Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RADIAL ENGAGEMENT DRIVE COUPLER
Technical Field
This invention relates Jo drive couplers of the type used to
transmit rotational forces from a drive shaft to a driven shaft,
and more particularly to a drive coupler that will engage in a
driving mode when the drive shaft and driven shaft axes approach
alignment from a direction radial to one another.
Background Art
Drive couplers typically are designed such that the axes of
lo the drive and driven shafts must approach from a direction axial
to one another in order to accomplish proper positioning of the
coupler elements in an engaged driving mode. These known drive
couplers require complex structures including jack shafts,
bearings, supports, chains and other elements, all of which
contribute to increased maintenance problems and costs
Those concerned with these and other problems recognize the
need for an improved drive coupler.
Disclosure of the Invention
The present invention provides a drive coupler that
transmits power from a drive shaft to a driven shaft by radial
engagement of a pair of opposing drive couplers. One of the
pair of couplers is attached to the end of a drive shaft carried
on a first beam and the other coupler is attached to the end of
a driven shaft carried on a second beam. When the shafts are
axially aligned in closely spaced end-to end relationship, the
coupler engage in a driving mode. The force transmitting
driving mode is effected by surface-to-surface contact of a flat
drive face formed on one of the couplers with a flat drive face
formed on the other of the couplers. Each flat coupler drive
face lies in a plane extending radially from the axis of the
attached shaft, such that surface-to-surface contact is made
over the entire area of the drive faces when the axes of the
drive and driven shafts are in alignment.
An object of the present invention is the provision of an
improved drive coupler.
Another object is to provide a drive coupler that engages as
the axes of the drive and driven shafts approach one another
from a radial direction, as well as from an axial direction.
; A further object of the invention is the provision of a
drive coupler having a simple, efficient design.
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1 Still another object is to provide a drive coupler that is
adapted far use in a variety of applications, including
implements having forward, rearward or vertical fold frames.
A still further object of the present invention is the
provision of a drive coupler having a relatively low production
and maintenance cost.
Brief Description of the Drawings
These and other attributes of the invention will become more
clear upon a thorough study of the following description of the
lo best mode for carrying out the invention, particularly when
reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing a forwardly folding
implement frame utilizing the radial engagement drive coupler of
the present invention, and also showing one wing section of the
frame in dashed lines to illustrate the engagement of the drive
couplers when the frame is moved from a folded transport
position to an unfolded operational position;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged cut-away perspective view of one end
of the center section of the folding frame showing a beam
alignment bar projecting from the beam, and also showing a drive
coupler attached to one end of a driven shaft carried by the
center beam;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged cut-away perspective view of one end
of a wing section of the folding frame showing an alignment ramp
and notch adapted to receive the alignment bar of the center
section, and also showing a drive coupler attached to one end of
; a drive shaft carried by the wing beam;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged cut-away perspective view showing the
center section and the wing section ends as the frame approaches
the unfolded operational position wherein the drive shaft and
driven shaft are approaching axial alignment and the drive
couplers are approaching an engaged driving mode;
Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged end elevation Al view of a
single drive coupler of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged plan view of the drive coupler,
Fig. 7 is a greatly enlarged plan view of the drive coupler
rotated 90 from the position shown in Fig. 6;
Fig 8 is a greatly enlarged end elevation Al view similar to
; Fig. 5, but further illustrating a second oppositely directed
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l drive coupler (in section) in a contacting engaged driving mode
with the first drive coupler; and
Fig. is a side elevation sectional view showing the wing
section beam and attached drive shaft and coupler (in section)
as the wing section approaches the center section of the frame
in a radial direction and the drive couplers initially contact
and approach the engaged driving mode illustrated in Fig. 8.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference
lo numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout
the several views, Fig. 1 shows a forwardly foldable implement
frame (10) including a pair of central fore-and-aft draft tubes
(12) having their front ends pivotal connected by pin (13) and
supported on a drubber (14) of a draft vehicle (not shown), and
having their rearward ends pivotal attached by pins (15) to
right and left wing sections ~16). The wing sections (16) are
conventionally mirror images of each other and both are
pivotal attached at (17) to a center section (18). As is
typical, each wing section (15) and center section (18) is
supported by ground wheels (19) and they may carry any form of
agricultural tool such as the planting units (20) illustrated in
Fig. 1.
The planting units (20) are attached to the wing hems (22)
and the central beams (23) by parallel link bars (2q). Each
planting unit (20) includes a seed meter (not shown) and a
granular chemical meter (not shown) which are operably driven by
rotating shafts, Each wing beam (22) carries a drive shaft (25)
operably connected to and driven by one of the ground wheels
(19) through a transmission or gear box (26). Each central beam
(23) carries a driven shaft (27) which is operably connected to
corresponding drive shafts (25) by the engagement of drive
couplers (50). The drive couplers (50) engage when the frame
(10) is moved to the unfolded operational position illustrated
in the dashed line portion of Foggily. The frame (lo) is moved
from the folded transport position to the unfolded operational
position by selective activation of the hydraulic cylinders
(28). Retraction of the hydraulic cylinders (28) forces the
right and left wing sections (16) to move in arcuate paths about
their respective pivot pins (17) until the wing beams (22) are
transversely aligned with the central beams (23).
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1 The drive couplers (50) are attached to the adjacent ends of
the drive shafts (25) and the driven shafts t27). To provide
for proper engagement of the drive couplers (50), it is
necessary to achieve and maintain good alignment between the
drive shaft (25) and the driven shaft (27). As shown most
clearly in Figs. 2-4, the central beam (23) includes an
alignment bar (29) extending outwardly therefrom to engage a
ramp (30) secured within the end of wing beam (22). As the wing
beam (22) approaches the central beam (23), the alignment bar
lo (29) contacts the ramp (30) and is guided into notch (32).
Thus, the wing beams (22) and the central beams (23) are
transversely aligned when the frame (10) is moved to the
unfolded operational position. Alignment of the beams (22) and
(23) results in the axial alignment of the drive shafts (25) and
driven shafts I such that their ends are in closely spaced
end-to-end relationship, and the attached drive couplers (50)
are disposed to contact each other in the driving mode.
Referring now to Figs. 5-7, the drive coupler is a simple,
integrally formed structure including a collar (52) having an
axial opening (53) adapted to receive a shaft and a pair of
oppositely directed radial openings (54) adapted to receive a
pin or bolt (49). An offset neck (55) extends radially and
axially outward from the collar (52) and interconnects the
collar I with a contact head (56). The contact head (56)
includes a peripheral rim (57) defined by the interconnection of
six flat surfaces including two outer guide flats (58), two
inner guide flats (59), and two flat drive faces (60)~ Six
axial guide flats (62) extend axially outward from the
peripheral rim (57) and converge to form an axial guide point
(63).
As shown most clearly in Figs. 5 and 8, each flat drive face
(60) lies in a plane extending radially from the center (64) of
the axial opening ~53). Therefore, when the couplers (50) are
attached to the ends of drive shafts (25) and driven shafts (27)
the drive faces (60) lie in a plane extending radially from the
axes of the shafts. Also, when the drive shaft (25) and driven
shaft (27) are axially aligned in the driving mode, as
illustrated in Fig 8, the entire area of the drive faces (60)
of two adjacent couplers (50) are in surface to-surface
contact.
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1 In operation, drive couplers (50) are attached to the ends
of a drive shaft (25) and a driven shaft (27) with the contact
heads (56) directed to oppose one another as shown in Fig. 4.
The couplers (50) are attached to their respective shafts by
engagement of the shafts within the axial openings (53) and
engagement of bolts (49) within the radial openings I It is
to be understood that alternate means of attachment can be
employed so long as the coupler (50) is restrained against axial
and rotational movement with respect to its attached shaft.
lo In order for the drive coupling mechanism to function, it is
first necessary to provide a means for axially aligning a drive
shaft (25) and a driven shaft (27) in a closely spaced end-to-
end relationship. The shaft alignment means illustrated in
Figs. 1-4 shows a structure wherein the shafts approach each
other from both an axial and a radial direction as the end ox
the drive shaft (25) moves in an arcuate path about pivot pin
(17) and approaches the driven shaft (27). The shaft alignment
means illustrated in Fig. 9 shows a condition where the shafts
approach each other only in a radial direction.
Referring now to jig. I, the drive couplers (50) are shown
in close proximity as the drive shaft (25) and driven shaft (27)
approach axial alignment. When the wing beam (22) and the
central beam (23) are locked in aligned position by engagement
of bar (29) within notch (32), the shafts (25) and (27) will be
locked in axial alignment and their ends will be locked in
spaced relationship. The spacing between the shaft ends is
fixed such that when the couplers (50) are attached, their
peripheral rims (57) will be disposed in the space midway
between the shaft ends.
As the shafts and their attached couplers (50) approach one
another, the relative positions of the contact heads (56) will
determine which, if any, of the guide flats and points ~58),
(593, (62) and (63) will contact. As the shafts approach axial
alignment, the peripheral guide flats (58) and (59), the axial
guide flats (62) and the guide point (63) function only to guide
the flat drive faces (60) of two approaching couplers (50) into
surface-to-surface contacting position. The contact heads (56)
of a pair of couplers (50) may be in any of a number of relative
orientations as their shafts approach axial alignment.
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1 If one of the couplers (50) is rotated to a position away
from the other, their contact heads (56) will not touch while
the shafts are being aligned. Only after the shafts are aligned
will the flat drive face (60) of the coupler (50) attached to
the drive shaft (25) rotate to contact the flat drive face (60)
of the other coupler (50).
If the couplers (50) are rotated to the same relative
position, the contact heads (56) will engage during the shaft
alignment process. For example, the guide point (63) of one of
lo the couplers (50) could contact one of the axial guide flats
(62) of the other coupler (50). As the shafts continue to
approach the aligned and closer spaced relationship, contact on
the inclined surface of the axial guide flat (62) acts to rotate
the couplers (50) toward the ultimately desired surface-to-
surface contact of the flat drive faces (60). It is to be understood that the contact of the couplers (50) could progress
from engagement of the axial guide flat (62) to inner or outer
peripheral guide flats (58) and (59) and then to the drive faces
(60); or from engagement of the axial guide slat (62) directly
to the drive faces (60).
Still referring to Fig. 4, if the couplers (50) are rotated
to near the same relative positions, it is possible for the
peripheral guide flats (58) end (59) to contact without the
prior contact by the guide point (63) or the axial guide flats
(62).
Referring now to Fig. 9, the drive couplers (50) are shown
makirlg initial contact as the drive shaft (25) approaches the
driven shaft (27) only in a radial direction. In this
embodiment the shafts (25) and (27) remain parallel with respect
to each other as they approach axial alignment. Thus, the shaft
ends are not moved toward one another in an axial direction as
alignment is accomplished and the axial guide flats (62) and
axial guide point (63) are not required on the contact head
(56).
As shown in Fig. 9, an inner guide flat (59) of the coupler
attached to the driven shaft (27) contacts an outer guide flat
(5g) of the coupler attached to the drive shaft (25). us the
wing beam (22) moves in the path indicated by directional arrow
(65), the drive shaft (25) moves radially toward the driven
shaft (27), a horizontal distance x, and the driven shaft (27)
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1 moves radially toward the drive shaft (25), a vertical distance
y. Simultaneously, contact of the peripheral guide flats (58)
and (59) causes the coupler of driven shaft (27) to be rotated
in an arcuate path indicated by directional arrow (66). Thus,
the contact of guide flats I and (59) progresses to the
surface-to-surface contact of the flat drive faces (60) similar
to that illustrated in Fig. I.
In all embodiments, the drive coupling mechanism is
activated to transmit rotational force from a drive shaft (25)
lo to a driven shaft (27) by simple surface to-surface contact of
flat drive faces (60) carried on a pair of couplers (50). me
coupling mechanism is engaged and disengaged by moving the drive
shaft (25) and driven shaft l27) into and out of axial
alignment.
Thus, it can be seen that at least all of the stated
objectives have been achieved.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is
therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the
appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than
as specifically described.
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