite the radially inward surface, and a plurality of internal splines in the radially inward surface, wherein the plurality of internal splines are configured to mesh with the external splines of the transfer gear, and wherein the second face includes an orifice that opens to a chamber defined by the radially inward surface;
forming a shear ring groove in the radially inward surface of the transfer housing;
sliding a disc into the chamber, the disc being located proximate the internal splines;
inserting a shear ring into the shear ring groove;
sliding a retainer ring into the chamber, the retainer ring being located proximate the second side of the transfer housing, wherein the shear ring is located in between the disc and the retainer ring in an axial direction, and wherein the disc has a ring shape with an open center portion, wherein the transfer gear passes through the open center portion of the disc;
inserting the first end of the transfer gear into the chamber of the transfer housing;
aligning the plurality of external splines with the plurality of internal splines, such that the plurality of external splines mesh with the plurality of internal splines; and
securing a retainer around the tubular portion of the transfer housing such that the retainer initiates at a location in the chamber and wraps around the second face, the radially outward surface, and the first face.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the securing further comprises:
sliding the retainer around the tubula

Assignees

• Goodrich Actuation Systems Ltd

Inventors

• Janakiraman Rajasekaran
• Harvey John H
• Holding James
• Niranji Shrishail
• Naik Shirish

Classifications

• F16D3/185 Primary

  radial teeth connecting concentric inner and outer coupling parts · CPC title

• Y10T403/7033

  including a lock or retainer · CPC title

• F16D1/116 Primary

  the interengaging parts including a continuous or interrupted circumferential groove in the surface of one of the coupling parts (circlips for retaining hubs on shafts F16B21/18) · CPC title

• F16D2001/103

  the torque is transmitted via splined connections · CPC title

• B64C13/34

  using toothed gearing · CPC title