BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The exact nature of this invention, as well as the objects and advantages thereof, will become readily apparent from consideration of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art tolerance ring.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tolerance ring according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tolerance ring along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tolerance ring according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a tolerance ring according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tolerance ring along line 6-6 of FIGS. 4 and 5.
FIG. 7 is illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tolerance ring along line 6-6 of FIGS. 4 and 5, illustrating an alternate interlocking tab feature.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a tolerance ring according to a further another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tolerance ring according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tolerance ring along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tolerance ring along line 10-10 of FIG. 9, illustrating an alternative interlocking feature.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a tolerance ring according to yet a further embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tolerance ring along line 13-13 of FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tolerance ring along line 13-13 of FIG. 12, illustrating an alternative interlocking feature.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a prior art tolerance ring design 11. In one embodiment, the tolerance ring 11 is made from 300 Series stainless steel. The tolerance ring 11 is formed from a substantially planar base portion that is curved to form a cylinder 13. The cylinder 13 has a first radius about a central axis and extends for a fixed length parallel to the central axis.
Radial expansion and contraction of cylindrical opening 19 is facilitated by a gap 21 along the length of tolerance ring 11, the gap 21 having a first edge 15 and a second edge 17. This gap 21 allows tolerance rings to readily interlock during shipping and handling because a cylinder 13 of one tolerance ring 11 can enter through the gap 21 and into the cylindrical opening 19 of another tolerance ring 11. Separating interlocked tolerance rings 11 is time consuming, expensive and may subject the tolerance rings 11 to handling damage.
The tolerance ring 11 has a plurality of contacting portions 23. The contacting portions 23 generally have a rhomboidal cross-sectional shape extending axially along the cylinder 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the contacting portions 23 project radially outward in a direction away from the interior of the tolerance ring 11. It is recognized that alternative configurations known in the art include tolerance rings with contacting portions 23 that project radially inward or project inward and outward in an alternating fashion.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tolerance ring 25 that prevents interlocking during shipping and handling according to one embodiment of the present invention. The tolerance ring 25 has hook-shaped tabs 27 and 29 with opposite mating ends. These ends interlock with one another to close the gap 21 formed between the edges 27 and 29. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tolerance ring 25 along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, illustrating this interlocking tab feature. By eliminating the gap 21, tolerance ring 25 cannot tangle or interlock with other tolerance rings 25 during shipping and handling.
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate perspective views of a tolerance ring 31 that prevents interlocking during shipping and handling using a non-linear gap configuration 37 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The non-linear gap configuration 37 is formed between edges 15 and 17. Edge 17 has a tab 35 that can mate with a recess 33 of edge 15. It can be envisioned that edges 15 and 17 can have different mating or reciprocal configurations that result in a non-linear gap configuration 37 between them. For example, the non-linear gap configuration 37 can be envisioned to diagonally traverse the axial width of cylinder 13 or configured as a semi-circular gap between edges 15 and 17.
Since the non-linear gap 37 affects the spacing and orientation of contacting portions 23, additional or secondary contacting portions of various dimensions can be used. FIG. 5 illustrate a tolerance ring 31 that prevents interlocking during shipping and handling using a non-linear gap configuration 37, having a plurality of contacting portions 39 and 41 within close proximity to the non-linear gap configuration 37. These contacting portions 39 and 41 improve the radial preload between mating cylindrical features of the actuator arm assembly across the non-linear gap 37. The radial preload compression provides frictional engagement that prevents actual slippage of the mating parts. Another advantage of having a plurality of contacting portions 39 and 41 close to the non-linear gap 37 is to reduce mass eccentricity, or mass imbalance, of the tolerance ring 31.
FIG. 5 also illustrates an alternate configuration for contacting portions 23. Contacting portions 23 are arranged in a plurality of rows along the surface of the cylinder 13. Contacting portions 23, 39 and 41 generally have a rhomboidal cross-sectional shape extending axially along the cylinder 13. The contacting portions 23, 39 and 41 project radially outward in a direction away from the interior of the tolerance ring 11. It is recognized that alternative configurations known in the art include tolerance rings with contacting portions 23, 39 and 41 that project radially inward, or project inward, and outward in an alternating fashion.
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate alternate cross-sectional views of tolerance ring 31 along line 6-6 of FIGS. 4 and 5. In one embodiment, the tabs 15 and 17 are removably engageable to close the non-linear gap 37 formed therebetween. FIG. 6 shows the edge of tab 15 overlapping the edge of tab 17, while the protrusion 35 overlaps the cavity 33. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the tabs 15 and 17 meet along the parameter of the cylinder 13. FIG. 7 shows the protrusion 35 and cavity 33 by dashed-lines within the same plane as the cylinder 13. By utilizing the non-linear gap configuration 37, tolerance rings 31 do not tangle or interlock with each other during shipping and handling.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a tolerance ring 43 that prevents interlocking during shipping and handling using a helical gap 45. The edges 15 and 17 are angled to allow a helical gap 45 to diagonally traverse around the axial width of the cylinder 13. By utilizing this helical gap 45 configuration, tolerance rings 43 do not tangle or interlock with each other during shipping and handling.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tolerance ring 47 that prevents interlocking during shipping and handling using a tab 49 and an aperture 51. The aperture 51 is an opening formed in the cylinder 13 that is at least large enough to receive the tab 49 on the opposite end. The tab 49 has a cavity or opening 53 designed to account for mass eccentricity of the tolerance ring 47. It can be envisioned that the tab 49 can have any configuration that is receivable by a mating aperture 51 on the opposite end.
FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate alternate cross-sectional views of the tolerance ring 47 along line 10-10 of FIG. 9. The tab 49 is removably engageable with aperture 51. FIG. 10 shows a tab 49 configuration planar to the cylinder 13. FIG. 10 provides an alternate tab 49 configuration with a flange 55 to securely couple the tab 49 to the aperture 51. By eliminating the gap 21, tolerance ring 47 does not tangle or interlock with other tolerance rings 47 during shipping and handling.
It is recognized that alternative tab and aperture configurations can be used to eliminate the gap 21. For example, the tolerance ring 47 can have a plurality of tabs that mate with a plurality of apertures. FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a tolerance ring 57 with two tabs 59 that are removably engageable with two apertures 61. The tabs 59 can mate with apertures 61 in the same manner as explained in FIGS. 10 and 11, or the tabs 59 can clip or hook into the apertures 61, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The tabs 59 can have an L-shaped or U-shaped flange 63 that hook on one edge of the opening of apertures 61. Like the other embodiments of the present invention, by eliminating the gap 21, tolerance ring 57 avoids entanglement or interlocking with other tolerance rings 57 during shipping and handling.
It is understood by a person skilled in the art that any combination of the embodiments described herein can be used without departing from the purpose of the present invention. For example, a tolerance ring using non-linear gap configuration 37 can be used in combination with a tab 49 and aperture 51. Similarly, the tolerance ring using non-linear gap configuration 37 can be used in combination with a plurality of tabs 59 and a plurality of apertures 61. The tolerance ring using non-linear gap configuration 37 can also be used along with hook-shaped tabs 27 and 29. All combinations of the described embodiments can be used to prevent the interlocking of one tolerance ring with another.
Patent Application
20080043374
