IP Library Granted Patent US 12,215,745
Granted Patent B1
US 12,215,745 · App. 17/573,496 · Granted Feb 4, 2025

Torque transferring coupler

Inventor: McHenry Carlson (Tustin, CA)
Assignee: Anduril Industries, Inc.
F16D25/062F16D1/116Y10T403/556Y10T403/559
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,215,745
App. No.
17/573,496
Granted
Feb 4, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

A device includes an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder. The inner cylinder has a radial face including a first set of curved structures. The outer cylinder has an axial face including a second set of curved structures. A coupling is formed in response to a section of the outer cylinder disposed to surround a portion of the inner cylinder and the first set of curved structures of the inner cylinder disposed to interlock with the second set of curved structures of the outer cylinder.

Claims (20)

1. A torque transferring coupler, comprising:

an inner cylinder, wherein the inner cylinder comprises a central portion and a lower portion comprising first wave splines, wherein an upper axial face of the first wave splines is defined by an upper outer edge and an upper inner edge along which the central portion and the first wave splines connect, wherein the upper axial face has a uniform radial thickness defined by a radial distance between the upper inner edge and the upper outer edge, and wherein an axial length of the lower portion of the inner cylinder varies in an oscillating manner as the inner cylinder rotates about its axis to form a first wave profile corresponding to shapes of the first wave splines; and

an outer cylinder, wherein the outer cylinder is hollow and comprises second wave splines, wherein the second wave splines have a lower axial face defined by a lower outer edge and a lower inner edge, wherein the lower axial face has a uniform radial thickness defined by a radial distance between the lower inner edge and the lower outer edge, and wherein an axial length of the second wave splines varies in an oscillating manner as the outer cylinder rotates about its axis to form a second wave profile corresponding to shapes of the second wave splines, wherein a coupling is formed in response to a section of the outer cylinder disposed to surround a portion of the inner cylinder and the first wave splines disposed to interlock with the second wave splines.

2. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the inner cylinder is threaded.

3. The coupler of claim 2 , further comprising a nut, wherein the nut couples to the threaded upper portion of the inner cylinder.

4. The coupler of claim 1 , further comprising a nut, wherein the nut is disposed to secure the coupling.

5. The coupler of claim 4 , where the nut comprises one of the following: a hexagonal nut, a square nut, a ring nut, a cap nut, a capstan nut, a dome nut, a wingnut, a thumb nut, a tangential clamp nut, a nylon-insert lock nut, a castellated nut, a pair of jam nuts, a Stover lock nut, a two-way lock nut, a serrated flange lock nut, or a K-lock nut.

6. The coupler of claim 4 , wherein the inner cylinder, the outer cylinder, and/or the nut comprise one or more of the following materials: a metal, a plastic, and/or a ceramic.

7. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first wave splines and the second wave splines interlock with a first point of the upper axial face and second point of the lower axial face.

8. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first wave splines and the second wave splines interlock with a first section of the upper axial face and a second section of the lower axial face.

9. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first wave splines and the second wave splines interlock with a first line segment of the upper axial face and a second line segment of the lower axial face.

10. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first wave splines and the second wave splines have smoothly matching profiles.

11. The coupler of claim 10 , wherein the first wave splines and the second wave splines are configured to interlock along the smoothly matching profiles in only one radial alignment.

12. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first wave splines and the second wave splines are configured to interlock together at any axial offset of more than one axial offsets.

13. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first wave splines and the second wave splines interlock together providing a low backlash coupling.

14. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first wave profile and/or the second wave profile has a single frequency.

15. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first wave profile and/or the second wave profile each comprise multiple frequencies.

16. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first wave profile and/or the second wave profile each has a single amplitude.

17. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first wave profile and/or the second wave profile each comprise multiple amplitudes.

18. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the outer cylinder comprises a flange.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: ANDURIL INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068526/0728 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2022
From: CARLSON, MCHENRY
To: ANDURIL INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 060302/0883 →
References Cited (5)
US 2576069A · Wilton · 1951 [cited by examiner]
US 3880267A · Auble · 1975 [cited by examiner]
US 6726395B2 · Yu · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 8512157B2 · Harada · 2013 [cited by examiner]
FR 749550A · 1933 [cited by examiner]
Cited By (1)
US 12,601,378