United States Patent [191
`Geisthoff
`
`[54] SPLINED HUB ASSEMBLY FOR
`CONNECTING TWO SHAFI‘S
`
`[75] Inventor: Hubert Geisthoff, Lohmar, Fed. Rep.
`of Germany
`
`[73] Assignee: Jean Walterscheid GmbH, Lohmar,
`Fed. Rep. of Germany
`
`[21] - Appl. No.: 454,233
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Dec. 29, 1982
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Jan. 14, 1982 [DE] Fed. Rep. of Germany ..... .. 3200846
`
`[51] Int. cm .............................................. .. F16D 1/12
`[52] vs. C]. .................................... .. 4113/13; 403/359,
`308/6 R; 74/153; 464/158
`[58] Field of Search ....... .. 308/6 R; 403/359, DIG. 8,
`403/328, 109, 166, 13, 14; 74/l5.8, 15.6;
`464/158, 154
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2,910,842 11/1959 Sensenig .
`. . . . . .. 308/6 R
`3,097,892 7/1963 Newbury . . . . .
`403/359X
`3,290,918 12/1966 Weasler ......... ..
`3,551,013 12/1970 Trojanowski ................. .. 403/359 X
`4,318,630 3/1982 Herchenback et al. ...... .. 403/359 X
`
`[11]
`[451
`
`4,437,782
`' Mar. 20, 1984
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1203245 8/1970 United Kingdom ................ .. 403/13
`Primary Examiner-Cornelius J. vHusar
`Assistant Examiner—Joseph A. Fischetti
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Toren, McGeady and Stanger
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`An assembly for joining together two splined shafts
`adapted to facilitate angular alignment of the splines
`relative to each other wherein one of the shafts is a
`splined hub having an opening formed in the wall
`thereof within which a ball is held with a given degree
`of play to enable rotation thereof, the center of the
`opening being in an axial plane with the center of one of
`the splines of the splined hub. The axial distance be
`tween the centerline of the opening and an end of the
`splined hub is identical to or greater than the axial
`length of a centering cylindrical surface formed be
`tween the splined hub end and the termination of the
`splines within the splined hub. The cylindrical centering
`surface engages the outer diameter of the splines of a
`splined shaft which is to be joined with the splined hub
`in order to ensure axial alignment between the shafts,
`with the ball engaging between splines of the splined
`shaft while being securely held in the opening so that
`the radial segment of the ball extending into the interior
`of the hub is equal to the gap between individual splines
`of the hub splined shaft.
`
`4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures
`
`131156
`
`7/0‘ 410
`
`Willis Exhibit 1013 - 1
`
`

`
`US. Patent Mar. 20, 1984
`
`Sheet 1 of2
`
`4,437,782
`
`Q2»
`
`13
`
`Willis Exhibit 1013 - 2
`
`

`
`2
`
`2O07,734.,4
`
`Willis Exhibit 1013 - 3
`
`

`
`4,437,782
`2
`the splined hub being equal to or smaller than the axial
`length of the cylindrical inner centering surface; ‘and
`stop means provided in said opening for operatively
`retaining said ball therein, said stop means being ar
`ranged so that the greatest chord length of the ball
`segment projecting inwardly into the hub when the
`splined shaft and the splined hub are in engagement will
`be equivalent to the maximum width of the gap between
`individual splines of the shaft spline means.
`The ends of the shaft spline means may be formed
`with tapered pro?les arranged at an angle to facilitate
`starting engagement between the members. Also, the
`spline ends may be formed with an acuminated con?gu
`ration so that an approximately trapezoidal starting face
`is obtained. In drive shafts used with splined hubs in
`agricultural implements, because of the limited space
`between, for example, a tractor and an implement to be
`attached thereto, when the splined hub is to be slipped
`onto ‘the splined shaft it is dif?cult for the operator to
`obtain a clear view of the parts. Thus, with the provi
`sion of a centering aid, the shaft spline having a trape
`zoidal starting face may start against the centering aid
`and in such case the splined shaft may be turned to an
`extent so that the centering aid may be guided into a gap
`formed between two splines of the shaft.
`The advantage of providing a ball rotatably held in
`the wall of the splined hub in accordance with the in
`vention within the centering cylindrical surface of the
`splined hub involves the fact that it becomes possible
`for rotating movement of the splined hub relative to the
`splined shaft to enable engagement of the parts as a
`result of the low friction on the starting face of the ball
`with less force requirements than would be otherwise
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`1
`
`SPLINED HUB ASSEMBLY FOR CONNECTING
`TWO SHAFI‘S
`
`The present invention relates generally to torque
`transmitting connections and more particularly to a
`splined assembly for joining together a pair of shafts,
`particularly for connecting a power takeoff shaft of a
`tractor designed as a splined shaft with the drive shaft
`for driving an agricultural implement.
`In devices of the type to which the present invention
`relates, normally the splined hub member has a pro?le
`which corresponds to the pro?le of the splined shaft
`member and a centering cylindrical surface is provided
`on the interior of the hub member at the end thereof at
`which the shaft member is inserted in order to effect
`axial guidance of the shaft member. The inner diameter
`of the centering cylindrical surface is formed to corre
`spond approximately with the outer diameter of the
`shaft splines of the shaft member.
`In the prior art, a splined assembly of the type to
`which the present invention relates is known from US.
`Pat. No. 2,910,842. In this device, a splined hub is pro
`vided which is formed at its slipon end with a centering '
`cylindrical surface and which in the region of the cen
`tering cylindrical surface is provided with a radially
`inwardly pointing guide pin extending toward the sli
`pon end for alignment of the splined hub relative to the
`associated splined shaft pro?le. The guiding pin cooper
`ates with a splined shaft pro?le which is pointed at one
`end.
`However, a disadvantage of the guiding pin arrange
`ment arises in practical operation in that there occurs
`between the contact face and the pointed tapered face
`of the shaft part a high degree of friction which makes
`it dif?cult for an operator to slip the splined hub onto
`the splined shaft especially when high axial forces are
`involved.
`The present invention is therefore directed toward
`providing a splined assembly wherein means for facili
`tating centering of the shafts are provided acting in the ,
`circumferential direction and wherein the friction be
`tween the centering means and the shaft spline in the
`starting position is reduced to a minimum.
`
`35
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Brie?y, the present invention may be described as a
`spline assembly for connecting together a pair of shafts
`wherein one of the shafts is formed as a splined hub and
`the other as a splined shaft, the assembly comprising:
`hub spline means on the splined hub; a cylindrical inner
`centering surface extending between the termination of
`the hub spline means and an end of the splined hub; shaft
`spline means on said splined shaft arranged to be placed
`in torque-transmitting engagement with said hub spline
`means and having an outermost diameter, said cylindri
`cal centering surface being formed with a diameter
`corresponding to said outermost diameter to guide said
`splined shaft into engagement with said splined hub; an
`opening extending through said splined hub having a
`ball located therein, said ball being arranged to have a
`segment thereof project inwardly into said hub to effect
`engagement of said ball with said splined shaft; said
`opening being positioned relative to said hub spline
`means so that said ball will engage between said shaft
`spline means when said splined shaft is arranged in
`engagement with said splined hub with the axial dis
`tance between the center of the opening and the end of
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`necessary.
`
`.
`
`The various features of novelty which characterize
`the invention are pointed out with particularity in the
`claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
`For a better understanding of the invention, its operat
`ing advantages and speci?c objects attained by its use,
`reference should be had to the accompanying drawings
`and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and
`described preferred embodiments of the invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`In the drawings:
`FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view taken through an
`assembly of a splined hub with an associated splined
`shaft formed in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through a splined hub
`and shaft assembly with the shaft in the engaged posi
`tion;
`FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an engaged assembly in
`accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;
`and
`FIG. 4 is an end view of a shaft member having a
`splined pro?le in accordance ‘with a further embodi
`ment of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`Referring now to the drawings and particularly to
`FIG. 1, there is shown an assembly in accordance with
`the present invention which comprises a splined hub 1
`and a splined shaft 9 adapted to be inserted into torque
`transmitting engagement within the splined hub 1. The
`splined hub 1 is formed with a slip-on end 14 through
`which the splined shaft 9 is inserted and at the slip-on
`end 14 of the hub 1 there is provided a centering cylin
`
`Willis Exhibit 1013 - 4
`
`

`
`15
`
`35
`
`4,437,782
`3
`4.
`drical surface 8 formed with a diameter generally corre
`and the shaft will enable less force to be applied in
`sponding to the outer diameter of splines 10 on the
`joining together the hub and the shaft than would other
`splined shaft 9 in order to enable the centering cylindri
`wise be necessary.
`cal surface 8 to operate to align or guide the shaft 9 as
`The opening 5 is positioned relative to the hub splines
`it is brought into operative engagement with the hub 1.
`2 so that the ball 6 will engage between shafts splines 10
`Adjacent the surface 8 the hub 1 is provided with
`when the splined shaft 9 is arranged in engagement with
`splines 2 adaptedto engage with the splines 10 of the
`the splined hub 1. The axial distance between the center
`sha? 9. An opening 5 is formed in the wall of the splined
`of the opening 5 and the end 14 of the splined hub 1 is
`huh I at the arm of transition between the splines 2 and
`arranged to be equal to or smaller than the axial length
`centering surface 8.
`of the cylindrical inner centering surface 8.
`A ball 6 is rotatably held within the opening 5 so that
`The stop means, including the outer stop 4, inner stop
`a ball segment 7 of the ball 6 will extend into the interior
`3, and/or the spring member 11 of the embodiment of
`of the huh I at the area of transition between the splines‘
`FIG. 3 are arranged so that the greatest chord length of
`2 and the centering surface 8.
`the ball segment 7 projecting inwardly into the hub
`The opening 5 is formed with an inner stop 3 and an
`when the splined shaft 9 and the splined hub 1 are in
`outer stop 4 in order to operatively retain the ball 6
`engagement will be equivalent to the maximum width L
`within the opening 5. The inner stop 3 may be formed
`of the gap between individual splines 10 of the shaft 9.
`for example by partially boring through the opening 5
`While speci?c embodiments of the invention have
`and the stop 4 may be formed by a circular anchoring of
`been shown and described in detail to illustrate the
`the material of the splined hub around the opening 5.
`20
`application of the inventive principles, it will be under
`In order to facilitate engagement of the shaft splines
`stood that the invention may be embodied otherwise
`10 into the hub 1, the ends of the splines 10 are formed
`without departing from such principles.
`with a tapered surface 13 which may be formed with a
`What is claimed is:
`trapezoidal con?guration. When the splined shaft 9 is
`1. A spline assembly for connecting together a pair of
`inserted into the hub 1, the tapered surface 13 may come
`25
`shafts, particularly for connecting together a power
`to rest against the ball 6. By turning the splined huh 1
`takeoff shaft of a tractor and a drive shaft of an agricul
`relative to the shaft 9, the ball 6 may operate as a roller
`tural implement, one of said shafts being a splined hub
`bearing and the ball segment 7 extending into the cen
`and the other being a splined shaft, comprising: hub
`tering surface 8 will continue to be rotated until the ball
`spline means on said splined hub; a cylindrical inner
`segment ?nds free space in a gap formed between adja
`centering surface extending between the termination of
`cent shaft splines 10. With the ball 6 arranged in align
`said hub spline means and an end of said splined hub;
`ment between shaft splines 10, in a manner shown in
`shaft spline means on said splined shaft arranged to be
`FIG. 2, the splined hub 1 and the shaft 9 may then be
`placed in torque-transmitting engagement with said hub
`‘brought together so as to be joined in torque-transmit
`spline means and having an outermost diameter, said
`ting engagement.
`cylindrical centering surface being formed with a diam
`- As seen in FIG. 2, the gap between adjacent splines
`eter corresponding to said outermost diameter to guide
`10 of the splined shaft 9 is formed with a width L and
`said splined shaft into engagement with said splined
`- the chord of the angular ball segment 7 which extends
`hub; an opening extending through the wall of said
`into the interior of the hub 1 is arranged with an length
`splined hub having a ball located therein, said ball being
`identical to the width L formed between the adjacent
`arranged to have a segment thereof project inwardly
`splines 10. It will be noted therefore that the ball 6 is
`into said hub to effect engagement of said ball with said
`essentially arranged so as to occupy an angular space
`splined shaft; said opening being positioned relative to
`which would otherwise be occupied by a part of a hub
`said hub spline means so that said ball will engage be
`spline 2.
`tween said shaft spline means when said splined shaft is
`FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention
`arranged in engagement with said splined hub with the
`wherein the ball 6 is held radially against the inner stop
`axial distance between the center of said opening and
`3 of the opening 5 by means of a spring member 11
`said end of said splined hub being equal to or smaller
`applying a radially inward force against the ball 6.
`than the axial length of said cylindrical inner centering
`In FIG. 4 there is illustrated a further embodiment of
`surface.
`the invention wherein the splines on the shaft 9 are
`50
`2. An assembly according to claim 1 further compris
`formed with acuminated ends 13' in order to further
`ing stop means provided in said opening operatively
`facilitate guidance of the ball 6 to between splines on the
`retaining said ball therein, said stop means being ar
`shaft 9. As a result of the acuminated shaft splines in
`ranged so that the greatest chord length of said ball
`stead of the splines such as those shown in FIG. I hav
`segment projecting inwardly into said hub when said
`ing the tapered surface 13, the ball 6 will be guided
`splined shaft and said splined hub are in engagement
`toward a gap between the shaft splines in order to facili
`will be equivalent to the maximum width of the gap
`tate engagement of the members.
`between individual splines of said shaft spline means.
`In the embodiment wherein the ball is held against
`3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said
`the biasing force of the spring 11, the process of intro
`stop means include a spring member applying a spring
`duction of the shaft 9 into the hub 1 is simpli?ed in that
`force biasing said ball radially inwardly of said hub.
`if there is any offcenter contact between the ball and the
`shaft spline, rotation of the splined hub will be assisted
`4. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said
`by the force of the spring.
`shaft spline means are formed with acurninated ends
`tending to guide said ball into engagement between
`Thus, it will be seen that in accordance with the
`individual splines of said shaft spline means.
`‘gesent invention advantages arise in that as a result of
`65
`e use of a rotatable ball, low friction between the ball
`i
`
`60
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`Willis Exhibit 1013 - 5