This 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
A 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.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
22, for a cleaning device which is mounted to act on a shaft so as to clean it during normal torque transmission.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
15, Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning,
256.5+, for a cleaning device mounted to act on a moving surface. A cleaning device which is mounted to act on a shaft so as to clean it during normal torque transmission is in Class 464. See Subclass References to the Current Class, above.
29, Metal Working, for a method of assembling a structure of this class (464). 74, Machine Element or Mechanism,
15.6+, for a power take-off from a shaft extension; subclasses 18+ for motion transmitting means including a flexible sealing diaphragm connected to a moving rod and a casing; subclasses 380+ for pivotally supported gearing; subclass 411 for structure providing yield ability in gear trains; subclass 443 for sound deadening means associated with rotary bodies; subclasses 489 and 500.5+ for a flexible motion transmitter (e.g., Bowden cable); subclasses 572+ for a flywheel or rotor with balancing or vibration dampening means; and subclasses 606+ for a gear casing.
81, Tools,
467+, for a wrench or screwdriver responsive to torque on the work.
105, Railway Rolling Stock,
131, for a resilient wheel or axle drive.
123, Internal-Combustion Engines,
406.75, for spark ignition timing controlled by a centrifugal timing mechanism.
138, Pipes and Tubular Conduits,
118+, for a flexible conduit.
152, Resilient Tires and Wheels, appropriate subclasses for a connection which facilitates relative movement between a rim and a hub on a wheel.
160, Flexible or Portable Closure, Partition, or Panel, 326, for a combined roller and gudgeon in a roller for accumulating material on a roll.
172, Earth Working,
261+, for an earthworking element combined with means permitting said element to shift in response to an overload
condition.
173, Tool Driving or Impacting,
93.5+, for a rotary tool drive having a torque responsive impact in an impacting device; and subclasses 165+ for means to drive a tool about an axis and including a relatively fixed drive for an advancing tool.
175, Boring or Penetrating the Earth,
195, for a rotary drive table for a relatively advancing tool. See the Class 175 Class Definition, References to Other Classes, the Search Note to Class 464 and see also Class 175, subclass 320, (2) Note, for a statement of the line.
180, Motor Vehicles,
254+, for a vehicle having a driven and steerable wheel and including a flexible drive transmitting means for transmitting torque to the wheel.
184, Lubrication, for lubrication systems, per se; but if a shaft or flexible coupling includes structure which is modified so as to admit lubrication, classification is in Class 464,
7+,. 192, Clutches and Power-Stop Control,
56.1+, for an overload release clutch; subclasses 58.1+ for a fluent material clutch; subclasses 84.1+ for an electric operator for a clutch; subclasses 85+ for a fluid pressure operator for a clutch; subclasses 103+ for a speed responsive operator; and subclasses 200+ for a clutch element combined with means for resiliently mounting such element on a hub. In general, 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. For exceptions to this general rule, see Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, Line Between Class 192 and Class 464, above.
200, Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers,
19.28, for ignition distributors with centrifugal advance mechanism.
241, Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration,
32, for overload release means for comminution apparatus, and subclasses 291+ for significant comminuting structure mounted on a drive shaft therefor.
277, Seal for a Joint or Juncture, for a generic sealing means or process,
504, for a dynamic, circumferential contact seal for other than a piston that accommodates gyratory or oscillatory motion by using a flexible connection having static contact between the seal and one of the relatively movable parts; subclasses 549+ for a dynamic circumferential contact seal for other than a piston having a peripheral radially sealing flexible projection (e.g., lip seal, etc.) or subclasses 634+ for a static, contact seal for other than an internal combustion engine, or a pipe, conduit, or cable that is a flexible sleeve, boot, or diaphragm.
279, Chucks or Sockets,
16, for a self-centering or floating chuck or socket.
285, Pipe Joints or Couplings, appropriate subclasses for a coupling between fluid conducting pipes. 295, Railway Wheels and Axles,
36.1+, for an axle of that class.
301, Land Vehicles: Wheels and Axles,
124.1+, for an axle of that class.
310, Electrical Generator or Motor Structure,
75+, for a drive mechanism which may include a flexible shaft, and subclasses 92+ for torque transmitting clutches.
403, Joints and Connections, appropriate subclasses for a joint or connector, per se. If, however, a coupling between torque transmitting members is such as to facilitate connection or relative movement between members having misaligned or angularly related axes, then such coupling is in Class 464. See Class 403,
52+, for a joint between articulated members other than rotary torque transmitting members.
409, Gear Cutting, Milling, or Planing,
231+, for a cutter spindle or spindle support.
433, Dentistry,
112, for a flexible shaft transmission in a dental apparatus. 440, Marine Propulsion,
83, for shafting combined with a screw propeller in marine
propulsion apparatus.
474, Endless Belt Power Transmission Systems or Components,
94, for a flexible connection between a pulley or guide roll rim and its mount.
475, Planetary Gear Transmission Systems or Components,
346+, (and see The Search Notes therein) for a flexible coupling in a planetary gear arrangement.
492, Roll or Roller, for a roll, per se, not elsewhere provided for, and see the search notes thereunder.