Cover assembly for the circular bearing port of a universal joint

Abstract

A cover assembly for a circular bearing port in the yoke of a universal joint comprises a plurality of separate cover segments configured and dimensioned for insertion into the port in positions coacting with each other to close the port. Each of the cover segments has an outer edge seated in a locking groove circumscribing an interior surface of the port. The cover segments are interconnected to form an integral circular cover, and the cover is rotationally fixed with respect to the yoke.

Claims

1. A universal joint comprising: at least one yoke comprising a circular bearing port in the yoke; a cover assembly comprising: a plurality of separate cover segments configured and dimensioned for insertion into said port in positions co-acting with each other to close said port, each of said cover segments having an outer edge seated in a locking groove circumscribing an interior surface of said port; means for interconnecting said cover segments to thereby form an integral circular cover and; means for rotationally fixing said cover with respect to said yoke.

2. The universal joint of claim 1 wherein the outer diameter of said integral circular cover is smaller than the inner diameter of said locking groove.

3. The universal joint of claim 2 wherein said locking groove has a rounded bottom, and wherein the outer edges of said cover segments have rounded shoulders seated in said locking groove.

4. The universal joint of claim 3 further comprising a second groove in the rounded bottom of said locking groove, and an O-ring seated in said second groove, said O-ring being resiliently compressible and being configured and dimensioned to radially confine said integral circular cover.

5. The universal joint of claim 1 wherein said mean for interconnecting said cover segments comprises a key secured by fasteners to each cover segment.

6. The universal joint of claim 5 wherein said means for rotationally fixing said cover comprises a tab on said key, said tab being configured and arranged for seating in an anti-rotation notch in the interior surface of said bearing port.

7. The universal joint of claim 5 wherein said key comprises an integral part of one of said cover segments.

8. The universal joint of claim 1 wherein said integral circular cover comprises: first and second cover segments closing opposite sides of said bearing port, said first and second cover segments being configured and dimensioned to define a gap therebetween; a third cover segment closing a portion of said gap; and a fourth cover segment closing the remainder of said gap.

9. A method of closing a circular bearing port in a yoke of a universal coupling, said method comprising: providing a locking groove circumscribing an interior surface of said port; inserting a plurality of cover segments into said port in positions co-acting with each other to close said port, each of said cover segments having an outer edge seated in said locking groove; interconnecting said cover segments to thereby form an integral circular cover; and rotationally fixing said cover with respect to said yoke.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said integral circular cover is formed by fastening a key to all of said cover segments.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said integral circular cover is rotationally fixed to said yoke by seating a tab on said key in an anti-rotation notch in the interior surface of said port.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing said integral circular cover with and outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said locking groove.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing said locking groove with a rounded bottom and providing the outer edges of said cover segments with rounded shoulders seated in the rounded bottom of said locking groove.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing the rounded bottom of said locking grooves with a second groove containing a resiliently compressible O-ring radially confining said integral circular cover.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said cover segments are inserted into said port in the following sequence: a first cover segment closing one side of said port; a second cover segment closing an opposite side of said port, said first and second cover segments being configured and dimensioned to define a gap therebetween; a third cover segment closing a portion of said gap; and a fourth cover segment closing the remainder of said gap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a universal joint having its bearing ports closed by conventional covers;

(2) FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the universal joint shown in FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the circled portion shown in FIG. 3;

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a universal joint having its bearing ports closed by a cover assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 6 is a side view of one of the yoke halves of the universal joint shown in FIG. 5;

(7) FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6, and showing the interior surface of the bearing port circumscribed by a locking groove in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(8) FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged partial cross sectional views of circled portions shown in FIG. 7;

(9) FIG. 10 is an exploded view of components making up a cover in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(10) FIGS. 11A-11E are schematic illustrations depicting sequential steps in the installation of a cover assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(11) FIGS. 12A-12B are enlarged cross sectional views showing the seating of the outer edges of the cover segments in the locking groove and against the O-ring, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

(12) FIGS. 13A and 13B are front and back perspective views of a modified cover segment configured to interconnect with the other cover segments and to rotationally fix the cover assembly, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) To facilitate an understanding of embodiments, principles, and features of the present invention, they are explained hereinafter with reference to implementation in illustrative embodiments. In particular, they are described in the context of being a cover for the circular bearing port of a heavy duty universal joint.

(14) Embodiments of the present invention, however, are not limited to use in the described industrial application.

(15) The components and materials described hereinafter as making up the various embodiments are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable components and materials that would perform the same or a similar function as the materials described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of embodiments of the present invention.

(16) FIG. 5 illustrates a universal joint 10, again including four yoke half assemblies 12a-12d, with the bearing ports of the yoke assemblies closed by cover assemblies 26 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(17) With reference to FIG. 10, the cover assemblies 26 preferably comprise an O-ring 28, first and second cover segments 30a, 30b, a third cover segment 30c, a fourth cover segment 30d, a key 32, and multiple fasteners indicated typically at 34. The outer edges of the cover segments 30a-30d are formed with rounded shoulders 31.

(18) As shown in FIGS. 6-9, each yoke half assembly has an open ended circular bearing port 36 with its interior surface circumscribed by a locking groove 38. The locking groove has a rounded bottom 38a interrupted by a second groove 40. At one location, as depicted in FIG. 9, groove 38 is intersected by an anti-rotation notch 42.

(19) Installation of the cover assembly 26 is achieved by the following sequential steps: The O-ring 28 is seated in the second groove 40. As shown in FIG. 11A, the first cover segment 30a is positioned on one side of the bearing port. As shown in FIG. 11B, the second cover segment 30b is positioned on the opposite side of the bearing port. The first and second cover segments being configured and dimensioned to define a gap 44 therebetween. As shown in FIG. 11C, the third cover segment 30c is positioned to close a portion of the gap 44. As shown in FIG. 11D, the fourth cover segment 30d is positioned to close the remainder of gap 44. As shown in FIG. 11E, the key 32 is then secured to all of the cover segments, thereby interconnecting them into an integral cover. The key 32 includes a tab 33 configured and arranged for seating in the anti-rotation notch 42, thus rotationally fixing the cover assembly with respect to the yoke half.

(20) As can be best seen in FIGS. 12a and 12b, the rounded shoulders 31 on the outer edges of the cover segments 30a-30d are received in the locking groove 38. The outer diameter of the integral cover is preferably slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the locking groove 38.

(21) The O-ring 28 projects radially inwardly from the rounded bottom 38a of the locking groove 38. The outer circular edge of the integral cover is in contact with and thus radially supported by and confined within the O-ring. The resilient compressibility of the O-ring allows the integral cover to float radially with respect to the yoke half, thereby isolating the fasteners 34 securing the key 32 to each cover segment from damaging stresses resulting from distortion of the bearing port under load.

(22) Referring now to FIGS. 13A and 13B, it will be seen that a fourth cover segment 30d may be provided with an array of openings accommodating fasteners to secure it to the other cover segments, and with a tab 33 configured and arranged for receipt in the anti-rotation notch 42. With this arrangement, the fourth cover segment also serves as a key.

(23) In light of the foregoing, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiment herein disclosed without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the integral cover could be made up of a different number of differently configured cover segments, and the integral cover could be provided with an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the locking groove.