Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Richard A Knoth

James R Spaulding

Wuhua Yang

Michael R Kaphengst

Robert Bruce Tilove

Tony J Deschutter

Nidamaluri S Nagesh

Ricky L Callender

A shaft coupling assembly includes a shaft coupling element having a coupling wall defining a channel configured to receive a shaft end of a shaft. The channel includes a coupling interface configured to mate to a shaft interface defined by the shaft end. Each of the coupling interface and the shaft interface define a mating non-regular shape, which may be configured as one of an irregular polygon and a hybrid polygon including linear and non-linear sides. The shaft coupling element includes a fastener bore and a counterbore having an axial counterbore depth greater than an axial depth of the fastener bore. The shaft end inserted in the channel to an inserted depth greater than the fastener bore depth and less than the axial counterbore depth is displaceable into the counterbore such that the shaft end is not engaged with the coupling interface by the fastener bore receiving the fastener.

Coupling element with non-regular shaft interface

A shaft coupling assembly retains a shaft end in a coupling element channel using a fastener inserted through a coupling element bore and a recess in an engagement segment of the shaft end to engage the coupling element to exert a clamping force on a shaft interface of the engagement segment. A projection having a smaller cross section than that of the shaft interface extends axially from the engagement segment and has sufficient length to protrude into the bore to interfere with fastener engagement prior to engagement of the shaft interface in the channel. A projection upper surface further interferes with the fastener bore to prevent engagement of the fastener when the shaft end has been engaged to the channel but not inserted to an installed position. The upper surface may be defined by an arcuate portion of the projection which may have a teardrop shaped cross section.

Shaft coupling assembly and method

A process for simulating and assembling flexible parts includes creating an ideal path between first and second planes and placing a virtual rigid envelope around the ideal path, and possibly tubular extensions beyond the path. A virtual flexible part is marked with reference features and pulled through the virtual rigid envelope, such that the path of the virtual flexible part is constrained but may rotate. Removing the virtual rigid envelope allows the virtual flexible part to relax, causing it to move to its lowest energy state. Zero-twist end conditions on the virtual flexible part are marked, corresponding to the intersection of the reference features with the planes. Identification marks are placed on a real flexible part, corresponding to the reference strips on the virtual flexible part. The real flexible part may then be assembled by aligning zero-twist marks on mating features to the identification marks on the real flexible part.

Process for simulating and assembling flexible parts

A hand tool has two digital video cameras mounted thereon adjacent to a working end of the tool for viewing a work site, which video cameras are connected to a pair of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) mounted on the tool proximate a control end of the tool. The hand tool includes a barrel with a handle at the control end and a control operator for activating the tool, wherein the control operator is in operative relationship with the handle and wherein the working end of the tool is positioned at the end of the barrel opposite the control end of the tool. In an illustrated example, the cameras and LCDs are mounted on a pneumatic nut runner with a T-head tool drive.

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Lake Orion, MI, United States of America

Richard A Knoth