A steering shaft for a steering system of a motor vehicle, having at least two steering shaft elements, which can be rotated about an axis of rotation, are coupled to one another in a torque-transmitting manner, and are telescopically slidable one inside the other, via which a steering wheel is mechanically connectable to a steering gear of the steering system, wherein at least one of the steering shaft elements has at least two shaft parts, which are formed separately from one another and are connected to one another in a rotationally-fixed manner and which are assembled and connected to one another with at least one separation point, wherein the steering shaft elements are slidable one inside the other beyond the separation point.

A universal joint shaft with universal joint shaft protection comprises at least one shaft element for transmitting torque, at least one protective tube element arranged around the shaft element, and an intermediate bearing, by means of which the shaft element is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation (L) in the protective tube element, wherein the intermediate bearing comprises an outer ring fixed to the protective tube element and an inner ring fixed to the shaft element, which are rotatable relative to each other, and a clamping mechanism by means of which the inner ring is fixed on the shaft element.

A universal joint shaft with universal joint shaft protection comprises at least one shaft element for transmitting torque, at least one protective tube element arranged around the shaft element, and an intermediate bearing, by means of which the shaft element is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation (L) in the protective tube element, wherein the intermediate bearing comprises an outer ring fixed to the protective tube element and an inner ring fixed to the shaft element, which are rotatable relative to each other, and a clamping mechanism by means of which the inner ring is fixed on the shaft element.

Circumferential rigidity of both axial end portions of each coupling-side convex portion is lower than circumferential rigidity of an axially intermediate portion of each coupling-side convex portion. The drive-side concave-convex portion is engaged with a half portion on the other axial side of the coupling-side concave-convex portion. The driven-side concave-convex portion is engaged with a half portion on one axial side of the coupling-side concave-convex portion.

Circumferential rigidity of both axial end portions of each coupling-side convex portion is lower than circumferential rigidity of an axially intermediate portion of each coupling-side convex portion. The drive-side concave-convex portion is engaged with a half portion on the other axial side of the coupling-side concave-convex portion. The driven-side concave-convex portion is engaged with a half portion on one axial side of the coupling-side concave-convex portion.

An elastic joint body for a shaft arrangement for the articulated connection of two shaft sections. The elastic joint body includes bushings and a thread packet situated in a pulling segment and a thread packet situated in a pushing segment, each thread packet having a predetermined axial extension. Further, the elastic joint body includes a support device for guiding the thread packets, which has a plurality of collar elements. The collar elements including a collar element having at least two sections extending in the radial direction. In addition, the elastic joint body includes elastic casing in which the thread packets and the support device are at least partially embedded. The ratio u.sub.1 of the sum of the axial extension of the thread packets to the connection diameter is 0.05u.sub.10.35.

An elastic joint body for a shaft arrangement for the articulated connection of two shaft sections. The elastic joint body includes bushings and a thread packet situated in a pulling segment and a thread packet situated in a pushing segment, each thread packet having a predetermined axial extension. Further, the elastic joint body includes a support device for guiding the thread packets, which has a plurality of collar elements. The collar elements including a collar element having at least two sections extending in the radial direction. In addition, the elastic joint body includes elastic casing in which the thread packets and the support device are at least partially embedded. The ratio u.sub.1 of the sum of the axial extension of the thread packets to the connection diameter is 0.05u.sub.10.35.

Methods and devices for accessing a drive train for a wind turbine utilize an elastic coupling. The drive train comprises a rotor shaft configured to be driven by a rotor about a main axis and a support structure including a bearing housing surrounding at least one bearing and supporting the rotor shaft for rotation about the main axis to constrain other movements of the rotor shaft. A gearbox input shaft and housing supports the gearbox input shaft for rotation while constraining other movements of the gearbox input shaft. The gearbox input shaft is coupled to the rotor shaft by an elastic coupling comprising a first coupling part rigidly connected with the rotor shaft, a second coupling part rigidly connected with the gearbox input shaft, and elastic elements positioned between the first and second coupling part to provide a single joint between the rotor shaft and the gearbox input shaft.

A progressive shear assembly includes a hub configured for coupling to the output, the hub including a hub drive sleeve and at least one torque transfer lug on the hub drive sleeve. A drive adaptor may be configured for coupling to the drive. The drive adaptor may include an adaptor shaft disposed in the hub drive sleeve of the hub. The adaptor shaft may have an aft shaft end and a fore shaft end and tapering from the aft shaft end to the fore shaft end. At least one adaptor lug may be provided on the adaptor shaft. The at least one adaptor lug may have a substantially non-uniform width from the aft shaft end to the fore shaft end of the adaptor shaft. A tensile spring may be formed by selected ones of a plurality of substantially incompressible shear members and a plurality of substantially compressible compression members disposed adjacent to the adaptor shaft between the at least one adaptor lug and the at least one torque transfer lug. The at least one adaptor lug on the adaptor shaft of the drive adaptor may pre-load the selected ones of a plurality of substantially incompressible shear members and a plurality of substantially compressible compression members in conical compression. Shear assembly sleeves deployable between a propeller adaptor shaft of a drive adaptor and a propeller hub drive sleeve of a propeller hub are also disclosed.

A flex coupling assembly for coupling a first shaft to a second shaft of a shaft assembly. The flex coupling assembly decouples axial and torsional stiffness from bending stiffness of the shaft assembly, thereby dampening the transmission of noise and vibration between the first and second shafts. The flex coupling assembly includes an inner housing subassembly and an outer housing subassembly. The inner housing subassembly includes an inner housing and a resilient flex coupling disposed in an outer housing cavity of an outer housing of the outer housing subassembly. A retention member is fixed to an outer housing to retain the inner housing subassembly in the outer housing cavity. The inner and outer housing subassemblies can rotate and translate relative to a common axis, while the inner and the outer housings restrict bending between the inner and outer housing subassemblies, thereby restricting bending between the first and second shafts.