DESCRIPTION Title of Invention Universal Coupling Technical field The present invention relates to a universal coupling used for transmission of motion which two shafts are connected to each other and more particularly, to arrangement to accurately and smoothly transmit motion from a driving shaft to a driven shaft in any angular range (e.q. 0° - 90 ^c ) while the center lines of the two shafts are not located on the same plane level but are freely intersected to each other. Background Art The basic construction of the present invention comprises semicircular type transmission rings which consist of transmission rings slidably inserted to the end portions of two shafts, and then the both end portions of the semicircular type rings are rotatably connected by means of rotary pins to link members slidably mounted oh the inner peripheral surfacr of a rotary annulus disposed at the middle position between the two shafts. However, as conventional apparatus for transmitting motion between two shafts, various kinds of joints or couplings are used to connecting two shafts. In general, a typical universal joints or the like which has been well known and widely used can be utilized in

angular range less than 30 degrees which two shafts, a driving shaft and a driven shaft permit allowable angle to intersect each other. In case the center lines of the two shafts may be inter- sected over 30 ^c degrees, a plurality of universal joints or other auxiliary transmission mechanism and apparatus should be used to making the transmission motion possible. For that reason, above-mentioned apparatuses have some problems that their constructions will be complicated and will become large in bulkiness and size, and more will be heavy in weight and consequently, mal-f nction would be frequently occurred during operation. Owing to the aforementioned problems, the utilization of conventional transmission mechanisms have been res- tricted within narrow limits.

Accordingly, it is so difficult as to design a basic transmission apparatus which can smoothly transmit motion as a simple arrangement having small bulkiness and light weight in association with the rapid progress of the up-to-date industrial field. Disclosure of the Invention

It is therefore a fundamental object of the present invention to provide a universal coupling that can widely be utilized in the application of various motion transmission apparatuses or basic motion transmission mechanisms to be smoothly and accurately performed under any circumstances, thus including an entirely novel and

simple construction to correctly transmit motion from a driving shaft to a driven shaft within any position in any angular range which the center lines of two shafts may not be intersected on the same plane level but be intersected in any angular range for instance, from 0 degree to 90 degrees.

To accomplish the above object, there is provided in accordance with an aspect of the invention, a universal coupling comprises a first and a second transmission rings respectively including a pair of semicircular type transmission rings in directions orthogonal to each other and slidably inserted to the both end por¬ tions of two shafts which serve as a driving and a driven --shafts; a gear portion formed respectively to each end of the two pairs of the semicircular type transmission rings for rotation in meshing with corres¬ ponding gear portion; a rotary annulus disposed at the middle position between the two shafts; a plurality of link members slidably mounted on the inner peripheral surface of the rotary annulus and rotatably provided with the each end portion of the semicircular type transmission rings; a plurality of rotary pins to be rotatably inserted on the link members for connection of the each end portion of the semicircular type trans- mission rings; and angular range from 0 degree to 90 degrees to be able to transmit motion while the center lines of the two shafts are freely intersected to each

other.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and the second transmission rings having different- diameters respectively to be slidably inserted in directions orthogonal to each other to the end portions of the two shafts include removable attaching members forming gear portions to the ends thereof which are fixedly secured by setting bolts or setting pins to the each end of the two pairs of the semicircular type transmission rings. Preferably, the gear portions formed to the ends of the attaching members to be fixedly secured to the both ends of the semicircular type transmission rings have a kind of helical gear type not to be a kind of spur gear type. In another preferred embodiment, the both end portions of the semi-circular type transmission rings are connected by the rotary pins to the link members of the rotary annulus so that the rotary pins are fixedly secured by means of welding or the like on the outer surfaces of the end portions of the semicircular transmission rings. in still another embodiment, the gear portions to be

-_, rotatably meshed with each other and formed integrally to the ends, of the semicircular type transmission rings which have different diameters and consist of the first and the second transmission rings for connecting the two shafts or the gear portions formed to the ends of the attaching members to be removably affixed by the setting bolts or the setting pins to ends of the semi-

circular type transmission rings so that the rotation gear ratio to be meshed with each other adapts to be

1:2 or 1:3 1 :n (where n is arbitrary number as constant) . Preferably, the rotary annulus located between the two shafts includes the link members slidably mounted on the inner peripheral surface thereof, so as to connect the end portions of the semicircular type transmission rings which consist of the first and the second trans- - ^* mission rings and have different diameters so that the rotary annulus includes two circular rings which are able to seperate to left-hand and right-hand and to fasten by fixing bolts in engagement with each other. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a universal coupling comprises a semicircular type transmission ring slidably inserted ^" to the end portion of one shaft; a motion transferring disc fixedly secured to the other shaft and forming a fixing groove on the front surfacr thereof; connecting members fixedly affixed to the fixing groove of the motion transferring disc; and a plurality of rotary pins rotatably inserted to the connecting members by means of needle bearings on. the outer peripheral surface thereof and fixedly secured to the both end portions of the semicircular type transmission ring for transmitting motion between the two shafts to be intersected with each other relative to the connecting members.

In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a universal coupling comprises a pair of semicircular type transmission rings slidably inserted to the end portions of two shaft which serve as a driving shaft and a driven shaft; a plurality of attaching members forming gear portions on the ends thereof in meshing engagement with each other and to be fixedly secured by setting pins to the both ends of the semicircular type transmission rings; a rotary annulus disposed at the middle position between the two shafts and provided with rotary pins having needle bearings on the outer peripheral surfaces thereof for connection of the both and portions of the semicircular type transmission rings; and angular range from 0 degree to 90 degrees ^• to be able to transmit motion while the center lines of the two shafts are freely intersected to each other. Brief Description of the Drawings

The above-mentioned and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following best mode made with refer¬ ence to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1. is an exploded perspective view including part cut away to reveal interior structure of a uni¬ versal coupling, which illustrates one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2. is a front view of a universal coupling depicting in fig.l ;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a universal coupling showing in Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line IV-IV in Fig. 3; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line V-V in Fig. 3;

Figure 6 is a front view illustrating other preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view a universal coupl- ing showing in Fig. 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 7; ^'

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view illustrating another preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along line X-X in Fig. 9;

Figure 11 is a front view illustrating still another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of a universal coupling depicting in Fig. 11;

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along line XIII-XIII in Fig. 12;

Figure 14 is a front view illustrating yet another pre¬ ferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view of a universal coupling depicting in Fig. 14;

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken substantially along

line XVI-XVI in Fig. 15;

Figure 17 is a sectional view taken substantial! along line XVII-XVII in Fig. 16; Figure 18 are partially fragmentary views of a rotary pin which is fixedly and integrally secured by means of welding on the both end portions of the semicircular type transmission ring utilizing in the one preferred embodiment of the present invention: Figure 18-1 is a perspective view of a rotary pin welded on the outer surface of one end portion of the semicir¬ cular type transmission ring;

Figure 18-2 is a vertical sectional view of .Fig. 18-1; Figure 19 are two views illustrating an example of a semicircular type transmission ring which is utilized in one preferred embodiment of the present invention: Figure 19-1 is a vertical sectional view of a semicir¬ cular type transmission ring;

Figure 19-2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line XIX-XIX in Fig. 19-1. Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, a universal coupling according the present invention comprises a first trans¬ mission ring 3 including a pair of semicircular type transmission rings 5, 5-1 and a second transmission ring 4 including other pair of semicircular type trans¬ mission rings 6, 6-1 which are slidably inserted in directions orthogonal to each other to the end portions

of two shafts 1 , 2 to serve as a driving and a driven shafts, and gear portions 7, 8 are formed respectively to the both ends of two pairs of the semicircular type transmission rings 5, 5-1 and 6, 6-1 for rotating in meshing engagement_with each other.

The both end portions of two pairs of the semicircular type transmission rings 5, 5-1 and 6, 6-1 are rotatably secured on lind members 10 which are slidably mounted on the inner peripheral surface of a rotary annulus 9 disposed at the middle position between the two shafts 1, 2 so that th center lines of the two shafts 1, 2 can- be freely intersected to each other for transmission o o - of motion in any angular range (e.g. 0 -90 ).

When the both end portions of the first and second transmission rings 3,4 including two pairs of the semicircular type transmission rings 5, 5-1 and 6, 6-1 are rotatably provided on the link members of the rotary annulus 9 by rotary pins 11, 12, the rotary pins 11, 12 are fixedly secured by setting bolts 13 or setting pins to the end portions of two pairs of the semicircular type transmission rings 5, 5-1 and

6, -6-1, and other end portions of the rotary pins 11,

12 are rotatably inserted to the link members 10 of the rotary annulus 9 via interposing needle bearings 14.

The rotary annulus 9 is seperately constructed with two circular rings 9-o, 9-2 so as to be fastened by

fixing bolts 15 after the link members 10 are slidably mounted on the inner peripheral surface thereof. On the other hand, lubricant oil reservoirs 16 are formed respectively in the interior of aforedescribed two shafts 1, 2 and each lubricant oil reservoir 16 has lubricant oil passages 17 in open communication with the outer surfaces of the semicircular type trans¬ mission rings 5, 5-1 and 6, 6-1 slidably inserted to the end portions of the two shafts 1, 2. A plurality of key-way 18 are provided on the outer surfaces of the two shafts 1, 2 in order to form a splone shaft respectively and the reservoirs 16 formed in the interior of the two shafts 1 , 2 are removably sealed by plugs 19. Furthermore, since the needle bearings 14 interposed between the rotary pins 11, 12 and the link member 10 are supported by flange portions 11-1, 12-1 which are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the rotary pins 11, 12 in the middle portions thereof, the flange portions 11-1, 12-1 prevent the needle bearings 14 from isolating from the link members 10.

FIG. 6 through FIG. 8 illustrate other preferred embodi¬ ment of a universal coupling according to the present invention, which comprises a first transmission ring 3 and a second transmission ring 4 slidably connected between two shafts 1, 2 to serve as a driving and a driven shafts so that gear portions 24, 25 rotated in

meshing engagement with each other are not formed inte¬ grally to the both ends of two pairs of the semicircular type transmission rings 20, 20-1 and 21, 21-1 but are formed on the ends of other attaching members 22, 23 to be movably affixed by setting -bolts, or setting pins 26 to the both ends of the first and the second transmission rings 3, 4 including two pairs of semicircular type trans¬ mission rings 20, 20-1 and 21, 21-1.

Since the attaching member 22, 23 having the gear portains 24, 25 are removably fastened by setting bolts or setting pins 26 to the both ends of two pairs of the semicircular type transmission rings 20, 20-1 and 21, 21-1 of the first and the second transmission rings for rotation in meshing engagement with each other, the attaching members 22, 23 having the gear portions 24, 25 are only exchanged into new ones without exchanging all the parts of two pairs of semicircular type transmission rings 20, 20-1 and 21, 21-1 in case the gear portions 24 , 25 to be meshed with each other will happen to be a breakdown. A gear type of the gear portions 24, 25 formed to the ends of the attaching members 22, 23 for rotation in meshing engagement with each other is generally a kind of spur gear but if required, a gear type of the gear portions 24, 25 will be a kind of helical gear so that any noise and vibration occurred during operation can be ^' diminished to minimum. FIG. 9 through FIG. 10 illustrate another preferred.

embodiment of a universal coupling according to the present invention, which comprises a first transmission ring 3 and .second transmission ring 4 slidably connected between two shaft 1, 2 to serve as a driving and a driven shaft and gear portions are formed intergrally to the both ends of two pairs of semicircular type transmission rings 27, 28 and 29, 30 or are formed to the ends of attaching members removably affixed to thereon so that gear portions 31, 32 are formed integrally to the both ends of semicir- cular type transmission rings 27, 29 slidably inserted to the end portion of one shaft 1, and gear portions 35, 36 are. formed to the ends of attaching members 33, 34 to be removably affixed by setting bolts or setting pins 37 to the both ends of semicircular.type transmission rings 28, 30 slidably inserted to the end portion of other shaft 2, and the rotation gear ratio to be meshed between the gear portions 31, 32 and the gear portions 35 , 36 adapts to be 1:2. Since the gear portions 31, 32 are formed integrally to the both ends of the semicircular type transmission rings 27, 29 of the first transmission ring 3 and the gear por¬ tions 35, 36 are formed to both ends of the attaching members 33, 34 removably affixed by setting bolts or setting pins 37 to the both ends of the semicircular type transmission rings 28, 30 of the second transmission ring 4 and the rotation gear ratio between the gear portions 31, 32 in the one side and the gear portion 35, 36 in the

other side is designed to be 1:2, the fact provides the effect of increasing the interseting angle in comparison to the case of the same rotation gear ratio between the gear portions 31, 32 and 35, 36. If one of two shaft 1, 2 will restrict to rotating angle, the gear ratio of the both ends of the semicircular type transmission rings slidably inserted to the shaft to be restricted is to increase more than the gear ratio of the both ends of the corresponding semicircular type transmission rings. Accordingly, the gear ratio can be - arranged to choose one of the gear ratios for instance,

1:2, or 1 : 3 l:n (where n is arbitrary number as constant) .

FIG. 11 through FIG. 13 illustrate still another embodi- ment of a universal coupling according to the present ^• invention, which arranged to widely utilize iri the present invention, whi.ch arranged to widely utilize in the predetermined angular range (e.g. 0 -48 ) which the center lines of the two shafts , a driving and a driven shafts are intersected with each other.

A semicircular type transmission ring 40 is slidably inserted to the end of one shaft 38 of two shafts 38, 39 and a motion transferring disc 41 forming a fixing groove 42 on the front surface thereof is fixed secured to the other shaft 39.

A plurality of connecting members 43 are fixedly inserted into the fixing groove 42, and both end portions of semi-

circular type transmission ring 40 are rotatably secured by rotary pins 44 to the connecting members 43 respecti¬ vely in such manner that needle bearings 45 are inter¬ posed around the outer peripheral surfaces of the rotary pins 44.

Furthermore, the connecting member 43 is provided with a projecting portion 43-1 to the rear end portion there¬ of and a plurality of attaching portions 43-2 to the left and right-sides thereof. Therefore the projecting portion 43-1 of the connecting member 43 is fixed inserted to the fixing groove 42 and the attaching portions 43-2 are fixed by setting bolts or setting pins 46 to the both sides of the fixing groove 42. On the other h nd, a lubricant reservoir 47 is formed in the interior of the one shaft 38 and a lubricant oil passage 48 is provided therein in open communication between the reservoir 47 and the semicircular type trans¬ mission ring 40 slidably inserted to the end portion of the shaft 38 and the reservoir 47 is removably sealed by a plug 50.

As a plurality of key-ways 51 are formed to the outer- peripheral surface of the end portion of the other shaft 39 , a plurality of key 52 formed to the inner peripheral surface of a rear portion 41-1 of the transferring disc 41 are fixedly engaged with the key-ways 51.

FIG- 14 through FIG. 17 illustrate yet another preforred embodiment of _. a universal coupling according to the pre-

sent invention, which comprises a pair of semicircular type transmission rings 55, 55-1 slidably connected two shafts 53, 54 to serve as a driving shaft and a driven shaft so that attaching members 56, 56-1 having gear portion 57, 57-1 are removably affixed by setting bolts or setting pins 58 to the both ends of the semicircular type trans¬ mission rings 55,. 55-1 for rotation in meshing engagement with each other, and the both ends of the semicircular type transmission rings 55, 55-1 are rotatably secured by rotary pins 60 and setting bolts or setting pins 62 to the inner peripheral surfaces of a rotary annulus 59 in interposing with needle bearings 61 between the rotary pins 60 and the rotary annulus 59 so as to accurately and smoothly transmit motion in any angular range which the center lines of the two shafts 53, 54 are intersected with each other.

As the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the rotary annulus 59 is a square type, the rotating range of the semicircular type transmission rings 55, 55-1 slidably inserted the end portions of the two shaft 53, 54 can be increased to the maximum rotating range relative to the rotary pins 60.

Furthermore, lubricant oil reservoirs 63 and lubricant oil passages 65 are provided in the interiors of the two shafts 53, 54 respectively and the reservoirs 63 are remorably sealed by plugs 64, and a plurality of key- ways 66 are provided on the outer surfaces of the two

shafts 53, 54 in order to form a spline shaft respectively and reference number 67 depicts a snap ring. FIG. 18 illustrate one example of a rotary pin utilizing in a universal coupling according to the present invention. The rotary pin is used to rotatably fixing the semicir¬ cular type transmission ring to the rotary annulus, and a rotary pin 68 is fixedly secured by means of welding on the end ports of the semicircular type transmission ring 67. FIG. 19 illustrate- other example of a semicircular type transmission ring utilizing in a universal coupling ■-. according to the present invention.

Since a semicircular tyoe transmission ring 69 having engaging holes to be rotatably inserted by the rotary pins on the both end portion thereof is provided a plurality of lubricant oil passages 71 to be open to outsides in directions orthogonal to each other, the semicircular type transmission ring can be smoothly slided into the end portion of the shaft during opera- tion because the lubricant oil passages serve as lubricant oil suppling passages. Capability of Exploitation in Industry

As is apparent from foregoing illustration, a universal coupling according to the present invention is so arran- ged to be located at the connecting position between two shafts that motion tranferred from a driving shaft can be accurately and smoothly transmitted to a driven shaft

in any angular range (e.g. 0 -90 ) while the center lines of the two shafts are not located on the same plane level but are freely intersected to each other. The intersecting angle of the two shafts can be changed according to the radius size of the semicircular type transmission ring connected between two shafts and the size of the inner diamerter of the rotary annulus disposed at the middle position between the two shafts, and the intersecting angle of the two shafts can not be affected by the fact that the shape of the end portions of the two shafts adapt to be a cone type or a flat type. Therefore., as the semicircular type transmission rings slidably inserted to the end portions of the two shafts are rotably secured by the rotary pins to the link members slidably mounted on the inner peripheral surface of he rotary annulus disposed at the middle position between the two shafts , the two shafts will be smoothly cooperated with each other while intersecting.

Furthermore, the semicircular type transmission rings are to slide to the end portions of the two shafts and the link members provided with the both end portions of the semicircular type transmission rings by the rotary pins are to slide along the inner peripheral surface of the rotary annulus, and thus the transmission of motion of the two shafts will perform perfectly and smoothly under small bulkiness and size. Cosequently, a universal coupling according to the present

invention will not occur mal-function during operation due to its simple arrangement and more will transmit accurately motion by means of the gear portions to be formed to the both ends of the semicircular type trans- mission ring or to be formed to the attaching member for rotation in meshing engagement with the correspoding gear portions.

Hence, a universal coupling according to the present invention will be widely utilized in the appkication of various motion transmission apparatuses -or basic motion transmission mechanisms, and even if the two _* shafts may be intersected in any angular range, a universal coupling according to the present invention makes it possible to transmit motion from a driving shaft to a driven shaft in any basic motion transmission mechanisms with the rapid progress of the up-to-date industrial field. While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that various modifications and changes may be made herein without departing the spirit of the invention and scope of the- appended claims.