Shaft coupling assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12054203-B2
Application number	US-202217969099-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2022
Priority date	Jul 31, 2018
Publication date	Aug 6, 2024
Grant date	Aug 6, 2024

Abstract

A coupling assembly includes a flexible coupling and a first adapter. The flexible coupling defines an opening that extends along a central longitudinal axis between a first coupling end and a second coupling end. The first adapter is arranged to be at least partially received within the opening proximate the first coupling end. The first adapter extends between a first adapter first face and a first adapter second face. The first adapter defines a first adapter post and a first adapter hole. The first adapter post that extends from the first adapter first face. The first adapter hole that extends from the first adapter first face towards the first adapter second face.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power assist system, comprising:
a shaft provided with a worm that is driven by a motor through a motor shaft; and
a coupling assembly disposed between ends of the shaft having the worm and the motor shaft, the coupling assembly being arranged to provide a mechanical interlock between the shaft having the worm and the motor shaft and facilitate axial compliance along a central longitudinal axis between the shaft having the worm and the motor shaft, wherein the coupling assembly comprises:
a flexible coupling having an inner surface defining an opening that extends along a central longitudinal axis between a first coupling end and a second coupling end, and a rib extending from the inner surface towards the central longitudinal axis;
a first adapter having a first adapter exterior that extends between a first adapter first face and a first adapter second face, the first adaptor exterior arranged to be at least partially received in the opening proximate the first coupling end; and
a second adapter having a second adapter exterior that extends between a second adapter first face and a second adapter second face, the second adaptor exterior arranged to be at least partially received in the opening proximate the second coupling end,

wherein the rib aligns the first adapter and the second adapter relative to one another.

2. The power assist system of claim 1 , the opening having a plurality of coupling teeth, wherein the first adapter has a plurality of first adaptor teeth arranged to engage the plurality of coupling teeth and the second adapter has a plurality of second adaptor teeth arranged to engage the plurality of coupling teeth.

3. The power assist system of claim 1 , wherein the first adapter defines a first adapter post that extends from the first adapter first face and a first adapter hole that extends from the first adapter first face towards the first adapter second face; and
the second adapter defines a second adapter post that extends from the second adapter first face and a second adapter hole that extends from the second adapter first face towards the second adapter second face.

4. The power assist system of claim 3 , wherein the first adapter post is arranged to be received within the second adapter hole.

5. The power assist system of claim 3 , wherein the flexible coupling is arranged to restrict relative motion between the first adapter and the second adapter about the central longitudinal axis.

6. The power assist system of claim 3 , wherein the second adapter post is arranged to be received within the first adapter hole.

7. The power assist system of claim 3 , wherein the second adapter defines a second mounting hole that extends from the second adapter second face towards the second adapter first face along a second adapter axis.

8. The power assist system of claim 7 , wherein an end of the motor shaft that is arranged to at least partially extend into the second mounting hole.

9. The power assist system of claim 3 , wherein the first adapter defines a first mounting hole that extends from the first adapter second face towards the first adapter first face along a first adapter axis.

10. The power assist system of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first adapter post and the first adapter hole are offset from the first adapter axis.

11. The power assist system of claim 9 , wherein the first adapter axis is disposed parallel to the central longitudinal axis.

12. The power assist system of claim 9 , wherein the first adapter defines a first adapter notch that extends from the first exterior towards the first mounting hole, wherein the rib is at least partially received in the first adaptor notch.

13. A power assist system, comprising:
a shaft provided with a worm that is driven by a motor through a motor shaft;
a coupling assembly disposed between ends of the shaft having the worm and the motor shaft, the coupling assembly being arranged to provide a mechanical interlock between the shaft having the worm and the motor shaft and facilitate axial compliance along a central longitudinal axis between the shaft having the worm and the motor shaft;
a flexible coupling defining an opening that extends along a central longitudinal axis between a first coupling end and a second coupling end;
a first adapter having a first adapter exterior that extends between a first adapter first face and a first adapter second face, the first adapter defining a first adapter post that extends from the first adapter first face and a first adapter hole that extends from the first adapter first face towards the first adapter second face; and
a second adapter having a second adapter exterior that extends between a second adapter first face and a second adapter second face, the second adapter defining a second adapter post that extends from the second adapter first face and a second adapter hole that extends from the second adapter first face towards the second adapter second face,
wherein the first adapter defines a first mounting hole that extends from the first adapter second face towards the first adapter first face along a first adapter axis,
wherein the first adapter defines a first adapter notch that extends from the first exterior towards the first mounting hole,
wherein the flexible coupling defines a rib that extends from an inner surface towards the central longitudinal axis.

14. The power assist system of claim 13 , wherein the rib is arranged to be at least partially received within the first adapter notch.

15. A power assist system, comprising:
a shaft provided with a worm that is driven by a motor through a motor shaft; and
a coupling assembly disposed between ends of the shaft having the worm and the motor shaft, the coupling assembly being arranged to provide a mechanical interlock between the shaft having the worm and the motor shaft and facilitate axial compliance along a central longitudinal axis between the shaft having the worm and the motor shaft, wherein the coupling assembly comprises:
a flexible coupling having an inner surface defining an opening that extends along a central longitudinal axis between a first coupling end and a second coupling end, the opening having a plurality of coupling teeth;
a first adapter having a first adapter exterior that extends between a first adapter first face and a first adapter second face, the first adaptor exterior arranged to be at least partially received in the opening proximate the first coupling end and having a plurality of first adaptor teeth arranged to engage the plurality of coupling teeth; and

a second adapter having a second adapter exterior that extends between a second adapter first face and a second adapter second face, the second adaptor exterior arranged to be at least partially received in the opening proximate the second coupling end; and
a sensor disposed on the coupling assembly, the sensor being arranged to provide a signal indicative of an incident with the coupling assembly to a control module.

16. A coupling assembly, comprising:
a flexible coupling defining an opening that extends along a central longitudinal axis between a first coupling end and a second coupling end;
a first adapter arranged to be at least partially received within the opening proximate the first coupling end, the first adapter extending between a first adapter first face and a first adapter second face, the first adapter defining:
a first adapter post that extends away from the first adapter first face, and
a first adapter hole that extends from the first adapter first face towards the first adapter second

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Doornbos Jessica A
• Cymbal William D
• Rutkiewicz Jason T
• Bickel Joel A

Classifications

• F16H1/16

  comprising worm and worm-wheel · CPC title

• F16D3/10

  Couplings with means for varying the angular relationship of two coaxial shafts during motion · CPC title

• F16D3/06

  specially adapted to allow axial displacement · CPC title

• B62D3/04

  of worm type · CPC title

• F16D3/54

  Couplings comprising a chain or strip surrounding two wheels arranged side by side and provided with teeth or the equivalent · CPC title