Axial shaft coupling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11448263-B2
Application number	US-201916511383-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2019
Priority date	Jul 20, 2018
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

a coupling assembly includes a first portion and a second portion which are configured to couple to one another such that the second portion is capable of rotationally driving the first portion about an axis of rotation. The first portion is provided with a first magnet and the second portion is provided with a second magnet. The first and second magnets are arranged to repel each other such that the first and second portions are biased away from each other in an axial direction that is parallel to the axis of rotation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A coupling assembly for a drive shaft assembly, the coupling assembly comprising:
a first portion and a second portion which are configured to couple to one another such that the second portion is capable of rotationally driving the first portion about an axis of rotation;
wherein the first portion is provided with a first magnet and the second portion is provided with a second magnet;
wherein the first and second magnets are arranged to repel each other such that the first and second portions are biased away from each other in an axial direction that is parallel to the axis of rotation;
wherein the first and second portions are operatively connected by means of a splined coupling.

2. The drive shaft assembly of claim 1 , wherein the splined coupling comprises interengaging teeth and grooves on the first and second portions; and wherein the first and second magnets provide an axial force that inhibits the first and second portions from being axially shifted towards one another and biases the first and second portions to a position at which the teeth and grooves on the first portion are axially aligned with the teeth and grooves on the second portion.

3. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first magnet is disposed towards an end of the first portion, and the second magnet is disposed towards an end of the second portion that faces the end of the first portion.

4. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnets are arranged such that a north pole of the first magnet is positioned axially adjacent to a north pole of the second magnet, or a south pole of the first magnet is positioned axially adjacent to a south pole of the second magnet such that opposing poles of the magnets face one another.

5. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnets each comprise a substantially planar end surface, wherein the substantially planar end surfaces of the first and second magnets face one another.

6. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnets are positioned such that an axial gap is maintained between the first and second magnets.

7. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions is provided with an abutting portion which extends axially towards the other of the first and second portions, for contacting the other of the first and second portions and preventing the first and second portions from contacting one another when the first and second portions are forced together.

8. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein teeth and grooves are provided on a radially external surface of the first portion and corresponding teeth and grooves are provided on a radially internal surface of the second portion for engaging the grooves and teeth, respectively, of the first portion.

9. The coupling assembly of claim 8 , wherein the teeth and grooves are elongate and have a length extending substantially in the axial direction of the coupling assembly.

10. The coupling assembly of claim 9 , wherein the axial direction refers to the direction parallel to the axis of rotation about which the first and second portions rotate.

11. A drive shaft assembly comprising:
the coupling assembly of claim 1 ;
wherein the first portion is attached to, or integral with, an elongated first shaft; and
wherein the second portion is attached to, or integral with, an elongated second shaft.

12. The drive shaft assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first and second shafts respectively define a first and second longitudinal axis; and
wherein the first and second magnets are arranged to repel each other such that the first and second shafts are biased axially away from each other along the direction of their respective longitudinal axes.

13. The drive shaft assembly of claim 11 , wherein:
the first or second shaft is a drive shaft that rotationally drives the first or second portion of the coupling assembly.

14. The drive shaft assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
a second coupling assembly comprising: a third portion and a fourth portion which are configured to couple to one another such that the third portion is capable of rotationally driving the fourth portion about a second axis of rotation; wherein the third portion is provided with a third magnet and the fourth portion is provided with a fourth magnet; and wherein the third and fourth magnets are arranged to repel each other such that the third and fourth portions are biased away from each other in a second axial direction that is parallel to the second axis of rotation; and
wherein the drive shaft assembly comprises a shaft arranged between the first and second coupling assemblies and that is operatively connected to the first and second coupling assemblies.

15. A method of aligning a coupling assembly for a drive shaft assembly comprising:
providing a first coupling assembly corresponding to the coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1 ;
coupling the first portion of the first coupling assembly to the second portion of the first coupling assembly; and
biasing the first and second portions axially away from one another via magnetic force provided by the first and second magnets.

16. A method of aligning a drive shaft assembly comprising:
providing a first coupling assembly corresponding to the coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnets of the first coupling assembly comprise a first pair of magnets;
providing a second coupling assembly corresponding to the coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnets of the second coupling assembly comprise a second pair of magnets;
providing a shaft between the first and second coupling assemblies, such that the shaft is biased towards a centred position between the first and second coupling assemblies, wherein the biasing is via magnetic forces between the first and second pairs of magnets.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Kielbowicz Dariusz
• Cis Marcin

Classifications

• F16D1/04 Primary

  with clamping hub; with hub and longitudinal key · CPC title

• H02K49/108

  with an axial air gap · CPC title

• F16D2001/103

  the torque is transmitted via splined connections · CPC title

• Y10T403/7032

  including a means, e.g., spring biased portion, for misalignment correction · CPC title

• F16D1/10 Primary

  Quick-acting couplings in which the parts are connected by simply bringing them together axially · CPC title