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wrote:

An "Oldham Coupler" is way to transfer torque between two parallel but
not-quite-collinear shafts. It has three disks, one coupled to the
input, one coupled to the output, and a middle disk that is joined to
the first two by tongue and groove. The tongue/groove on one side is
perpendicular to the tongue/groove on the other. Often springs are
used to reduce backlash of the mechanism. The coupler is much more
compact than, say, two universal joints. But: who was Mr. Oldham?
Google searches turn up the device's inclusion in R-390A radios and
astronomical instruments, but nothing about its inventor. Tim. (who
otherwise wonders who takes care of the caretaker's daughter while the
caretaker's busy taking care.)

Darned good question, and I couldn't find a trace of the inventor either.

Maybe they were first produced by a company in Oldham, England?

FWIW, now that you got me hooked, does the design minimize angular
rotation "distortion" when used on offset but parallel shafts, similar
to the way a pair of crossed (i.e. offset 90 degrees to each other.)
universal joints will?

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."