GB2292204A - A connecting element for a universal joint or pivot assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A universal joint or pivot assembly has a connecting element with a portion 1 connectable to one member and a portion 3 connectable to another, the portion 2 between these being joined to portions 1 and 3 via respective hinge lines 11, 12 and 13, 14 to permit relative angular movement between the axes of the connected members. The connected members may rotate, the connecting element transmitting torque. The element may be an integral member with arcuate slots creating the hinges or the hinges can alternatively be formed by pin hinges. <IMAGE>

Description

CONNECTING ELEMENT The invention relates to a connecting element. A connecting element of the invention may be used to join two components together, for example to translate the rotary motion of one component about one axis into such motion of the other component about any other axis, or to hold the components in a predetermined angular relation.

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a generally circular connecting element comprising an outer portion; an inner portion; and an intermediate portion; the outer portion being joined to the intermediate portion along a hinge line lying in or generally parallel to the diameter; the inner portion being joined to the intermediate portion along a hinge line generally diametrically opposite the first, whereby the portions may be disposed at relative angular orientations.

The individual portions may be separated by slot portions, preferably arcuate enclosed slots, the shape of which will vary according to which adjacent sections are involved. The hinge line may take a variety of forms ranging from a line of flexible material; score marks; piano hinges; or the like.

Preferably the connecting element is formed in one piece of a plastics; metal; or a composite material. The element may be made by moulding, pressing or like technique depending on the material used. It is also within the scope of the invention to make the element of separate portions and then join them together.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of connecting element according to the invention and Figure 2 is a side elevation of the element of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of another connecting element of the invention and Figure 4 is a side elevation of the element of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a plan view of another connecting element of the invention.

The same reference numerals are used where convenient to describe the same part of the different embodiments.

The connector of Figures 1 and 2 is one piece fabrication, preferably a one piece moulding of plastics or composite material. The connector comprises three generally concentric portions 1, 2 and 3, joined together by short hinges. As will be explained, each portion is separated from its neighbour or neighbours by an arcuate enclosed slot. The outermost portion 1 is a complete circle having an inner semicircular extension 1A. At its ends 1B, 1C the extension 1A is hinged at 11,12 respectively to the ends 2A, 2B of the middle portion 2. The middle portion 2 is a generally C shape body 2C having an inner upper quartile which is of semi-circular shape, defines a shoulder 2D adjacent the midpoint of the portion 2 and has an arm 2E which lies adjacent the midpoint of the inner extension 1A.The shoulder 2D and the free end of the arm 2E lie on a diametrical line at right angles to the hinge line defined by hinges 11,12. The inner portion 3 is a small innermost circle 3A having an outer semi-circle portion 3B, the free ends 3C, 3D of which are hinged to shoulder 2D and free end 2E by hinge portions 13,14. As can be seen from Figure 1, a semicircular slot 15 is present between portion 2 and portion 1; another semicircular slot 16 is present between portion 2 and portion 3A; and another 17 extends through about 2700 between portion 1 and part of portions 2 and 3 and between portions 2 and 3. Three legs 18 are joined by hinges 19 at equal radial spacing to the outer perimeter of the circle portion 1. The legs may be bent so that their free ends lie on a common point.As a result of the hinge line defined by hinges 11,12, the middle portion 2 and the associated innermost portion 3 can be bent through about 1800 to lie in or at right angles to the plane of the outermost circle 1 or at any intermediate position. As a result of the hinge line defined by the hinges 13,14 the innermost portion 3 can be bent through about 1800 to lie in or at right angles to the plane of the middle portion 2 or at any intermediate position. A socket 20 is present at the centre of the connector; another 21 is present at the free ends of the legs 18 when they converge, see Figure 2. A shaft may be received in each socket so that the shafts are bridged by the connector. When one shaft is rotated that motion is transferred to the other shaft. Because of the hinge lines one shaft can be at any angular disposition with respect to the other shaft .The connecting element is thus a universal joint which is compact and yet transmit a high substantially constant torque.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 the connecting element may be formed of plastics or metal and the hinge lines are defined by conventional pin hinges 30, 31. The element can also be used to transfer rotary motion from one axle to another or for the angular positioning of the axles.

In the embodiment of Figure 5, the element has the hinge lines 13, 14 and the slot 16 as before. The slot 15 is missing and the slot 17 is replaced by a slot 34 having two outer slot portions 35 and 36. The outer edge of 35 is serrated at 37, the inner edge of 36 is serrated at 39 and an intermediate portion 38 is serrated on inner and outer edges along a mid line between the edges. The elements 1 and 2 are hinged together by hinge line 32, 33 which extends from the serration to the periphery of the elements. The socket housing 21 is at the edge of the connector and set in the plane of the sheet of the drawing. The element may be arranged so that each of the three portions is perpendicular to the other two and the axle housings are in line.

A connecting element of the invention can be used as a mechanical control linkage, a high or medium power drive, or a three dimensional device such as joysticks or task 'lamps; or the like.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. The outer shape need not be circular, the sockets need not be in the positions shown; opposite sides of portions need not be straight but can be corrugated or ribbed; the legs can vary in number and shape; the slot corrugations in Figure 5 can be replaced by any device which provides click-stop or friction positioning, for example, bushes or sprung bearing surfaces.

Claims (1)

1. Claims

   1. A connecting element comprising an outer portion; an inner portion; and an intermediate portion; the outer portion being joined to the intermediate portion along a hinge line lying in or generally parallel to the diameter of the element; the inner portion being joined to the intermediate portion along a hinge line generally diametrically opposite the first, whereby the portions may be disposed at reletive angular orientations.

   2. A connecting element as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the individual portions are defined by intervening enclosed slot portions.

   3. A connecting element according to Claim 2 wherein the slot portions are arcuate enclosed slots 4. A connecting element as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the walls bounding the slots are ribbed or corrugated.

   5. A connecting element as claimed in Claim 2, 3,4 or 5 wherein the individual portions are separated by slots which include means to provide click-stop or friction positioning.

   6. A connecting element according to any preceding Claim wherein the hinge lines take the form of lines of flexible material, score marks or piano hinges.

   7. A connecting element according to any preceding Claim, which is formed in one piece of plastics, metal or composite material.

   8. A connecting element as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein a connecting socket is mounted on one face of the inner portion to receive the end of a member to be connected.

   9. A connecting element as claimed in Claim 8 wherein a plurality of legs is present at equal radial spacing to the perimeter of the outer portion, the legs being joined to the outer portion are joined by hinge lines and wherein the legs converge to form a socket spaced from the element, the socket being adapted to receive the end of another member.

   10. A connecting element as claimed in any of Claims 1-9 wherein a connecting socket extends from the perimeter of the outer portion.

   15. A connecting element substantially described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.