Torsionally Elastic Shaft Joint and Method of Making the Same

Abstract

A torsion-elastic cardan joint for connecting a shaft with a second component that is not continuously coaxial during torque transmission, which comprises a torsion-elastic power transmission system, a flange connected to this in a torque-proof manner, and a second flange connected to this in a torque-proof manner on the opposite end face of the torsion-elastic power transmission system. The shaft-side flange is coaxially connected to the shaft and the second flange is coaxially connected to the second component in a torque-proof manner. The shaft-side flange consists of a dimensionally stable disk-shaped flange part (1, 10, 12). The shaft is directly connected to this disk-shaped flange part (1, 10, 12) in a torque-proof manner, for example, via friction welding. As a result, there is no need to adapt the shaft-side flange to the dimensions of the shaft.

Claims

1. A torsion-elastic cardan coupling for connecting a shaft with a second component that is not continuously coaxial during torque transmission, which comprises a torsion-elastic power transmission system, a shaft-side flange connected to this in a torque-proof manner, and a second flange connected to this in a torque-proof manner on the opposite end face of the torsion-elastic power transmission system, wherein the shaft-side flange is connected to the shaft, and the second flange is coaxially connected to the second component in a torque-proof manner. characterized in that, the shaft-side flange consists of a disk-shaped flange part (1, 10, 12) and the shaft is directly connected to this disk-shaped flange part (1, 10, 12) in a torque-proof manner.

2. The torsion-elastic cardan coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that the disk-shaped flange part (1, 10, 12) is a sheet metal semi-finished product.

3. The torsion-elastic cardan coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that the disk-shaped flange part (1, 10, 12) is a star flange (10), a triangle flange or arm flange.

4. The torsion-elastic cardan coupling according to claim 2, characterized in that the sheet metal semi-finished product comprises reinforcing beads (13).

5. The torsion-elastic cardan coupling according to claim 2, characterized in that the sheet metal semi-finished product has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile.

6. The torsion-elastic cardan coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the disk-shaped flange part (1, 10, 12), a coaxial groove is introduced on the shaft side, in which a pipe piece (2) of a shaft is inserted.

7. The torsion-elastic cardan coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that the disk-shaped flange part (1) has a flat coaxial bulge (7), on which the shaft is fixed to rotation or in which the shaft is inserted in a torque-proof manner.

8. The torsion-elastic cardan coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that the disk-shaped flange part (1, 10, 12) comprises a central drill hole.

9. The torsion-elastic cardan coupling according to claim 8, characterized in that the central drill hole has a coaxial sleeve-like deep draw (9) in the direction of the torsion-elastic power transmission system.

10. A method for producing a torsion-elastic cardan coupling for connecting a shaft with a second component that is not continuously coaxial during torque transmission, which has a torsion-elastic power transmission system, a shaft-side flange connected to this in a torque-proof manner and a second flange connected to this in a torque-proof manner on the opposite end face of the torsion-elastic power transmission system, wherein the shaft-side flange is connected to the shaft, and the second flange is coaxially connected to the second component in a torque-proof manner. characterized in that the shaft-side flange is manufactured as a disk-shaped flange part (1, 10, 12) and the shaft is connected directly to this disk-shaped flange part (1, 10, 12) in a torque-proof manner.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the shaft is connected to the disk-shaped flange part (1, 10, 12) by means of friction welding.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, when removing the outer welding bead after friction welding, an undercut in the form of a groove is introduced into the disk-shaped flange part (1, 10, 12).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the object according to the invention are shown in the drawings and will be explained in detail in the following. The figures show:

[0018] FIG. 1 a spatial representation of a cardan joint according to the invention with a flange part designed as a solid disk,

[0019] FIG. 2 a cross-section of the flange part with a pipe from FIG. 1,

[0020] FIG. 3 a spatial representation of a cardan joint according to the invention having a star-shaped flange part with a U-profile,

[0021] FIG. 4 a cross-section of the cardan joint from FIG. 3,

[0022] FIG. 5 a spatial representation of a cardan joint according to the invention with a flange part designed as a solid disk with reinforcing beads,

[0023] FIG. 6 a lateral view of the cardan joint from FIG. 5,

[0024] FIG. 7 a flat triangular flange with welded pipe piece and

[0025] FIG. 8: a cross-section of the triangular flange from FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the cardan joint according to the invention has a disk-shaped flange part formed as a solid disk 1, on which, in the present example, a pipe piece 2 of a shaft is welded on and which is connected to a flexible joint disk 3 in a torque-proof manner. The flexible joint disk 3 is connected by screws 4 with a counter-flange 5 in a torque-proof manner. The solid disk 1 is provided to ensure accessibility to the screws 4 and to create a free space for its improved mobility in the area of screws 4 with recesses 6. FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the solid disk 1 with the welded pipe piece 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the solid disk 1 is provided for increasing its stiffness in the direction of the pipe piece 2 with a coaxial bulge 7, the cone-stump-shaped region of which has an angle, beta, to the plane of the solid disk 1 of 0<β<90°, in the present example 35°. The bulge 7 is flattened on its free end face as a seam preparation and connected to the pipe piece 2 by friction welding. The friction-weld seam is provided with the reference number 8. Furthermore, the solid disk 1 comprises a sleeve-shaped region 9, which is coaxial to its central drill hole, to accommodate a centering sleeve (not shown here).

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a cardan joint according to the invention, the disk-shaped flange part of which is designed as a star flange 10. To increase its stiffness, it has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile. Parts which resemble those parts of the cardan joint from FIG. 1 were provided with identical reference numbers. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the star flange 10 was also provided in this embodiment for receiving a centering sleeve 11 in the area of its central drill hole with a coaxial sleeve-shaped region 9.

[0028] The disk-shaped flange part of the cardan joint shown in FIG. 5 is also formed as a solid disk 12, but comprises beads 13 to increase its stiffness, which run in a cross-shaped manner around the connection point for the pipe piece 2. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the beads 13 have a tapered angle, alpha, to the plane of the solid disk 12 of 0<α<90°, in the present example, 30°.

[0029] At this point, it should be mentioned again that all flange parts with their different reinforcement structures and additional favorable features with regard to weld seam preparation and/or guidance via cost-effective forming methods, deep drawing, punching, among other things, can be produced.

[0030] FIG. 7 shows a spatial representation of disk-shaped triangular flange 14 without any reinforcement structures with welded pipe piece 2 and FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal cross-section the connection of the two parts. The friction-weld seam is indicated using reference number 8.

[0031] All features shown here may be crucial to the invention, both individually and in any combination with one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0032] 1 Solid disk

[0033] 2 Pipe piece

[0034] 3 Flexible joint disk

[0035] 4 Screws

[0036] 5 Counter-flange

[0037] 6 Recess

[0038] 7 Bulge

[0039] 8 Friction-weld seam

[0040] 9 Sleeve-shaped region

[0041] 10 Star flange

[0042] 11 Centering sleeve

[0043] 12 Solid disk

[0044] 13 Bead

[0045] 14 Triangular flange