DefinitionThis is the class for rotary shafts, a rotary shaft being defined as an elongated member intended to be rotated about its longitudinal axis to transmit torque. This is also the class for gudgeons, a gudgeon being defined as a device secured to the end of a shaft or other rotary body, for rotation therewith, to facilitate mounting the body in a support. This is also the class for housings, a housing being defined as a structure providing an enclosure surrounding at least a portion of a shaft, a flexible coupling, or a flexible motion transmitting device such as a Bowden Cable; such enclosure functioning to prevent in advertant contact between an operator or foreign matter and the shaft, flexible coupling, or flexible motion transmitting device; or to retain lubricant or the like within the space surrounded by the enclosure. This is also the class for flexible couplings for rotary shafts, a flexible coupling being defined as structure interconnecting rotary devices, at least one of them being a shaft, in order to facilitate relative motion between them as they transmit torque, or to enable torque to be transmitted through rotary devices having misaligned or angularly related rotational axes. A nominal recitation of a device for applying rotary power to, or receiving rotary power from, a structure of this class will not exclude a patent from being placed in this class. |
Lines with other classes and within this classA method or apparatus for manufacturing a structure of this class that is not found herein, may be found in an appropriate manufacturing class, such as Class 29, Metal Working; or Class 72, Metal Deforming. LINE BETWEEN CLASS 192 AND CLASS 464 Class 192 has couplings of the kind wherein torque transmission may be selectively or automatically disrupted, wherein the couplings of Class 464 are generally intended for continuous torque transmission with provision for relative movement between the coupled members while torque is being transmitted. There are, however, exceptions to this general rule as follows: A. Class 464, in subclasses 32+, has structure wherein torque transmission is disrupted by breakage of a frangible element which may be replaced. B. Class 464, in subclasses 30+, has overload release couplings wherein relative rotation between coupled members continues so long as an overload condition occurs. The line between Class 464, subclasses 30+, and Class 192, subclass 56.1+, is that Class 464 takes structure wherein relatively rotatable surfaces move with respect to each other during an overload condition; but drive through such surfaces is automatically re-established, without an additional operation, upon correction of the overload condition. Class 192, subclass 56.1+, requires a further operation, in addition to correcting the overload condition, to re-establish the drive; such further operation being, for example, operator assisted re-engagement or reduction in rotational speed of a power input member. C. Class 464, in subclasses 24+, provides for fluid couplings wherein relative movement between coupled members is facilitated by compression or decompression of a fluid wherein a significant feature is to accommodate relative movement between the coupled members for dampening, buffering, etc. Class 192, subclasses 58.1+, has fluid couplings wherein a fluent material envelops the coupled parts, and the torque transmission occurs via a shearing action in the fluid. |
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