Gkn Technology Limited

Gkn Automotive Gmbh

Gkn Automotive Ag

Andrew Pollard

Wolfgang Lobel

Colin E Spedding

David Cowburn

Stephen P Rawlings

Russel Osborn

Ludger Schachtrup

A flexible annular coupling made of composite material and an even number of relatively thicker fixing portions ( ) spaced apart circumferentially around the coupling for connection to two rotary members to be coupled by the coupling and a flexible leaf ( ) extending lengthwise between each two adjacent fixing portions. Each leaf includes a relatively thinner central part ( ) and a transition portion ( ) of gradually increasing thickness between the ends of the central part and the thicker fixing portions. The coupling is constructed such that the central part ( ) of at least each circumferentially alternate leaf will always be displaced axially in the same predetermined direction (A) transverse to its length when the leaf is caused to buckle by compressive force(s) acting between the fixing portions at the ends of the leaf. The displacement may be obtained by curving the central part, by suitably shaping the transitional portions or by making the central part of two layers of different stiffness.

Flexible coupling

A joint disc made of a fiber composite material with a plurality of flexible leaf elements and a plurality of angular fixing elements which are composed of laminations of fiber composite material, with the leaf elements, at each of their ends, having an increasing thickness extending at least over 10% of their length.

Joint disc made of a fiber composite material

Spring assemblies

Vehicle suspension

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Bridgnorth, United Kingdom

Andrew Pollard