Universal joint with simplified structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9920789-B2
Application number	US-201715466478-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2017
Priority date	Mar 22, 2016
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A universal joint includes a first band and a second band which are separated by a slot, are cylindrical and coaxial with one another with respect to a common axis, a first stiffener whose ends are joined to the first band, and a second stiffener whose ends are joined to the second band. A stem extends between the first stiffener and the second stiffener. A crown is around the stem. Four torsion bars exist, of which two extend between the crown and the first band and two extend between the crown and the second band.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A universal joint comprising:
a first band;
a second band, the first and second bands being cylindrical bands coaxial with one another with respect to a common axis, the first band and the second band being separated by a slot;
a first and a second stiffener, which extend, respectively, inside the bands, the first stiffener extending in a first radial plane containing the common axis, the second stiffener extending in a second radial plane orthogonal to the first radial plane and containing the common axis, and each stiffener having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends of the first stiffener being joined to the first band, and the first and second ends of the second stiffener being joined to the second band;
a stem which is coaxial with the common axis and of which a first end is joined to the first stiffener and of which a second end is joined to the second stiffener;
a crown that is coaxial with the common axis and surrounds the stem; and
four torsion bars, which extend inside the bands in a single plane that is perpendicular to the common axis and which are distributed at regular angular intervals of 90° around the common axis, the four torsion bars comprising:
a first torsion bar extending in the first radial plane and having a first end joined to the first band and a second end joined to the crown,
a second torsion bar extending in the second radial plane and having a first end joined to the second band and a second end joined to the crown,
a third torsion bar extending in the first radial plane and having a first end joined to the first band and a second end joined to the crown, and
a fourth torsion bar extending in the second radial plane and having a first end joined to the second band and a second end joined to the crown.

2. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the universal joint is configured to provide articulation between structural elements by elastic deformation of the universal joint.

3. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the universal joint has a shape of an axisymmetric cylinder.

4. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the first and second bands are arranged adjacent to one another in a direction of the common axis.

5. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first and second stiffeners is in a form of a blade.

6. The universal joint of claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second stiffeners are in the form of a blade.

7. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the stem is configured to transmit axial forces to the universal joint.

8. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the stem comprises a flexibility that allows a connection between structural elements of a ball type.

9. The universal joint of claim 8 , wherein the flexibility can be adjusted to a desired flexibility by changing a length and/or diameter of the stem.

10. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the stem is captive within the crown.

11. The universal joint of claim 10 , wherein an internal diameter of the crown is larger than a diameter of the stem, such that contact therebetween is limited as the universal joint deforms.

12. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein torsion bars that are fixed to a same band are coaxial with each other.

13. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the four torsion bars are configured to deform in torsion upon a loading of the universal joint.

14. The universal joint of claim 13 , wherein each of the four torsion bars is configured to deform by twisting about a respective axis thereof.

15. The universal joint of claim 14 , wherein a combination of deformations of the four torsion bars about respective axes associated therewith causes a deformation of the universal joint about an axis coplanar with the four torsion bars.

16. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the slot has a profile that oscillates above and below the single plane, such that the first and second bands pass successively from one side of the single plane to another side of the single plane around a circumference of the universal joint.

17. The universal joint of claim 16 , wherein the first and third torsion bars are joined to the first band where the first band passes above the single plane and the second and fourth torsion bars are joined to the second band where the second band passes below the single plane.

18. The universal joint of claim 16 , wherein the slot comprises a profile that is sinusoidal.

19. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the universal joint comprises one or more of a metal and a plastic material.

20. A universal joint comprising:
a first band and a second band, wherein the first and second bands are coaxial with one another with respect to a common axis and are separated from each other by a slot;
a first stiffener that extends within the first band, wherein the first stiffener extends in a first radial plane that includes the common axis, and wherein the first stiffener has respective first and second ends that are joined to the first band;
a second stiffener that extends within the second band, wherein the second stiffener extends in a second radial plane, which is orthogonal to the first radial plane and contains the common axis, and wherein the second stiffener has respective first and second ends that are joined to the second band;
a stem, which is coaxial with the common axis and comprises a first end that is joined to the first stiffener and a second end that is joined to the second stiffener;
a crown that is coaxial with the common axis and surrounds the stem; and
a plurality of torsion bars, which extend inside the bands in a single plane that is perpendicular to the common axis and which are distributed around the common axis.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Sas

Inventors

• Chaper Camille
• Blain David

Classifications

• F16D3/56

  comprising elastic metal lamellae, elastic rods, or the like, e.g. arranged radially or parallel to the axis, the members being shear-loaded collectively by the total load · CPC title

• Y10T403/453

  Flexible sleeve-type coupling · CPC title

• F16C11/12 Primary

  incorporating flexible connections, e.g. leaf springs · CPC title

• Y10T403/32008

  Plural distinct articulation axes · CPC title

• F16D3/005 Primary

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