Coupling anti-flail cup

Abstract

The present invention disclosed herein provides an anti-flail cup ( 18 ) having a flange ( 20 ) attachable to an end of a shaft ( 10 ). The flange ( 20 ) has a perimeter and a face. A shoulder ( 22 ) extends from the perimeter of the flange ( 20 ) and generally perpendicularly to the face of the flange ( 20 ). The shoulder ( 22 ) of the anti-flail cup ( 18 ) surrounds a coupling ( 12 ) between two shafts ( 10 ) and retains the shaft ( 10 ) ends if the coupling ( 12 ) fails.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An anti-flail assembly comprising: 
 a flange having a face and a perimeter, the flange attachable to an end of a shaft; and    a shoulder extending from the perimeter of the flange generally perpendicularly to the face of the flange.    
     
     
         2 . The anti-flail assembly of  claim 1  wherein the shoulder has at least one view port.  
     
     
         3 . The anti-flail assembly of  claim 1  wherein the flange is integral with the shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The anti-flail assembly of  claim 1  wherein the flange is attachable to a first shaft, the first shaft rotatably coupled to a second shaft by a coupling.  
     
     
         5 . The anti-flail assembly of  claim 4  wherein the coupling comprises at least one flexible disc.  
     
     
         6 . The anti-flail assembly of  claim 4  wherein the coupling further comprises: 
 at least one flexible disc;  
 a first lug and a second lug fastened to opposite sides of the flexible disc;  
 the first shaft attached to the first lug; and  
 the second shaft attached to the second lug.  
 
     
     
         7 . The anti-flail assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein the shoulder extends around a portion of the second lug.  
     
     
         8 . The anti-flail assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein the first lug is attached to one side of the coupling using at least two fasteners and the second lug is attached to the opposite side of the coupling using at least two fasteners.  
     
     
         9 . A method for preventing an end of a rotating shaft from flailing, the method comprising the steps of: 
 attaching an anti-flail cup to an end of a first shaft;    coupling a second shaft to the end of the first shaft such that the anti-flail cup extends from the end of the first shaft to the coupled end of the second shaft.    
     
     
         10 . The method recited in  claim 9  wherein the anti-flail cup comprises: 
 a flange attachable to an end of the first shaft; and  
 a shoulder extending generally perpendicular from the circumference of the flange generally parallel to the axis of the first shaft.  
 
     
     
         11 . The method recited in  claim 9  wherein the step of coupling the second shaft to the end of the first shaft comprises: 
 fastening a coupling to the end of the first shaft; and  
 fastening the second shaft to the coupling.  
 
     
     
         12 . The method recited in  claim 9  further comprising the step of viewing the coupling through a view port in the anti-flail cup.  
     
     
         13 . The method recited in  claim 9  wherein the step of attaching the anti-flail cup to the first shaft is accomplished by fastening the anti-flail cup to a first lug attached to the first shaft.  
     
     
         14 . The method recited in  claim 13  wherein the step of coupling a second shaft to the end of the first shaft further comprises: 
 fastening a first side of a coupling to the first lug; and  
 fastening the second side of the coupling to a second lug attached to the second shaft.  
 
     
     
         15 . An anti-flail system comprising: 
 a first shaft coupled to a second shaft by a coupling; and    an anti-flail cup attached to the first shaft.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the anti-flail cup comprises: 
 a flange attached to the first shaft; and  
 a shoulder extending from the flange, the shoulder extending generally parallel to the axis of the first shaft and around a portion of the coupling.  
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising at least one view port disposed within the shoulder for checking the coupling.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the flange is integral with the first shaft.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the coupling further comprises: 
 at least one flexible disc;  
 a first lug and a second lug fastened to opposite sides of the flexible disc;  
 the first shaft attached to the first lug; and  
 the second shaft attached to the second lug.  
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the first lug is attached to one side of the coupling using at least two fasteners and the second lug is attached to the opposite side of the coupling using at least two fasteners.