US 11,668,349 B2
Flex coupling assembly with restrictive bending feature
Michael E. Partyka, Saginaw, MI (US); Sergio R. Molinar, Freeland, MI (US); and William J. Knight, Bay City, MI (US)
Assigned to Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Saginaw, MI (US)
Filed by Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Saginaw, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/8,566.
Prior Publication US 2022/0065304 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. F16D 3/12 (2006.01); F16D 3/78 (2006.01); B62D 1/16 (2006.01)
CPC F16D 3/12 (2013.01) [F16D 3/78 (2013.01); B62D 1/163 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flex coupling assembly for coupling a first shaft of a shaft assembly to a second shaft of the shaft assembly, comprising:
a lower housing having a generally cylindrical housing wall extending along an axis and bounding a cavity between a lower housing first end and a lower housing second end, said lower housing first end having an end face extending generally transversely to said axis and generally closing off said cavity and said lower housing second end being generally open to said cavity;
a first shaft fixed to said end face of said lower housing and extending along said axis away from said cavity;
an upper flange spaced axially from said lower housing;
a second shaft fixed to said upper flange and extending along said axis;
a retention member disposed in said cavity of said lower housing and being fixed to said upper flange by a plurality of retention fastener members;
a resilient flex coupling sandwiched between said end face of said lower housing and said flange, said resilient flex coupling being fixed to said upper flange and to said retention member by said plurality of retention fastener members, said resilient flex coupling being fixed to said lower housing by a plurality of coupling fastener members,
wherein said lower housing and said upper flange are moveable relative to one another axially along said axis and relative to one another rotatably about said axis via flexing of said resilient flex coupling,
wherein said lower housing end face has a plurality of through openings, said plurality of retention fastener members extending through said plurality of through openings in clearance relation therewith, wherein said plurality of through openings act as a positive stop to limit the degree of relative rotation between said lower housing and said upper flange.