摘要 |
A coupling for uniformly transmitting torque from a first shaft to a second shaft while accommodating angular and/or axial misalignment between the axes of said first and second shafts. The coupling comprises a first annular member adapted to be fixed to the first shaft, a second annular member adapted to be fixed to the second shaft, a third intermediate member including an annular portion disposed between the first and second annular members and first and second pairs of elongated generally parallel arm portions operatively associated with the first and second annular members respectively. Each of the arm portions includes a fixed end fixedly interconnected with the annular portion within the axial extent thereof and a free end connected with the associated annular member by a connecting element projecting axially from the associated annular member, each arm portion having a transverse extent measured in the radial direction which is substantially less than its longitudinal extent and substantially greater than its transverse extent measured in the axial direction so as to provide longitudinal rigidity for uniform torque transmission, a rigidity in the radial transverse direction to resist parallel misalignment, and a flexure capability in the axial transverse direction to accommodate angular and axial misalignment.
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