Splined couplings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9989099-B2
Application number	US-201715466075-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2017
Priority date	Mar 24, 2016
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

A splined coupling comprises a radially inner shaft and a radially outer shaft having a cavity for receiving the inner shaft. First splines are provided on a radially outwardly facing surface of the inner shaft. Second splines are provided on a radially inwardly facing surface of the cavity of the outer shaft. The first splines are slidably engaged with the second splines. At least one biasing element, for example a diaphragm is arranged to act between the radially inner and radially outer shafts for locating the first splines in a desired axial position relative to the second splines and to provide a biasing force resisting the axial movement of the first splines relative to the second splines upon relative axial movement of the inner and outer shafts.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A splined coupling comprising:
a radially inner shaft;
a radially outer shaft having a cavity for receiving said inner shaft;
first splines provided on a radially outwardly facing surface of said inner shaft;
second splines provided on a radially inwardly facing surface of said cavity of said outer shaft, said first spline slidably engaged with said second splines; and
at least one biasing element acting between said radially inner and radially outer shafts for locating said first splines in a desired axial position relative to said second splines and providing a biasing force resisting the axial movement of said first splines relative to the second splines upon relative axial movement of said inner and outer shafts;
wherein said at least one biasing element is a diaphragm extending at least partially across said cavity of said outer shaft; and
wherein an outer periphery of said diaphragm is received in a groove formed on the radially inwardly facing surface of the cavity of the radially outer shaft.

2. A splined coupling as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said diaphragm is mounted to an end of said inner shaft.

3. A splined coupling as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said radially outer shaft comprises a main body part and a cap fastened to the main body part and which closes said cavity, said groove being formed between said main body part and said cap.

4. A splined coupling as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said outer periphery of said diaphragm is received in the groove with limited axial and optionally radial play.

5. A splined coupling as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first splines are provided on a radially outwardly facing surface of a radially projecting flange of said inner shaft.

6. A splined coupling as claimed in claim 5 , wherein an end of said outer shaft is cup shaped and said second splines are provided on a radially inwardly facing surface of said cup shape.

7. A splined coupling as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said cavity is partially filled with a grease lubricant.

8. A splined coupling as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said grease is a clay based grease.

9. A splined coupling as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first splines are axially shorter than the second splines.

10. A splined coupling as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first splines are crowned or barrelled.

11. A splined coupling as claimed in claim 1 , comprising stops for limiting the axial movement of the inner and outer shafts relative to one another.

12. An actuator drive system comprising a splined coupling as claimed in claim 1 .

13. An aircraft comprising a plurality of actuators arranged at spaced apart locations along a wing of the aircraft for actuating control surfaces of the aircraft, and an actuator drive system for driving one or more of said actuators, the actuator drive system including a splined coupling that includes:
a radially inner shaft;
a radially outer shaft having a cavity for receiving said inner shaft;
first splines provided on a radially outwardly facing surface of said inner shaft;
second splines provided on a radially inwardly facing surface of said cavity of said outer shaft, said first splines slidably engaged with said second splines; and
at least one biasing element acting between said radially inner and radially outer shafts for locating said first splines in a desired axial position relative to said second splines and providing a biasing force resisting the axial movement of said first splines relative to the second splines upon relative axial movement of said inner and outer shafts;
wherein said at least one biasing element is a diaphragm extending at least partially across said cavity of said outer shaft; and
wherein an outer periphery of said diaphragm is received in a groove formed on the radially inwardly facing surface of the cavity of the radially outer shaft.

Assignees

• Goodrich Actuation Systems Ltd

Inventors

• Davies Stephen
• Hubberstey Mark
• Holman David

Classifications

• F16D3/185 Primary

  radial teeth connecting concentric inner and outer coupling parts · CPC title

• F16D3/06 Primary

  specially adapted to allow axial displacement · CPC title

• B64C13/28

  mechanical · CPC title

• F16D2300/06

  Lubrication details not provided for in group F16D13/74 · CPC title

• Y10T403/7032

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