Radially compliant connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12188529-B2
Application number	US-202117519648-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2021
Priority date	Mar 18, 2021
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

A radially compliant connection includes an axis, a first plate with a first connection portion, a second plate with a second connection portion, an intermediate plate with third and fourth connection portions, a first flexible element fixed to the first connection portion and to the third connection portion, and a second flexible element fixed to the second connection portion and to the fourth connection portion. In some example embodiments, the first connection portion has a radially inner surface with a first radius, and the second connection portion has a first radially outer surface with a second radius, less than the first radius. In an example embodiment, the third connection portion has a second radially outer surface with a third radius, equal to the second radius, or the fourth connection portion has a third radially outer surface with a fourth radius, equal to the second radius.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A radially compliant connection, comprising:
an axis;
a first plate comprising a first connection portion;
a second plate comprising a second connection portion;
an intermediate plate comprising a third connection portion and a fourth connection portion;
a first flexible element fixed to the first connection portion and to the third connection portion, wherein the first flexible element is a first leaf spring arcuately formed in a circumferential direction and having a first axial width greater than a first radial width; and
a second flexible element fixed to the second connection portion and to the fourth connection portion, wherein the second flexible element is a second leaf spring arcuately formed in the circumferential direction and having a second axial width greater than a second radial width.

2. The radially compliant connection of claim 1 wherein:
the first connection portion comprises a radially inner surface with a first radius; and
the second connection portion comprises a first radially outer surface with a second radius, less than the first radius.

3. The radially compliant connection of claim 2 wherein:
the third connection portion comprises a second radially outer surface with a third radius, equal to the second radius; or
the fourth connection portion comprises a third radially outer surface with a fourth radius, equal to the second radius.

4. The radially compliant connection of claim 2 wherein:
the first flexible element or the second flexible element is disposed at a fifth radius, between the first radius and the second radius.

5. The radially compliant connection of claim 1 wherein the first connection portion, the second connection portion, the third connection portion, and the fourth connection portion each extend in a circumferential direction and in an axial direction.

6. The radially compliant connection of claim 5 wherein the first connection portion forms a continuous rim.

7. The radially compliant connection of claim 6 wherein the continuous rim radially supports the first flexible element or the second flexible element.

8. The radially compliant connection of claim 6 wherein the continuous rim comprises respective openings at least partially radially aligned with the second connection portion and the fourth connection portion.

9. The radially compliant connection of claim 1 further comprising:
exactly two first connection portions; and
exactly two second connection portions.

10. The radially compliant connection of claim 9 wherein:
the exactly two first connection portions are arranged circumferentially opposite one another; and
the exactly two second connection portions are arranged circumferentially opposite one another.

11. The radially compliant connection of claim 10 wherein a first line extending through the exactly two first connection portions is orthogonal to a line extending through the exactly two second connection portions.

12. The radially compliant connection of claim 9 further comprising:
exactly two third connection portions; and
exactly two fourth connection portions.

13. The radially compliant connection of claim 9 further comprising:
exactly four third connection portions; and
exactly four fourth connection portions.

14. The radially compliant connection of claim 13 wherein each one of the exactly four third connection portions is arranged on a same tab with a one of the exactly four fourth connection portions.

15. The radially compliant connection of claim 13 wherein:
the first flexible element:
comprises distal ends fixed to respective ones of the exactly four third connection portions; and
comprises a middle portion arranged circumferentially between the distal ends and fixed to a respective one of the exactly two first connection portions.

16. The radially compliant connection of claim 13 wherein:
the second flexible element:
comprises distal ends fixed to respective ones of the exactly four fourth connection portions; and
comprises a middle portion arranged circumferentially between the distal ends and fixed to a respective one of the exactly two second connection portions.

17. The radially compliant connection of claim 1 wherein:
the first leaf spring is:
fixed to the first connection portion by a first rivet; and
fixed to the third connection portion by a second rivet; and

the second leaf spring is:
fixed to the second connection portion by a third rivet; and
fixed to the fourth connection portion by a fourth rivet.

18. The radially compliant connection of claim 17 wherein the first rivet, the second rivet, the third rivet and the fourth rivet are axially aligned and circumferentially offset from one another.

19. The radially compliant connection of claim 1 wherein:
the first plate comprises a first annular portion;
the second plate comprises a second annular portion; and
the intermediate plate comprises a third annular portion arranged axially between the first annular portion and the second annular portion.

20. The radially compliant connection of claim 1 wherein the first connection portion, the second connection portion, the third connection portion and the fourth connection portion are axially aligned and circumferentially offset from one another.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Lindemann Patrick
• Payne Matthew
• Steinberger Markus
• Geiser Jordan
• Hunt Kenneth
• Hodge Michael

Classifications

• F16D3/78

  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

• F16D3/04

  specially adapted to allow radial displacement, e.g. Oldham couplings · CPC title

• F16D3/005 Primary

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

• F16D3/64 Primary

  comprising elastic elements arranged between substantially-radial walls of both coupling parts · CPC title