COUPLER FOR A POWER TAKE-OUT AXLE OF A GEARBOX

Abstract

A coupler is provided for a power-take-out axle of a gearbox. The coupler includes a coupling flange, a pinion, and a threaded bolt. The coupling flange includes a screw hole and the first curvic coupling member that are arranged in a concentric manner. The pinion is connected to a front end of the coupling flange, and includes a countersink hole, teeth and a second curvic coupling member arranged in concentric manner. The threaded bolt is inserted in the screw hole from the front end of the pinion through the countersink hole. Hence, the pinion and the coupling flange are bonded.

Claims

1. A coupler for a take-out axle of a gearbox comprising: a coupling flange (10) comprising a front end, a screw hole (12) made at the front end thereof, and a first curvic coupling member (16) formed at the front end thereof, wherein the screw hole (12) and the first curvic coupling member (16) are arranged in a concentric manner; a pinion (20) connected to the front end of the coupling flange (10) and concentrically formed with a rear end, a second curvic coupling member (26) formed on the rear end thereof corresponding to the first curvic coupling member (16), and a countersink hole (22) made throughout the pinion (20); and a threaded bolt (30) inserted in the screw hole (12) from the front end of the pinion (20) through the countersink hole (22) to bond the pinion (20) and the coupling flange (10) and to engage the first curvic coupling member (16) with the second curvic coupling member (26).

2. The coupler according to claim 1, wherein the pinion (20) further comprises teeth (24) formed on a periphery thereof.

3. The coupler according to claim 2, further comprising a cover (40) fitted in the countersink hole (22), flush with the front end of the pinion (20).

4. The coupler according to claim 1, wherein the coupling flange (10) further comprises teeth (14) formed on a periphery thereof.

5. The coupler according to claim 4, further comprising a cover (40) fitted in the countersink hole (22), flush with the front end of the pinion (20).

6. The coupler according to claim 1, further comprising a cover (40) fitted in the countersink hole (22), flush with the front end of the pinion (20).

7. The coupler according to claim 1, wherein the first curvic coupling member (16) comprises first-type curvic teeth (162) formed at an end thereof and separated from each other, wherein the first-type curvic teeth (162) are selected from the group consisting of straight concave teeth, straight convex teeth, concave-concave teeth, concave-convex teeth, convex-convex teeth or convex-concave teeth.

8. The coupler according to claim 7, wherein the pinion (20) further comprises teeth (24) formed on a periphery thereof.

9. The coupler according to claim 8, further comprising a cover (40) fitted in the countersink hole (22), flush with the front end of the pinion (20).

10. The coupler according to claim 7, wherein the coupling flange (10) further comprises teeth (14) formed on a periphery thereof.

11. The coupler according to claim 10, further comprising a cover (40) fitted in the countersink hole (22), flush with the front end of the pinion (20).

12. The coupler according to claim 7, further comprising a cover (40) fitted in the countersink hole (22), flush with the front end of the pinion (20).

13. The coupler according to claim 7, wherein the second curvic coupling member (26) comprises second-type curvic teeth (262) formed at an end thereof and separated from each other, wherein the second-type curvic teeth (262) are selected from the group consisting of straight concave teeth, straight convex teeth, concave-concave teeth, concave-convex teeth, convex-convex teeth or convex-concave teeth.

14. The coupler according to claim 13, wherein the pinion (20) further comprises teeth (24) formed on a periphery thereof.

15. The coupler according to claim 14, further comprising a cover (40) fitted in the countersink hole (22), flush with the front end of the pinion (20).

16. The coupler according to claim 13, wherein the coupling flange (10) further comprises teeth (14) formed on a periphery thereof.

17. The coupler according to claim 16, further comprising a cover (40) fitted in the countersink hole (22), flush with the front end of the pinion (20).

18. The coupler according to claim 17, further comprising a cover (40) fitted in the countersink hole (22), flush with the front end of the pinion (20).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings wherein:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the coupler shown in FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the coupler shown in FIG. 1; and

[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a coupler according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a coupler includes a coupling flange 10, a pinion 20, a threaded bolt 30 and a cover 40 arranged in a coaxial manner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] The coupling flange 10 includes a screw hole 12, teeth 14, and a first curvic coupling member 16 in a concentric manner. The screw hole 12 is made in a front end of the coupling flange 10. The teeth 14 are formed on the periphery of the coupling flange 10. The first curvic coupling member 16 is formed at the front end of the coupling flange 10, and includes first-type curvic teeth 162 separated from one another by gaps (not numbered). The first-type curvic teeth 162 can be straight concave teeth, straight convex teeth, concave-concave teeth, concave-convex teeth, convex-convex teeth or convex-concave teeth.

[0021] The pinion 20 includes a countersink hole 22, teeth 24, and a second curvic coupling member 26. The countersink hole 22 is axially made throughout the pinion 20, and sequentially includes a large portion and a small portion. The teeth 24 are formed on the periphery of the pinion 20. The second curvic coupling member 26 are formed at a rear end of the pinion 20, corresponding to the first curvic coupling member 16, which is formed at the front end of the coupling flange 10. The second curvic coupling member 26 includes second-type curvic teeth 262 separated from one another by gaps. The second-type curvic teeth 262 can be straight concave teeth, straight convex teeth, concave-concave teeth, concave-convex teeth, convex-convex teeth or convex-concave teeth.

[0022] The threaded bolt 30 is inserted in the screw hole 12 of the coupling flange 10 from the front end of the pinion 20 via the countersink hole 22. Thus, the pinion 20 and the coupling flange 10 are bonded.

[0023] The cover 40 is fitted in the countersink hole 22 of the pinion 20 to close the countersink hole 22 to shield and protect the threaded bolt 30. The cover 40 is flush with the front end of the pinion 20. The profile of the cover 40 is made in compliance with that of the countersink hole 22.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, the first curvic coupling member 16, which is formed on the coupling flange 10, is engaged with the second curvic coupling member 26, which is formed on the pinion 20. Then, the threaded bolt 30 is inserted in the screw hole 12 of the coupling flange 10 from the front end of the pinion 20 through the countersink hole 22. Thus, the pinion 20 and the coupling flange 10 are bonded. Furthermore, the coupling flange 10 can be serially connected a PTO axle of a gearbox (not shown).

[0025] The engagement of the first curvic coupling member 16 with the second curvic coupling member 26, power can be transferred between the coupling flange 10 and the pinion 20 and they are synchronously movable. The shapes and numbers of the first-type curvic teeth 162 and the second-type curvic teeth 262, straight concave teeth, straight convex teeth, concave-concave teeth, concave-convex teeth, convex-convex teeth or convex-concave teeth, an error is small and precision is high. In operation, the coupler provides positional rigidity no matter it is subjected to a radial force, and axial force or a tangential force. The concentricity of the elements and the precision of the positioning of the elements are automatically increased after wearing due to the configuration of the curvic teeth. Moreover, the insertion of the threaded bolt 30 from the front end of the pinion 20 renders it easy to loosen the threaded bolt 30 to remove the pinion 20 and replace it with a new one.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, there is a coupler according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except for that the coupling flange 10 does not include any teeth on the periphery thereof. That is, the teeth 14 of the first embodiment are omitted from the second embodiment.

[0027] The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.