IP Library Granted Patent US 7,387,193
Granted Patent B2
US 7,387,193 · App. 11/591,840 · Granted Jun 17, 2008

Drum assembly for a coupling arrangement

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,387,193
App. No.
11/591,840
Granted
Jun 17, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drum assembly for use with a coupling arrangement includes an outer member and an inner member that is mountable on the outer member. The outer member includes first and second annular portions and an intermediate portion extending between the annular portions. The first annular portion has a first mating surface that defines a first opening having a first diameter, the second annular portion defines a second opening having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, and the intermediate portion defines a shoulder. The inner member includes a generally radially extending portion having a generally axially facing surface and a second mating surface that is engageable with the first mating surface to interlock the inner and outer members together. When the inner member is mounted on the outer member, the radially extending portion extends into the first opening, and the generally axially facing surface engages the shoulder.

Claims (27)

1. A drum assembly for use with a coupling arrangement, the drum assembly comprising:

an outer member including first and second annular portions and an intermediate portion extending between the annular portions, the first annular portion having a first mating surface that defines a first opening having a first diameter, the second annular portion defining a second opening having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, and the intermediate portion defining a shoulder; and

an inner member that is mountable on the outer member, the inner member including a generally radially extending portion having a generally axially facing surface and a second mating surface that is engageable with the first mating surface of the outer member to interlock the inner and outer members together, wherein when the inner member is mounted on the outer member, the radially extending portion extends into the first opening, and the generally axially facing surface engages the shoulder, and wherein the inner member further includes a hub portion that is configured to interlock with a shaft.

2. The drum assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second mating surfaces are splined surfaces.

3. The drum assembly of claim 1 wherein the hub portion extends generally axially from the radially extending portion.

4. The drum assembly of claim 3 wherein the hub portion includes a splined inner surface that is configured to interlock with the shaft.

5. The drum assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer and inner members comprise different materials.

6. The drum assembly of claim 5 wherein the outer member comprises stamped sheet metal, and the inner member is made from powdered metal.

7. The drum assembly of claim 5 wherein one of the outer and inner members comprises stamped sheet metal.

8. The drum assembly of claim 7 wherein the other of the outer and inner members comprises cast material.

9. A coupling arrangement comprising:

a drum assembly including an outer member and an inner member mounted on the outer member, the outer member including first and second annular portions connected together, the first annular portion having a mating inner surface that defines a first opening having a first diameter, and the second annular portion defining a second opening having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, the inner member including a generally radially extending portion having a mating outer surface engaged with the mating inner surface of the outer member such that the inner and outer members are interlocked together; and

a coupling pack including multiple plates disposed in the drum assembly, the plates being engageable with each other to transmit torque;

wherein the outer member of the drum assembly includes an intermediate portion extending between the annular portions, the intermediate portion defining a shoulder that faces toward the coupling pack, and wherein the radially extending portion of the inner member is engaged with the shoulder, and wherein the inner member is formed separately from the coupling pack and includes a hub portion that is configured to interlock with a shaft.

10. The coupling arrangement of claim 9 wherein the mating inner and outer surfaces of the drum assembly are splined surfaces.

11. The coupling arrangement of claim 9 wherein the hub portion extends generally axially from the radially extending portion.

12. The coupling arrangement of claim 11 wherein the hub portion includes a splined inner surface that is configured to interlock with the shaft.

13. The coupling arrangement of claim 11 further comprising a hub that receives the hub portion of the inner member and that is adapted to engage an additional shaft, and wherein the multiple plates of the coupling pack include multiple first plates slidably connected to the outer member of the drum assembly, and multiple second plates slidably connected to the hub.

14. The coupling arrangement of claim 13 further comprising a bushing disposed between the hub and the hub portion of the inner member.

15. The coupling arrangement of claim 9 wherein the multiple plates include multiple first plates and multiple second plates, the first plates mating with the mating inner surface of the outer member of the drum assembly, and the second plates being adapted to mate with a shaft.

16. The coupling arrangement of claim 9 wherein one of the outer and inner members comprises stamped sheet metal.

17. The coupling arrangement of claim 16 wherein the other of the outer and inner members comprises cast material.

18. The coupling arrangement of claim 16 wherein the other of the outer and inner members is made from powdered metal.

19. A drum assembly for use with a coupling arrangement having a coupling pack, the drum assembly comprising:

an outer member including an annular portion and a shoulder portion extending generally radially from the annular portion, the annular portion having a first mating surface that defines a first opening, and the shoulder portion defining a shoulder that is configured to face toward the coupling pack; and

an inner member that is mountable on the outer member, the inner member including a generally radially extending portion having a second mating surface that is engageable with the first mating surface of the outer member to interlock the inner and outer members together, wherein when the inner member is mounted on the outer member, the radially extending portion extends into the first opening and engages the shoulder, and wherein the inner member further includes a hub portion extending generally axially from the radially extending portion, the hub portion being configured to interlock with a shaft.

20. The drum assembly of claim 19 wherein the hub portion includes a splined inner surface that is configured to interlock with the shaft.

Assignments (4)
NOTICE OF SUCCESSOR AGENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 024662/0436 Recorded Feb 10, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS THE RESIGNING AGENT
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 070157/0001 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSOR AGENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 027253/0488 Recorded Feb 10, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS THE RESIGNING AGENT
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 070157/0268 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2012
From: DOHERTY, MICHAEL T.; MEIER, THOMAS
To: MEANS INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 027510/0029 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Jul 12, 2010
From: AMSTED INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED; AMCONSTRUCT CORPORATION; AMRAIL CORPORATION; AMVEHICLE CORPORATION; ABC RAIL PRODUCTS CHINA INVESTMENT CORPORATION; AMSTED RAIL COMPANY, INC.; ASF-KEYSTONE, INC.; ASF-KEYSTONE MEXICO HOLDING CORP.; BALTIMORE AIRCOIL COMPANY, INC.; BURGESS-NORTON MFG. CO., INC.; CONSOLIDATED METCO, INC.; DIAMOND CHAIN COMPANY, INC.; GRIFFIN PIPE PRODUCTS CO., INC.; MEANS INDUSTRIES, INC.; MERIDIAN RAIL CHINA INVESTMENT CORP.; TRANSFORM AUTOMOTIVE LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., (AS SUCCESSOR TO CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.), AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 024662/0436 →