Flexible sleeve coupling radial tooth support cap and method

1. A flexible coupling, comprising:

two hubs, each hub configured to engage a shaft along a central portion and engage a flexible sleeve along an engagement portion;

a flexible member assembly disposed between the two hubs in engaged relation between the engagement portions of each of the two hubs, the flexible member assembly comprising:

a flexible sleeve having a first end and a second end;

a first stiffening cap attached to the first end of the flexible sleeve between the flexible sleeve and the engagement portion of one of the two hubs, and

a second stiffening cap attached to the second end of the flexible sleeve between the flexible sleeve and the engagement portion of the other of the two hubs,

wherein the engagement portion of each hub includes an inner row of teeth and an outer row of teeth concentrically disposed with one another with respect to a longitudinal axis, and wherein the flexible sleeve includes mating inner and outer rows of teeth formed at either axial end thereof, the inner and outer rows of teeth meshing with the inner and outer rows of teeth of the engagement portion of each of the two hubs.

2. The flexible coupling of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second stiffening caps includes:

a plate having a generally annular shape that includes an inner periphery and an outer periphery;

a first plurality of dowels connected to the plate and arranged around and proximal the outer periphery; and

a second plurality of dowels connected to the plate and arranged around and proximal the inner periphery.

3. The flexible coupling of claim 2 , wherein the first and second pluralities of dowels extend symmetrically around the plate and on a same side of the plate parallel to one another.

4. The flexible coupling of claim 3 , further comprising a first plurality of bores extending, one each, through the outer row of teeth of the flexible sleeve, wherein the first plurality of dowels extends, one each, through the first plurality of bores.

5. The flexible coupling of claim 4 , further comprising a second plurality of bores extending, one each, through the inner row of teeth of the flexible sleeve, wherein the second plurality of dowels extends, one each, through the second plurality of bores.

6. The flexible coupling of claim 5 , wherein the plate is positioned in abutting relation with an end face of the flexible sleeve on either side, and wherein an adhesive is disposed at least partially between the plate and the first and second pluralities of teeth, and the end-face and the first and second pluralities of bores in either side of the flexible sleeve.

7. The flexible coupling of claim 4 , wherein each of the first plurality of bores extends through a geometrical center of each of the outer row of teeth.

8. The flexible coupling of claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second pluralities of dowels includes at least one dowel having a non-circular cross section.

9. The flexible coupling of claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of dowels is part of the first stiffening cap and the second plurality of dowels is part of the second stiffening cap.

10. The flexible coupling of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second stiffening caps includes:

a plurality of plate segments having a generally curved shape that includes an inner portion and an outer portion with respect to a radial direction that is transverse to the longitudinal axis;

at least one first dowel connected to the plate and located proximal to the outer portion; and

at least one second dowel connected to the plate located proximal to the inner portion;

wherein a plurality of plate segments are arranged to cover an entire periphery of each end face of the flexible sleeve.

11. The flexible coupling of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second stiffening caps includes:

a plate having a generally annular shape that includes an inner periphery and an outer periphery;

an outer peripheral wall extending along the outer periphery; and

an inner peripheral wall extending along the inner periphery;

wherein the plate, first and second peripheral walls encapsulate an end portion of the flexible sleeve.

12. The flexible coupling of claim 1 , wherein the flexible sleeve comprises:

a first plurality of dowels attached to the first end of the flexible sleeve, the first plurality of dowels adapted to be disposed between the flexible sleeve and the engagement portion of one of the two hubs of the flexible coupling, and

a second plurality of dowels attached to the second end of the flexible sleeve, the second plurality of dowels adapted to be disposed between the flexible sleeve and the engagement portion of the other of the two hubs.

13. The flexible coupling of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive disposed at least partially along interfaces between the first and second stiffening caps and the flexible sleeve.

14. A method for increasing a tooth shear strength without also increasing a torsional rigidity of a flexible sleeve disposed between two hubs of a flexible coupling for transmitting mechanical motion between two shafts, the method comprising:

attaching a first stiffening cap to a first end of the flexible sleeve between the flexible sleeve and an engagement portion of one of the two hubs, and

attaching a second stiffening cap to a second end of the flexible sleeve between the flexible sleeve and an engagement portion of the other of the two hubs,

wherein the engagement portion of each hub includes an inner row of teeth and an outer row of teeth concentrically disposed with one another with respect to a longitudinal axis, and wherein the flexible sleeve includes mating inner and outer rows of teeth formed at either axial end thereof, the inner and outer rows of teeth meshing with the inner and outer rows of teeth of the engagement portion of each of the two hubs.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises providing each of the first and second stiffening cap to include:

a plate having a generally annular shape that includes an inner periphery and an outer periphery;

a first plurality of dowels connected to the plate and arranged around and proximal the outer periphery;

a second plurality of dowels connected to the plate and arranged around and proximal the inner periphery; and

inserting the first plurality of dowels through outer teeth formed on either end of the flexible sleeve; and

inserting the second plurality of dowels though inner teeth formed on either end of the flexible collar.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising adhering with an adhesive the first and second stiffening caps to both ends of the flexible sleeve.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second pluralities of dowels is provided to include at least one dowel having a non-circular cross section.