Splined joints

Claim 1

A splined joint between a shaft having a plurality of axially extending radially outwardly projecting teeth spaced apart angularly about the rotational axis of the shaft and a muff having a plurality of axially extending radially inwardly projecting teeth spaced apart angularly about the rotational axis of the muff, the teeth of each member fitting between the teeth of the other member to permit relative axial sliding movement and torque transmission between the members, the improvement wherein: a. said muff defines an internal chamber adjacent to its end from which the shaft projects, b. a guide ring is disposed in said chamber, the guide ring being of dimensions to exert constraint upon relative radial movement between the shaft and muff, c. said chamber in the muff is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced radially inwardly extending projections which engage the outer surface of the guide ring, d. said projections are aligned with respective teeth of the muff but project radially inwardly to a smaller extent than the teeth of the muff, e. said guide ring having radially outwardly extending projections for engaging in the grooves left between the projections of the muff when the guide ring is first introduced into said chamber, f. said guide ring is made of a material which can be sheared in response to rotation of the ring relative to the muff so that the inner faces of the projections of the muff are brought into contact with newly exposed circumferential face portions of the ring produced by the said shearing of the projections upon rotation of the ring, and g. said chamber and guide ring are provided with respective formations which cooperate to prevent axial displacement of the guide ring from the open end of the chamber.

Claim 4

A method of reducing "dog legging" in a splined joint between a shaft and a muff, comprising providing a chamber at the end of the muff from which the shaft projects, said chamber having angularly spaced radially inwardly extending projections, providing a guide ring of rupturable material but of mechanical strength sufficient to exercise constraint upon relative radial movement between the shaft and the muff, said guide ring having angularly spaced radially outwardly extending projections of dimensions and spacing such as to be capable of passing into the grooves between the projections of the chamber, inserting said guide ring into said chamber with its projections in said grooves, and rotating said guide ring through an angular displacement to shear its projections from the remainder of the ring by the inwardly projecting formations of the chamber.

Claim 5

A method of reducing "dog legging" in a splined joint between a shaft and a muff, comprising providing a chamber at the end of the muff from which the shaft projects, said chamber having angularly spaced radially inwardly extending projections, providing a guide ring of rupturable material but of mechanical strength sufficient to exercise constraint upon relative radial movement between the shaft and the muff, said guide ring having angularly spaced radially outwardly extending projections of dimensions and spacing such as to be capable of passing into the grooves between the projections of the chamber, inserting said guide ring into said chamber with its projections in said grooves, and rotating said guide ring through an angular displacement to shear its projections from the remainder of the ring by the inwardly projecting formations of the chamber.