Messerschmitt-boelkow-blohm Gesellschaft MIT Beschraenkter Haftung

Dieter Thomamueller

Klaus Brunsch

Claus-Michael Herkert

A coupling or clutch type element for connecting a driving member to a drn member, in a universal manner allowing for axial and/or angular displacements between the two members, is made by laminating sheets cut from preimpregnated fiber compound webbings onto a subsequently removable core. The sheets are placed in consecutive, overlapping layers with a predetermined fiber orientation. The initial tackiness holds the blanks and layers of sheets together. The assembly of laminates is less compressed in a mold and cured which provides the required bonding and operational strength. After removing the coupling element from the mold the core is removed, for example, by melting or washing. The resulting product does not require any subsequent machining.

Method for the manufacture of a coupling or clutch element

A drive shaft including a universal coupling is made in the form of a uniy bonded fiber material structure having anisotropic properties. A winding form or mold is assembled to include, for example, an elongated winding sleeve, a flange forming core element, and an elongated winding mandrel joined together. Impregnated fiber material is wound onto the mold so that the fibers of the winding lie at thread angles approximately .+-.45.degree. with respect to the longitudinal axis of the form or mold. The wound structure is compressed whereby the coupling assumes its intended shape after curing or hardening. Portions of the form or mold are removed, for example, by dissolving and washing in a suitable solvent. Alternatively the drive shaft coupling is formed directly on the torque transmitting shafts to be coupled so that the transmitting shafts are integrated into the unitary structure. The annular flange and 45.degree. winding result in a structure which affords a high torsional rigidity while allowing deformation of the structure in the three directions of space.

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Bruckmuehl, Germany

Dieter Thomamueller