Granted Patent B2

US 12,196,173 · App. 18/325,033 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Inventor: Loubert S. Suddaby (Orchard Park, NY)

F03B13/262F05B2210/11F05B2240/30

Abstract

Claims (64)

1. A driveshaft, comprising:

a first segment, including:

a first end;

a second end;

a first through-bore extending from the first end to the second end; and

a first protrusion extending axially from the second end; and

a second segment, including:

a third end comprising a first notch, the first notch including at least one dampener;

a fourth end; and

a first hole extending from the third end and aligned with the first through-bore;

wherein:

the first protrusion engages the first notch to non-rotatably connect the first segment and the second segment; and

the at least one dampener provides radial dampening between the first segment and the second segment.

2. The driveshaft as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second segment further comprises a second hole extending from the fourth end.

3. The driveshaft as recited in claim 2 , wherein the second segment further comprises a female connector arranged in the second hole.

4. The driveshaft as recited in claim 3 , further comprising a connector shaft engaged with the female connector.

5. The driveshaft as recited in claim 4 , wherein the connector shaft is operatively arranged to non-rotatably connect the second segment to one or more propeller blades or a gear train.

6. The driveshaft as recited in claim 4 , further comprising a dampener segment arranged circumferentially around the connector shaft, the dampener segment comprising a fifth end and a sixth end.

7. The driveshaft as recited in claim 6 , wherein the fifth end abuts against the fourth end.

8. The driveshaft as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a guide shaft engaged with the first through-bore and the first hole.

9. The driveshaft as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first notch extends radially outward from the first hole.

10. The driveshaft as recited in claim 9 , wherein the first notch extends axially from the third end.

11. The driveshaft as recited in claim 10 , wherein:

the first notch comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;

a first dampener is arranged on the first surface; and

a second dampener is arranged on the second surface.

12. The driveshaft as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first dampener and the second dampener provide radial dampening between the first protrusion and the first notch.

13. The driveshaft as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one dampener comprises an elastomer.

14. The driveshaft as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one dampener comprises a polymer.

15. The driveshaft as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a third segment including:

a fifth end;

a sixth end;

a second through-bore extending from the fifth end to the sixth end; and

a second protrusion extending axially from the sixth end, wherein the second protrusion engages a second notch in the first end to non-rotatably connect the third segment to the first segment.

16. A driveshaft comprising:

a first segment, including:

a first end;

a second end;

a first through-bore extending from the first end to the second end; and

a first protrusion extending axially from the second end; and

a second segment, including:

a third end comprising a first notch;

a fourth end; and

a first hole extending from the third end and aligned with the first through-bore;

wherein:

the first protrusion engages the first notch to non-rotatably connect the first segment and the second segment; and

the first notch comprises at least one dampener that radially surrounds the engaged first protrusion.

17. The driveshaft as recited in claim 16 , further comprising a connector shaft non-rotatably engaged with the fourth end.

18. The driveshaft as recited in claim 17 , further comprising a dampener segment arranged circumferentially around the connector shaft, the dampener segment comprising a fifth end abutting against the fourth end and a sixth end.

19. The driveshaft as recited in claim 16 , further comprising a guide shaft engaged with the first through-bore and the first hole.

20. A driveshaft, comprising:

a first segment, including:

a first end;

a second end;

a through-bore extending from the first end to the second end; and

a protrusion extending axially from the second end; and

a second segment, including:

a third end;

a fourth end;

a hole extending from the third end and aligned with the through-bore;

a notch extending axially from the third end and radially outward from the hole, the notch comprising:

a first radially outward extending surface including a first dampener; and

a second radially outward extending surface, spaced apart from the first radially outward extending surface, the second radially outward extending surface including a second dampener;

wherein the protrusion engages the notch circumferentially between the first dampener and the second dampener to non-rotatably connect the first segment and the second segment.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (38)