US1321511A - Resilient driving connection. - Google Patents

Description

G. M. EATON.

RESILIENT omvmc cowwscnow.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 14. 1916.

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m r m m w i um I 9. 12 2U R u m. i Nn my W0 NH T E II dw Q @4 E m m B P e 0 P O 8 Q WITNESSES AT'TORNEY G. M. EATON. RESILIENT DRIVING CONNEQTiON.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 14. 19h

0m 1 9 1 1L v 1 V 0 N d .w m t a D1 fill ill! I I///// m m M 9 U1 r o e G WITNESSES ATTORNEY e. EATON. RESILIENT DRI.'ING CONNECTION. APPLICATION FIL'ED OCT. I4. I9I6.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

INVENTOR Georcga M. Eoefon.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY i a. citizen of the United States, and

.motors to the driving wheels of electric rail- STATES lATENT ()mnron.

GEORGE M. Ema, or PIT'fSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELEcmI AnD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A conrona'rmn or PENNSYLVANIA.

' BESILIENT DRIVING CONNECTION.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Not 11, 1919.

Application filed October 14, 1916. Serial No. 125,636.

To all idiom, it may canoe-m .Be it known that. I, 'Gnonen IvLEA'rOn;

a resident'of. Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofinvented anew and useful Improvement in Resilient Driving Connections, of which the following is a specification. My'invention relates to resilient driving com ectlonsand particularly to a flexible gear wheel for connecting the propelling way vehicles. 1

" One-object d myinvention is. to provide a' flexible gear wheel of the zibove-indi 'ate'd class in wl"c.h\ ,the resilient connectingmeans, Iwhich operatively associates the hub with. the run. member, lsposit vely Insured aga nst llIlllllJGnlllOlltLl d splacement;

Another-object of mysnvention & to pro} vi'dfii resilient driving connection which shall utilize the centrifugal force of the rotating parts and the spring pressure exerted against the sides of the spring-retaining pockets fol-holding the springs-in place,

A further object of my invention is to provide a resilient driving connectionwith a grcatercapacity for spring material, therefore, a greater operating rangc, tl\an those heretofoleproposed. v

A further objectof my invention is to provide a tool, by which thesprings may be readily removed by the application of a force ina lateral direction relative-to the driving connection. a

Heretofore, it has been found necessary to provide tongues onth e-spring seats, and cooperating grooves in the ends of the spring-retaining pockets of driving connections for preventing lateral displacement of the springs, or to equip the gear. with side plates, to. retain the springs in place. Such structures require expensive machining and cmbody a number of unnecessary parts.

. My invention provides aspring scat which cooperates with a groove or flange in the rim to hold the spring in place, and the driving connection is so constructed that disfplaccmcnt of the spring is impossible without considerable bending of the spring.

Shccts 1 and ,ifof "the accompanying drawing illustrate a resilient gcar whccl embodying my invention. Figure l is a side clcvatioual vicw of the rim mcmbcr: Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the linc Pennsylvania, have and,

1; Fig. 3 is a side elcvatioiial view of the hub member; Fig. l is a'sectional view on the line of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a side eleva'tional View of the spring seat; Fig. (i is an end elevational view of thespring scat; Fig. 7 is a side elevational view, with parts sectioned and broken away; of the assembled gear wheel; and Fig. 5 is a sectional 'view on the line 1ll\'lll of Fig. 7.

Sheets 3 and 1% show a tool for rcadilv-disassembling the gear wheel. Fig. 1) is bot: tom plan view of the tool; Fig. 10 is an end elcvationalyiew of the tool; Fig. 11 is a sectional side viewof the gear wheel showing the tool in its first operative position; Fig. 12 is aside view, partially in section and partially in elevation, oftlic tool applicd as inl ig. 11; Fig. 13 is a sectional view otthe gear and tool just prior to, thc rcmovatof the spring; and 'l igl-tis a side view, partially in section and partially in clcration, of the tool in the position shown in Fig, 13.

The gear wheel shown in thc drawing comprises a rim mcmber 1, a lmb member 2 and a plurality of tangcntiallv-disposcd s] )rings 3 and spring seals 4- for rcsilicntlv connecting the hub rwmbcr to the rim mcuiber. The rim member 1 is provided with a plurality of inwardly projecting radial lugs- 5 and circumtercntial groovcs 7 which are cut into. the inner surface of thc rim membcr for a purpose,hereinafter scttortln The hub inembcr has outwardly extending radial. lugs 3 which correspond. inangular position, to the lugs 5, are laterally spaced to admitthe lugs 5 therelaatavccn and are and operativcly connect the rim mcmber -1 -to' the hub member The springs 3 are helical inform and areheld iii-tangential relation to the gear wheel by the spring seats 1!. Each of the spring seats 4 has a flat. bearing surface which engages the ends of a set of cooperatinglugs 5 and (i and one 2-2 of Fig.

or more lugs 8 that engage the grooves 7'of the rim member 1 to prevent lateral dis? placement of the swing members. Each pair of the spring seats -l: is also proridcd with cylindr1cal lugs 9 which respectively cntcnd into opposite ends of a spring 3 to position the same. 'lhclmb member 2 is further providedwith portions lOwhich are of sufiicient radius to engage the springs 3 ust prior to the disengagement 0t the'lugs 8 and the grooves 7. This insures that the r spring seats will notbe displaced during the operation of the gear wheel by reason of the .are compressed/and inserted into the spring pockets and, when released, the pressure of the springs 3 againstthe spring seats. 4 forces the spring seats 4 into engagement .with the rim and causes the lug's 8 to enter the grooves 7 and thereby lock the springs in place. The diverging sides of the pockets with which the sp'ring'seats engage and the centrifugal force of the rapidly rotating gear wheel cause the spring seats t to be held firmly in engagement with the rim. member.

The application of a driving force to the rim '1 causes the rim member to more relatively to the hub member until the springs 3 are sulliciently compressed to resist further relzitii'e 'movement of the parts of the gear wheel when the hub 2 will be rotated as in a, solid wheel.

The spring seats may be positioned at i greater radius from the gear center in a the use-ct a greater amount of spring n'iaterial and. consequently, provides a gear. 'wheel of greater operating capacity than gear wheel constructed in accordance with my invention than in gear wheels that have been proposed lieretoforeq Th s permits of types heretofore proposed. A tool '20 has been provided with v vl ichtlie spring 3 may be easily and quickly i eiiioi'edi, The tool 2Q comprises a bladeflllwh ich is curved to fit.-

the inside of the: rim 1 and is provided withwedge-shaped edge port ons 22 and lugs .23

' which extend oppositetv, and. outwardly gagement i th the from the respective bases of the wedge por-Q tions and a handle 24 by means of which force is applied-to the tool.

In order to remove the spring 5 from the pockets, the tip of the blade 21 is inserted between the rim member 1 andithc-spring 3 and forced iii a lateral direction; relatively to the gear wheel The wedgeshaped edges of the blade 2i foii'ceth' v ally inward a ndmo I lie' .l ugs 8 out of en- .t' lugs the 'disenga'gem p I 3 engages the-portion grooves 7, the sp pg 10 of the hub, a

' is shown in Figs. 13 and 14. It will, ther gear wheel.

combination with a hub member havinglaterally-spaced radial projections, and a rim hers; of connectin means engaging said in it and a plurality of.integral"radialflpro "riii'" seats 4 radi Just prior to 8 withjthe member surrounding said {hub memberand' 1e emisoi the-spring are forced radially inward, thereby bending the spring. After thej'spring 3 is suliiciently bentv to permit the j lugs 8. to be. wholly disengaged from the grooves'i, the lugs 23 of the tool-engage the spring'seat'sand force the same laterally from'the gear wheel. The step in the operation just prior to th lateral movement of the spring seats tore, be understood that the mere application of a lateral force upon the tool 21 will first move the springs radially inwardly and subsequently engage the spring seats and move the spring structure laterally from the Although I have set forth m invention?v as embodied in a simple and preferred form;

of resilient gear .Wheel, it should beundef-"f stood that the invention is capable of ap plication to a great many types of'driving'i-ss; connections and should be limited only .by" thespirit and scope of. the appended-claim I claim as my invention:

'1. In a resilient driving connection the member having radial projections disposed between said hub projections, said hubfand rim projections being arranged insets, with 9-, pockets therebetween, of resilient means for I conne'ctinglsaid .rim member to said hub. member comprising a helical spring" and" seats for said spring having plane bearing surfaces forengaging said springs and said radial pr f'ections. J

2. a resilient driving "connection, the eombination with'a hub member, a rim meniher surrounding said hub member and ham ing a circumferential groove therein, and cooperating radial projections on said -m e'm-- projections for resiliently-joining said in'emr' hers, said means embodying lugs adapted to engage said groove to prevent displacement of said connecting means.

3.51m a resilient drivingconnection, the

eoiiih nation with-a hubjmemb'er havin'gj'll,

plurality of radial projections, ;and an an: nular rim member surrounding sa d; :hub member and hav ng annular-grooves former 11-5 jections cooperating with, said hub -=p'r'oj I tionsto form pockets therebetai'een', jof springs adapted to be inserted in said pockets to resiliently connect said rim and hub "members; and seats forsaid springshaving' means engaging'g 'said {grooves 31in, the; rim I member for pieyenting""lateral-displacement of said sprihgs p 4. In iilf resilientfldriving connection, the-125. combination with fa huhmeii b er" havin a. pluiiality of radial/projections,- and a rim,

combination with a hub member pockets therebetween, of resilient means inserted in saidpockets for connecting said rim to said hub member comprising a s ring" and a'plurality of spring, seats, sai rim holding thesame in'place.

5. In a resilient driving connection,

7 having laterally-spaced radial pr ojec'tions, and a rim member hiving radiallprojections dis vposed between saidfhub pro ections and an annular groovea saidj projections forming sets, with openings through the driving connection v between sai ent-ly joining said hub and rim members and embodying two retaining members having ridged surfaces mating with the interior surface of saidqrim member and engaging said of said retaining" members. A

6. In a resilient driving connection, the

combination with a liubniember. having a plurality of radial projections; and an annular rim member surrounding said hubmeinber and' having two annular grooves 4 .and a'plurality, lof integral radial projections located between said grooves an ing with said hub projections to formpockcts therebetweemof springs tangentially di s-' posed in said pockets and seats for said said spring seats having portions springs, thereof forced into said grooves for preventing lateral displacement of the springs.

7. In a resilient driving connection, the combination with a hub member having a,

plurality' of radial projections, and an an-' nular rim meii 'ber surrounding said hub member and having a plurality of radial projectioiis coiiperating witlrsaid: liu-b 'projections to form pockets therebetween and annular grooves located adjacent to:the-projections, of springs tangentially disposed in said pockets, and seats for said springs, said spring seats having means concentric withsaid rim member and disposed in said grooves for preventing lateral displacement of said springs.

8; In a resilient-- driving connection the combination with a hub iiieiiibcr having a t,

o'f radial projections, and an an-- plurality nular riin 'iiieii'iber surrounding said hub iiieiiibciand having a plurality of radial .pi'ojcctioiis coiipei'ating with said hub projtt'lllfll'ls to form pockets tlicrebetween, of spring tangent ally disposed n said pockets, arid seats for said springs. said run member having means on the inner cylindrical surface thereof for cooperating with said spring- -seats to prevent lateral displacement of said' sp ri rigs.

9. In a resilient driving connection, the

-ombination with a hub member having a plurality of radial projections, and, an angroove toprevent lateral displacement nular rim member surrounding said hub member and having annular grooves formed in it and a plurality of radial project-ions cotiperating with said hub. projectionsto form pocket/s therebetween, of springs tangentially disposed in'said pockets, and seats for said sp t e" prising two parts having cotiperating radial pro ections, being "provided (1' sets, of connecting means inserted in said openings for-resili the projections on the one part groove, the projections on the other part fitt ng into said groove, a plurality of tangentially-disposed helical springs, and spring seats for said springs provided with means engaging one of said parts to prevent lateral displacement of saidsprings, the other ofsaid parts adapted to engage said springs to prevent said spring seats from disengagingsaid one part. 1

11. A resilient driving connection -comprising a hub member, a rim member surrounding said hub member and provided with a circumferential groove therein, and connecting means interposed between said .-hub and rim members for resiliently joining the same,- said connecting means embodymg a lugadapted tov engage said groove to prevent unintentional displacement of 'said connectin means. 12, The combination with a resilient driving connection comprising a hub member having a plurality of radial projections, a

l'llll meii'iber having radial projections adapted to coiiperate with said huh-projections to form pockets therebetween, helical springs tangentially disposed in said pockets, .and seats for said springs adapted to engage said rim member to. prevent unintended displacement of said springs, said springs being removable by a device iiiscrted between said spring and said rim iiiembcrhaving means to force saidspring radially inward, and means to engage said spring seats to move the same laterally, said "springs and seats being held in radiallyiiine 'niost position during said lateral move 13. The

having a plurality of radial projections, a rim member having radial projections adapted to cooperate with said hub projections to form pockets therebetween', and resilientconnecting means for joining said huh and rim iii'en'ibcrs disposed in said pockets and held in place by engagement with said rim member, said resilientconnecting means being removable by. moving the same radiallv inward and then laterally.

14. The combination with-a resilient. driving coiimiction comprising a hub member with a circumferential combination with a resilient drivmg connection coiiipi'ising a hub member having a lurality of radial'projections, a rim mem er having radial projections adapted to cooperate with said hub projections to form pockets therebetween, and resilient connecting means for connecting ing means being removable from said pockets by 'loconnectin'g means. and said rim to disen gage the? same, and a lug-for moving said resilient connecting means laterally, '15. In a driving comiectiom' the combination with a rim memberand a hub memberhaving angularly-spaced interfitting radial-parts, of means in the, spaces between said mterfitting parts for operatively connecting said members, one of said members having one or more annular grooves adapted to receive portions of said connecting means to restrain lateral movement of the latter.

16. In a resilient driving connection, the

combination with a rim member and a hub member having angularly-spaced interfitting radial arts, of means in the spaces betyveen said interfitting parts for resiliently connecting said members, said connecting said hub to said rim member, said connectfrom said 7 engagement a tool having a tapered blade adapted to be inserted between said resilient means comprising springs and seats for the springs having lug's one of said members so being recessed to receive said lugs to restrain movement of saidconnecting Imeans latererall with relation to said rim and hub mem rs said lugs being withdrawable with the recessed'% member by forcing the springs radially in wardly.-

17. In a resilient driving connection, the combination with a rim member and a hub inember having angularly-spaced i'nterfit- 40 ting radially-projecting parts, of meansin the spaces between said interfitting parts for resiliently connecting said members, said connecting means comprising helical springs and seats of said members having annular grooves therein disposed parallel to, and on opposite' sides of, the radially-projecting parts thereof, said grooves being adapted to receive the lugs on lateral movement of the resilient connecting means.

In testimony whereof I ,have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of Sept.

GEORGE M, EATON.

for the springs having lugs, one

said spring-seats to restrain the V

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