A tool for installing segments of a coupling having male and female couplers drivingly engaged to one another by the segments, the tool has: a coupler-engaging section engageable to the a female coupler of the couplers for radially supporting the tool relative to the female coupler about a rotation axis of the coupling; and a peripheral wall secured to the coupler-engaging section and extending circumferentially around the rotation axis, a diameter (D2) of the peripheral wall selected to allow insertion of the segments between the female coupler and the peripheral wall, the peripheral wall defining an abutting surface against which radially inner ends of the segments abut during insertion of the segments between the female coupler and the peripheral wall.

A coupling has: a first coupler rotatable about an axis and defining first connections distributed about the axis; a second coupler defining second connections distributed about the axis, the second connections offset from the first connections; and segments distributed about the axis and extending radially from the first connections to the second connections, a segment of the segments having a first end engaging a first connection of the first connections and a second end engaging a second connection of the second connections, the first end circumferentially offset from the second end, a face of the segment abutting against a face of the first coupler when the segment is inserted into the first connection in a first orientation such that a penetration depth of the segment into the first connection in the first orientation is less than the penetration depth in a second orientation opposite the first orientation.

A coupling has: a first coupler rotatable about an axis and defining first connections distributed about the axis; a second coupler defining second connections distributed about the axis, the second connections offset from the first connections; and segments distributed about the axis and extending radially from the first connections to the second connections, a segment of the segments having a first end engaging a first connection of the first connections and a second end engaging a second connection of the second connections, the first end circumferentially offset from the second end, a face of the segment abutting against a face of the first coupler when the segment is inserted into the first connection in a first orientation such that a penetration depth of the segment into the first connection in the first orientation is less than the penetration depth in a second orientation opposite the first orientation.

Described is a rotary coupling that includes a pair of coupling bodies having parallel (preferably coincident) rotation axes, two cylindrical elements and a preload mechanism. A gap is provided between surfaces on the first and second coupling bodies. The first cylindrical element is disposed on the first coupling body and has a first cylinder axis, and the second cylindrical element is disposed on the second coupling body adjacent to the first cylindrical element and has a second cylinder axis that is perpendicular to the first cylinder axis. The preload mechanism imparts a force to each of the first and second coupling bodies and thereby preloads the first and second cylindrical elements against each other at a point of contact. One example of the preload mechanism includes a pair of magnets disposed opposite each other across the gap and another example of the preload mechanism includes an air bearing.

Described is a rotary coupling that includes a pair of coupling bodies having parallel (preferably coincident) rotation axes, two cylindrical elements and a preload mechanism. A gap is provided between surfaces on the first and second coupling bodies. The first cylindrical element is disposed on the first coupling body and has a first cylinder axis, and the second cylindrical element is disposed on the second coupling body adjacent to the first cylindrical element and has a second cylinder axis that is perpendicular to the first cylinder axis. The preload mechanism imparts a force to each of the first and second coupling bodies and thereby preloads the first and second cylindrical elements against each other at a point of contact. One example of the preload mechanism includes a pair of magnets disposed opposite each other across the gap and another example of the preload mechanism includes an air bearing.

A torque transmission device includes an input disc, an output disc, an intermediate disc positioned between the input disc and the output disc, a first pair of links coupled by a first side to the input disc and by a second side, opposite to the first side, to the intermediate disc, the links of the first pair being positioned diametrically opposite each other relative to the intermediate central axis, a second pair of links coupled by a first side to the intermediate disc and by a second side, opposite to the first side, to the output disc, the links of the second pair being positioned diametrically opposite each other relative to the intermediate central axis of the intermediate disc, the two pairs of links being aligned in two respective directions perpendicular to each other.

An industrial work vehicle including a frame and a first shaft rotatably connected to the frame via first and second bearings. The work vehicle further includes a second shaft rotatably positioned in line with the first shaft and connected to the first shaft via a coupling. The second shaft is further connected to the frame via a third bearing. The coupling includes a first connection and a second connection. The first connection connects the first shaft to the second shaft via a fourth bearing adapted to support a radial load and to accommodate an axial rotation and an angular misalignment of one shaft with respect to the other shaft. The second connection connects the first shaft to the second shaft via flange elements which are interconnected via an intermediary element adapted to transmit a torque and to accommodate a misalignment of one shaft with respect to the other shaft.

Multi-axis pivot joints and surgical instrument drive shafts formed using additive manufacturing methods.

A coupling has: a first coupler rotatable about an axis and defining first connections distributed about the axis; a second coupler defining second connections distributed about the axis, the second connections offset from the first connections; and segments distributed about the axis and extending radially from the first connections to the second connections, a segment of the segments having a first end engaging a first connection of the first connections and a second end engaging a second connection of the second connections, the first end circumferentially offset from the second end, a face of the segment abutting against a face of the first coupler when the segment is inserted into the first connection in a first orientation such that a penetration depth of the segment into the first connection in the first orientation is less than the penetration depth in a second orientation opposite the first orientation.

A coupling has: a first coupler rotatable about an axis and defining first connections distributed about the axis; a second coupler defining second connections distributed about the axis, the second connections offset from the first connections; and segments distributed about the axis and extending radially from the first connections to the second connections, a segment of the segments having a first end engaging a first connection of the first connections and a second end engaging a second connection of the second connections, the first end circumferentially offset from the second end, a face of the segment abutting against a face of the first coupler when the segment is inserted into the first connection in a first orientation such that a penetration depth of the segment into the first connection in the first orientation is less than the penetration depth in a second orientation opposite the first orientation.