| 摘要 |
934,051. Universal joints. METALASTIK Ltd. Jan. 4, 1961 [April 11, 1960], No. 12923/60. Class 80 (2). [Also in Group XXXII] A universal ball joint arrangement, e.g. for coupling two aligned rotary shafts, comprises an annular metal disc 10 having four equiangularly spaced ball joints 11 each comprising a split inner ball-like member 12 formed by part-spherical protuberances on half-tubes 25, 26 to which are bonded uniformly-thick, correspondingly-shaped sleeves of rubber 14 which are also bonded to a cup-like portion 15, 16 in two discs 18, 19, the latter being connected, e.g. by spinning or swaging over their inner and outer peripheral edges, to form the annular disc 10 and compress the rubber sleeves 14. In order to relieve tensions built up in the rubber sleeves 14 during the combined moulding and curing process and to ensure that they are prestressed in compression, the opposing faces 27, 28 of each pair of half-tubes 25, 26, which abut in the finished coupling, are, in the unassembled condition, raised axially beyond the join faces 29, 30 of the discs 18, 19 which, when finally brought together, precompress the sleeves 14. Each pair of half-tubes 25, 26 have aligned bores to receive fixing bolts, not shown, which finally clamp the parts together. Alternatively, one of the parts may be provided with a screw-threaded stud for fixing a nut. A dowel sleeve may be fitted within co-operating recesses in each pair of faces 27, 28 or a plurality of dowel pins in a ring may be employed. In a further alternative arrangement the faces 27, 28 are provided with a co-operating spigot and recess. In addition the half-tubes are united by an adhesive or by projection welding. Adjustment of the compression induced in the' sleeves 14 may be obtained by passing any expandible drift through the half tubes 25, 26. In a modification, the discs 14, 15 are formed of a pair of die castings, or plastic mouldings which are joined by a centrally located nut or rivet. |
