GB1601157A

GB1601157A - Torsionally elastic jointed shaft connections

Info

Publication number: GB1601157A
Application number: GB24266/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MAN Maschinenfabrik Augsburg Nuernberg AG
Current assignee: MAN AG
Priority date: 1977-07-29
Filing date: 1978-05-30
Publication date: 1981-10-28
Also published as: IT1105932B; ATA453778A; CH630707A5; FR2398923B3; AT375740B; FR2398923A1; DE2734233A1; IT7850499A0

Abstract

A shaft connection of this kind, which can be used in drive lines subjected to shock-like torque fluctuations has a torsionally rigid cardan joint (10) and a torsionally elastic shaft coupling (3, 5, 6) with two shaft flanges (3, 6) and an elastic element (5) connecting them, in which the shaft flanges (3, 6) are of hub-shaped design and are mounted concentrically one inside the other, the axial extent of the radially inner shaft flange (6) essentially coinciding with that of the elastic element (5) and the cardan joint (10) is relocated in this shaft flange (6). This makes it possible to achieve a particularly short design while maintaining the required torsional elasticity and the permissible joint deflection angle. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO TORSIONALLY ELASTIC JOINTEI SHAFT CONNECTIONS (71) We, MASCHINENFABRIK AUosBURG-NURNBERG AKnENGEsELLscHAFT, a Company of the Federal Republic of Germany of Postfach 50 06 20, 8000 Munchen 50, Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to torsionally elastic jointed shaft connections comprising a non-elastic universal joint and a torsionally elastic shaft coupling. the latter including two shaft flanges and a resilient element by which the two shaft flanges are connected together. Such a shaft connection is referred to below as "a shaft connection of the kind referred to hereinbefore".

Shaft connections of this kind are required for drive lines which are subject to sudden torque fluctuations which would cause premature wear of the universal joint, more particularly if the joint angle is relatively large. In known embodiments of such torsionally elastic jointed shaft connections the torsionally elastic shaft coupling and a non-elastic universal joint are simply disposed one behind the other. Such serial configuration however calls for a substantial length of construction which in every case results in a closer approach to each other of the pivoting points of the joints and therefore automatically results in an increase of the resultant joint angle. In some circumstances the structural length available for the universal shaft is already so restricted as to preclude any further approach to each other of the pivoting points associated with the universal shaft.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a shaft connection of the kind described hereinbefore which, without impairing its required properties as regards torsional elasticity and the permissible joint angles, has a particularly short length of construction.

According to this invention a torsionally elastic jointed shaft connection comprising a non-elastic universal joint and a torsionally elastic shaft coupling, the latter including two shaft flanges and resilient element by which the two shaft flanges are connected together, each shaft flange comprising a radial portion and an axially-extending annular portion, the axially-extending annular portion of one of the shaft flanges being supported concentrically within the axiallyextending annular portion of the other shaft flange and extending circumferentially around the universal joint from which it is spaced radially, and the axial extent of the two shaft flanges substantially coinciding with that of the resilient element which is shaped in the configuration of a car tyre and has each of its side walls clamped in a respective one of the shaft flanges.

By virtue of this construction in which this invention is embodied, the overall structural length of the shaft connection is only approximately as long as the structural length of a torsionally elastic shaft coupling.

No additional structural length is required for the provision of the universal joint because this is placed in the interior of the torsionally elastic shaft coupling. Another advantage of the construction according to the invention is due to the fact that owing to the compact axial construction, by contrast to conventional embodiments, it is possible to dispense with one radial bearing for the torsionally elastic shaft coupling.

The choice of a resilient element having the shape of a car tyre which is clamped by each side wall in a respective one of the shaft flanges, is particularly advantageous since a sufficiently large internal space for accommodating the bearing system, the shaft flanges and the universal joint is available together with adequate rotational stiffness of the resilient element.

In one embodiment of the invention it is proposed that the shaft flanges are centrally supported one within each other by means of a cross-roller bearing. A rolling bearing of this kind which is a combination of a double-acting thrust bearing and a radial bearing, is sufficient for the present case because the relative bearing motion is exceptionally small.

In another arrangement of the invention it is proposed that the shaft flanges are centrally supported one within the other by a combination of a double-acting thrust bearing and a radial bearing.

Embodiments of the invention are described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a torsionally elastic jointed shaft connection; and Figure 2 is a cross-section along the line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a shaft stub 1 of an input shaft and an extension 2 for an output shaft.

A cup-shaped shaft flange is bolted on the end face of the shaft stub 1. A resilient element 5 in the shape of a car tyre is clamped by its left-hand side wall 5a (as seen in Fig- ure 1) on the cup-shaped shaft flange 5 by means of a clamping flange 20 and clamping screws 4. The right-hand side wall 5b of the resilient element 5 is clamped by means of screw fasteners 7 in a two-part cup-shaped shaft flange 6. The cup-shaped flange 6 extends telescopically into the cup-shaped flange 3 and is centrally supported therein either by means of a cross-roller bearing 8, as shown in the bottom half of Figure 1, or by a combination of a double-acting thrust bearing and a radial bearing, as indicated in the top half of Figure 1 and in Figure 2. The double-acting thrust bearing is formed by the two end faces of lugs 22 of the clamping flange 20 and each bears on oppositely dispossed collar surfaces of the shaft flange 6.

The radial bearing is formed by a sliding fit between the shaft flange 6 and the clamping flange 20. The entire axial extent of the shaft flanges 3 and 6 coincides approximately with the axial extent of the resilient element 5. The joint head of a universal joint 10 is screwmounted by means of bolts 9 to the base of the cup-shaped shaft flange 6. The universal joint 10 is rigidly connected to the extension 2 of the output shaft. The maximum one-side deflection angle of the universal joint 10 is indicated by the angle a. The drawing shows that the entire axial length of the shaft connection is substantially no greater than the axial length of the torsionally resilient shaft coupling by itself.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A torsionally elastic jointed shaft connection comprising a non-elastic universal joint and a torsionally elastic shaft coupling, the latter including two shaft flanges and a resilient element by which the two shaft flanges are connected together, each shaft flange comprising a radial portion and an axially-extending annular portion, the axially-extending annular portion of one of the shaft flanges being supported concentrically within the axially-extending annular portion of the other shaft flange and extend mg circumferentially around the universal joint from which it is spaced radially, and the axial extent of the two shaft flanges substantially coinciding with that of the resilient element which is shaped in the configuration of a car tyre and has each of its side walls clamped in a respective one of the shaft flanges.

2. A torsionally elastic jointed connection according to Claim 1, wherein the shaft flanges are centrally supported one within the other by means of a cross-roller bearing.

3. A torsionally elastic jointed shaft connection according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the means for supporting said one axially-extending annular shaft flange portion concentrically within the other are disposed radially within the resilient element.

4. A torsionally elastic jointed shaft connection according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the shaft flanges are centrally supported one within the other by a combination of a double-acting thrust bearing and a radial bearing.

5. A torsionally elastic jointed shaft connection substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. In another arrangement of the invention it is proposed that the shaft flanges are centrally supported one within the other by a combination of a double-acting thrust bearing and a radial bearing. Embodiments of the invention are described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a torsionally elastic jointed shaft connection; and Figure 2 is a cross-section along the line II-II of Figure 1. Figure 1 shows a shaft stub 1 of an input shaft and an extension 2 for an output shaft. A cup-shaped shaft flange is bolted on the end face of the shaft stub 1. A resilient element 5 in the shape of a car tyre is clamped by its left-hand side wall 5a (as seen in Fig- ure 1) on the cup-shaped shaft flange 5 by means of a clamping flange 20 and clamping screws 4. The right-hand side wall 5b of the resilient element 5 is clamped by means of screw fasteners 7 in a two-part cup-shaped shaft flange 6. The cup-shaped flange 6 extends telescopically into the cup-shaped flange 3 and is centrally supported therein either by means of a cross-roller bearing 8, as shown in the bottom half of Figure 1, or by a combination of a double-acting thrust bearing and a radial bearing, as indicated in the top half of Figure 1 and in Figure 2. The double-acting thrust bearing is formed by the two end faces of lugs 22 of the clamping flange 20 and each bears on oppositely dispossed collar surfaces of the shaft flange 6. The radial bearing is formed by a sliding fit between the shaft flange 6 and the clamping flange 20. The entire axial extent of the shaft flanges 3 and 6 coincides approximately with the axial extent of the resilient element 5. The joint head of a universal joint 10 is screwmounted by means of bolts 9 to the base of the cup-shaped shaft flange 6. The universal joint 10 is rigidly connected to the extension 2 of the output shaft. The maximum one-side deflection angle of the universal joint 10 is indicated by the angle a. The drawing shows that the entire axial length of the shaft connection is substantially no greater than the axial length of the torsionally resilient shaft coupling by itself. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A torsionally elastic jointed shaft connection comprising a non-elastic universal joint and a torsionally elastic shaft coupling, the latter including two shaft flanges and a resilient element by which the two shaft flanges are connected together, each shaft flange comprising a radial portion and an axially-extending annular portion, the axially-extending annular portion of one of the shaft flanges being supported concentrically within the axially-extending annular portion of the other shaft flange and extend mg circumferentially around the universal joint from which it is spaced radially, and the axial extent of the two shaft flanges substantially coinciding with that of the resilient element which is shaped in the configuration of a car tyre and has each of its side walls clamped in a respective one of the shaft flanges.