Keyless coupling arrangement

1. A dovetail coupling arrangement for securing two removable parts along a coupling axis which are supporting segments of a shaft having a shaft axis, wherein the coupling arrangement is suited to resist translational forces orthogonal to the coupling axis, the arrangement comprising:

a) a first part having a bore extending along the shaft axis to accept the shaft and having a receiver extending along the coupling axis, wherein the coupling axis is parallel to the shaft axis and wherein the receiver has an inner wall with a receiver wall profile;

b) a second part having a bore extending along the shaft axis to accept the shaft and having a projection extending along the coupling axis and an outer wall with a projection wall profile, wherein a substantial portion of the outer wall of the projection corresponds to the inner wall of receiver such that the projection mates with the receiver with a slip fit;

c) wherein the receiver of the first part and the projection of the second part are slidably receivable and directly connected with one another and, wherein the receiver profile and the projection profile define mating interlocking walls along the coupling axis to restrict movement of the projection within the receiver along all directions orthogonal to the coupling axis and wherein the bore in the first part and the bore in the second part are adapted to accept and secure the shaft;

d) wherein when viewed along the coupling axis from the end, the projection profile has a dovetail shape with an outer bottom surface and a primary outer top surface, wherein the bottom and outer top surfaces are connected by opposing outer angled walls and wherein the receiver has an open section with only an inner bottom surface and opposing inner angled walls extending upwardly therefrom such that when the first part and the second part are mated, only the bottom surfaces and opposing angled walls of the projection and the receiver are engaged; and

e) wherein the receiver adjacent to the open section further includes a primary enclosed section with the inner bottom surface and the opposing inner angled walls common with the open section and additionally includes a primary inner top surface connecting the inner angled walls, wherein when the first part and the second part are mated, additionally the primary outer top surface of the projection is engaged with the primary inner top surface of the receiver.

2. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein each angled wall extends upwardly and inwardly at a dovetail angle with respect to a line extending perpendicular to the bottom surface of between 40 and 70 degrees.

3. The coupling arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein the dovetail angle is approximately 57 degrees.

4. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the receiver profile further includes along at least a portion of the depth of the receiver, a secondary enclosed section with the inner bottom surface and the inner opposing angled walls common with the open section and additionally opposing inner extension walls extending from the dovetail shape of the receiver and connected by a secondary inner top surface, wherein the projection profile further includes matching opposing outer extension walls extending upwardly from the outer dovetail shape connected by a secondary outer top surface such that when the first part and the second part are mated, the respective opposing extension walls and the secondary top surfaces engage one another.

5. The coupling arrangement according to claim 4 , wherein the open section of the receiver further includes at least one inner horizontal segment extending from the inner dovetail shape and wherein the projection further includes at least one outer horizontal segment extending from the outer dovetail shape such that when the first part is mated with the second part, the respective horizontal surfaces rest upon on another.

6. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1 , further including transition segments between inner surfaces on the receiver and outer surfaces on the projection and, wherein the transition segments are curved to eliminate sharp edges that increase stress concentrations.

7. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1 , further including at least one bolt extending within both the first part and the second part in a direction orthogonal to the coupling axis to prevent relative movement between the first part and the second part along the coupling axis.

8. The coupling arrangement according to claim 7 , further including at least one sleeve extending within both the first part and the second part in a direction orthogonal to the coupling axis to prevent relative movement between the first part and the second part along the shaft axis.

9. The coupling arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one sleeve is coaxial with one bolt such that the bolt retains the sleeve in position.

10. The coupling arrangement according to claim 7 , further including at least one bolt extending within both the first part and the second part in a direction parallel to the coupling axis.

11. The coupling arrangement according to claim 10 , further including at least one sleeve extending within both the first part and the second part in a direction parallel to the coupling axis.

12. The coupling arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one sleeve is coaxial with one bolt such that the bolt retains the sleeve in position.

13. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1 , further including an ejection bolt parallel to the coupling axis for separating the first part from the second part when the first part and the second part are assembled.

14. The coupling arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the receiver has a back wall and the projection has a front wall, wherein the receiver back wall and the projection front wall face one another and wherein the ejection bolt is threadably engaged with one of the first part and the second part such that the bolt may be advanced against the receiver back wall or projection front wall to urge the first part away from the second part.

15. The coupling arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first part is an anvil and the second part is a hub used for retaining the shaft of a jaw set.

16. A dovetail coupling arrangement for securing two removable parts along a coupling axis, wherein the coupling arrangement is suited to resist translational forces orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the arrangement comprising:

a) a first part having a receiver extending along the coupling axis, wherein the receiver has an inner wall with a receiver wall profile;

b) a second part having a projection extending along the coupling axis and an outer wall with a projection wall profile, wherein a substantial portion of the outer wall of the projection corresponds to the inner wall of receiver such that the projection mates with the receiver with a slip fit;

c) wherein the receiver of the first part and the projection of the second part are slidably receivable and directly connected with one another and, wherein the receiver profile and the projection profile define mating interlocking walls along the coupling axis to restrict movement of the projection within the receiver along directions orthogonal to the coupling axis;

d) wherein when viewed along the coupling axis from the end, the projection profile has a dovetail shape with an outer bottom surface and a primary outer top surface, wherein the outer bottom and primary outer top surfaces are connected by opposing outer angled walls and wherein the receiver has an enclosed section with a profile similar to that of the projection with an inner bottom surface and a primary inner top surface with inner angled walls therebetween, such that when the first part and the second part are mated, each of the outer bottom surface, primary outer top surface, and the associated outer angled walls of the projection along at least a portion of the projection are entirely enclosed within the receiver; and

e) a removable sleeve extending within the first part and the second part, wherein the sleeve is oriented in a direction generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis to prevent relative movement between the first part and the second part along the coupling axis.

17. The dovetail coupling according to claim 16 , further including an ejection bolt along the coupling axis for separating the first part from the second part when the first part and the second part are assembled.

18. The coupling arrangement according to claim 16 , further including a threaded bolt extending through the sleeve and secured to the second part.

19. A dovetail coupling arrangement for securing two removable parts along a coupling axis which are supporting segments of a shaft having a shaft axis, wherein the coupling arrangement is suited to resist translational forces orthogonal to the coupling axis, the arrangement comprising:

a) a first part having a bore extending along the shaft to accept the shaft and having a receiver extending along the coupling axis, wherein the coupling axis is parallel to the shaft axis and wherein the receiver has an inner wall with a receiver wall profile;

b) a second part having a bore extending along the shaft to accept the shaft and having a projection extending along the coupling axis and an outer wall with a projection wall profile, wherein a substantial portion of the outer wall of the projection corresponds to the inner wall of receiver such that the projection mates with the receiver with a slip fit;

c) wherein the receiver of the first part and the projection of the second part are slidably receivable and directly connected with one another and, wherein the receiver profile and the projection profile define mating interlocking walls along the coupling axis to restrict movement of the projection within the receiver along directions orthogonal to the coupling axis and wherein the bore in the first part and the bore in the second part are adapted to support the shaft;

d) wherein when viewed along the coupling axis from the end, the projection profile has a dovetail shape with an outer bottom surface and a primary outer to surface, wherein the outer bottom and primary outer top surfaces are connected by opposing outer angled walls and wherein the receiver has an enclosed section with a profile similar to that of the projection with an inner bottom surface and a primary inner top surface with inner angled walls therebetween, such that when the first part and the second part are mated, each of the outer bottom surface, primary outer top surface, and the associated outer angled walls of the projection along at least a portion of the projection are entirely enclosed within the receiver; and

e) at least one bolt extending within both the first part and the second part in a direction orthogonal to the coupling axis to prevent relative movement between the first part and the second part along the coupling axis.

20. The coupling arrangement according to claim 19 , further including at least one sleeve extending within both the first part and the second part in a direction orthogonal to the coupling axis to prevent relative movement between the first part and the second part along the shaft axis, wherein the at least one sleeve is coaxial with one bolt such that the bolt retains the sleeve in position.

21. The coupling arrangement according to claim 19 , further including at least one bolt extending within both the first part and the second part in a direction parallel to the coupling axis.

22. The coupling arrangement according to claim 21 , further including at least one sleeve extending within both the first part and the second part in a direction parallel to the coupling axis, wherein the at least one sleeve is coaxial with one bolt such that the bolt retains the sleeve in position.

23. The coupling arrangement according to claim 19 , further including an ejection bolt parallel to the coupling axis for separating the first part from the second part when the first part and the second part are assembled.

24. The coupling arrangement according to claim 19 , wherein the at least one bolt is threaded.

25. A dovetail coupling arrangement for securing two removable parts along a coupling axis which are supporting segments of a shaft having a shaft axis, wherein the coupling arrangement is suited to resist translational forces orthogonal to the coupling axis, the arrangement comprising:

a) a first part having a bore extending along the shaft axis to accept the shaft and having a receiver extending along the coupling axis, wherein the coupling axis is parallel to the shaft axis and wherein the receiver has an inner wall with a receiver wall profile;

b) a second part having a bore extending along the shaft axis to accept the shaft and having a projection extending along the coupling axis and an outer wall with a projection wall profile, wherein a substantial portion of the outer wall of the projection corresponds to the inner wall of the receiver such that the projection mates with the receiver with a slip fit; and

c) wherein the receiver of the first part and the projection of the second part are slidably receivable and directly connected with one another and, wherein the receiver profile and the projection profile define mating interlocking walls along the coupling axis to restrict movement of the projection within the receiver along directions orthogonal to the coupling axis and wherein the bore in the first part and the bore in the second part are adapted to accept and secure the shaft;

d) a first jaw and a second jaw each having a bore extending therethrough and wherein each of the first jaw bore and the second jaw bore is coaxial with the shaft axis; and

e) wherein the shaft is mounted within the bores of the first jaw, second jaw, first part and second part, thereby permitting relative rotation between the first jaw and the second jaw about the shaft.

26. The coupling arrangement according to claim 25 , wherein the first jaw and second jaw are both movable about the shaft.

27. The coupling arrangement according to claim 25 , wherein the receiver has a back wall and the projection has a front wall, wherein the receiver back wall and the projection front wall face one another and wherein an ejection bolt is threadably engaged with one of the first part and the second part such that the bolt may be advanced against the receiver back wall or projection front wall to urge the first part away from the second part.