Method and apparatus for coupling components

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a single piece unitary metal coupling having a first end and a second end and a convolution between the first and second ends. Further disclosed herein is a method for making a single piece unitary construction flexible coupling including machining from a starting material, one or more single piece unitary construction flexible couplings having a first coupling end and a second coupling end and one or more convolutions at the first and second ends.

1 . A single piece unitary metal coupling having a first end and a second end and a convolution between the first and second ends.  
   
   
       2 . A single piece unitary metal coupling having a first end and a second end and a convolution between the first and second ends as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the convolution is of a cross-sectional material thickness that varies with radial distance from an axis of the coupling.  
   
   
       3 . A single piece unitary metal coupling having a first end and a second end and a convolution between the first and second ends as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the cross-sectional material thickness increases as radial distance from the rotational axis decreases.  
   
   
       4 . A single piece unitary metal coupling having a first end and a second end and a convolution between the first and second ends as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the coupling is cylindrical at an inside dimension thereof.  
   
   
       5 . A single piece unitary metal coupling having a first end and a second end and a convolution between the first and second ends as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first and second ends include a connection.  
   
   
       6 . A single piece unitary metal coupling having a first end and a second end and a convolution between the first and second ends as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the connection arrangement is a flange.  
   
   
       7 . A single piece unitary metal coupling having a first end and a second end and a convolution between the first and second ends as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the connection arrangement is a splined connection.  
   
   
       8 . A single piece unitary metal coupling having a first end and a second end and a convolution between the first and second ends as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said coupling further includes at least one opening at a radially outward position of said coupling.  
   
   
       9 . A flexible metal coupling comprising: 
 a first end;    a second end;    a first convolution at the first end and the second end; and    wherein the flexible metal coupling is a single piece unitary construction.    
   
   
       10 . The flexible coupling of  claim 9 , wherein the coupling is made from a material selected from one of titanium, corrosion resistant steels, high strength steels, nickel materials, carbon steel and maraging steel, and combinations including at least one of the foregoing.  
   
   
       11 . The flexible coupling of  claim 9 , further including nitriding for enhanced fatigue properties and wear resistance.  
   
   
       12 . A method for making a single piece unitary construction flexible coupling comprising: 
 machining from a starting material, one or more single piece unitary construction flexible couplings having a first coupling end and a second coupling end and one or more convolutions at the first and second ends.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the machining is one of computer controlled turning, electro-discharge machining and electrochemical machining.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising nitriding the single piece unitary flexible coupling.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the method includes pre-heat treating the starting material.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the method includes post heat treating the unitary flexible coupling.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the machining includes angling an outside surface of each convolution relative to an axis of the coupling and angling an inside surface of each coupling differently relative to an axis of the coupling.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the machining further includes tapering of a cross-sectional thickness of the coupling convolutions with increasing radial distance from an axis of the coupling.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the method includes tailoring of axial and bending stiffness of the coupling to effect one of frequency displacement and resonance detuning.  
   
   
       20 . A coupling consisting of: 
 a single unitary piece of metallic material having a first end and a second end and a convolution disposed at the first and second ends.    
   
   
       21 . A coupling comprising: 
 a first end;    a second end;    a convolution disposed at the first and second ends, said convolution having a material thickness that decreases with increasing radial distance from the rotational axis of the coupling.    
   
   
       22 . A coupling comprising: 
 a first end;    a second end;    a convolution disposed at the first end and second end the convolution having an outside surface an inside surface having different angles relative to an axis of the coupling.