Segmented driveshaft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12196173-B2
Application number	US-202318325033-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2023
Priority date	Apr 12, 2021
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

A driveshaft, including a first segment, including a first end, a second end, a first through-bore extending from the first end to the second end, and a first protrusion extending axially from the second end, and a second segment, including a third end including a first notch, and a fourth end, and a first hole extending from the third end and aligned with the first through-bore, wherein the first protrusion engages the first notch to non-rotatably connect the first segment and the second segment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A driveshaft, comprising:
a first segment, including:
a first end;
a second end;
a first through-bore extending from the first end to the second end; and
a first protrusion extending axially from the second end; and

a second segment, including:
a third end comprising a first notch, the first notch including at least one dampener;
a fourth end; and
a first hole extending from the third end and aligned with the first through-bore;

wherein:
the first protrusion engages the first notch to non-rotatably connect the first segment and the second segment; and
the at least one dampener provides radial dampening between the first segment and the second segment.

2. The driveshaft as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second segment further comprises a second hole extending from the fourth end.

3. The driveshaft as recited in claim 2 , wherein the second segment further comprises a female connector arranged in the second hole.

4. The driveshaft as recited in claim 3 , further comprising a connector shaft engaged with the female connector.

5. The driveshaft as recited in claim 4 , wherein the connector shaft is operatively arranged to non-rotatably connect the second segment to one or more propeller blades or a gear train.

6. The driveshaft as recited in claim 4 , further comprising a dampener segment arranged circumferentially around the connector shaft, the dampener segment comprising a fifth end and a sixth end.

7. The driveshaft as recited in claim 6 , wherein the fifth end abuts against the fourth end.

8. The driveshaft as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a guide shaft engaged with the first through-bore and the first hole.

9. The driveshaft as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first notch extends radially outward from the first hole.

10. The driveshaft as recited in claim 9 , wherein the first notch extends axially from the third end.

11. The driveshaft as recited in claim 10 , wherein:
the first notch comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
a first dampener is arranged on the first surface; and
a second dampener is arranged on the second surface.

12. The driveshaft as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first dampener and the second dampener provide radial dampening between the first protrusion and the first notch.

13. The driveshaft as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one dampener comprises an elastomer.

14. The driveshaft as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one dampener comprises a polymer.

15. The driveshaft as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a third segment including:
a fifth end;
a sixth end;
a second through-bore extending from the fifth end to the sixth end; and
a second protrusion extending axially from the sixth end, wherein the second protrusion engages a second notch in the first end to non-rotatably connect the third segment to the first segment.

16. A driveshaft comprising:
a first segment, including:
a first end;
a second end;
a first through-bore extending from the first end to the second end; and
a first protrusion extending axially from the second end; and

a second segment, including:
a third end comprising a first notch;
a fourth end; and
a first hole extending from the third end and aligned with the first through-bore;

wherein:
the first protrusion engages the first notch to non-rotatably connect the first segment and the second segment; and
the first notch comprises at least one dampener that radially surrounds the engaged first protrusion.

17. The driveshaft as recited in claim 16 , further comprising a connector shaft non-rotatably engaged with the fourth end.

18. The driveshaft as recited in claim 17 , further comprising a dampener segment arranged circumferentially around the connector shaft, the dampener segment comprising a fifth end abutting against the fourth end and a sixth end.

19. The driveshaft as recited in claim 16 , further comprising a guide shaft engaged with the first through-bore and the first hole.

20. A driveshaft, comprising:
a first segment, including:
a first end;
a second end;
a through-bore extending from the first end to the second end; and
a protrusion extending axially from the second end; and

a second segment, including:
a third end;
a fourth end;
a hole extending from the third end and aligned with the through-bore;
a notch extending axially from the third end and radially outward from the hole, the notch comprising:
a first radially outward extending surface including a first dampener; and
a second radially outward extending surface, spaced apart from the first radially outward extending surface, the second radially outward extending surface including a second dampener;

wherein the protrusion engages the notch circumferentially between the first dampener and the second dampener to non-rotatably connect the first segment and the second segment.

Assignees

• Suddaby Loubert S

Inventors

• Suddaby Loubert S

Classifications

• F05B2210/11

  liquid, i.e. incompressible · CPC title

• F05B2240/30

  Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor · CPC title

• F03B17/061

  with rotation axis substantially in flow direction · CPC title

• F05B2240/60

  Shafts · CPC title

• F05B2240/131

  by means of vertical structures, i.e. chimneys · CPC title