A MECHANICAL COUPLING

摘要

A mechanical coupling (15) for transferring torque from a first component (11) that rotates about an axis to a second component (13) that also rotates about the axis, the coupling allowing different rates of expansion of the first and second components in the radial direction by permitting sliding in the radial direction of the first and second components relative to one another, the coupling comprising: a first circular array of teeth formed on the first component and centred on the axis; and a second circular array of teeth formed on the second component and also centred on the axis, the first circular array of teeth (17) being intermeshed with the second circular array of teeth (19), wherein rotation of the first component causes first mating sides (21) on the first circular array of teeth to bear against second mating (23) sides on the second circular array of teeth thereby to transfer torque to the second component, wherein the first and second mating sides extend both axially and radially, and the first and/or second mating sides are to some degree curved in both the axial and radial directions so that the pressure between the sides when mated is more uniformly distributed over the sides (21, 23).