Tolerance ring with divided torque slip
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
InventorsAndrew R. Slayne, Llewelyn Pickering
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tolerance ring is adapted to be deployed between inner and outer components. The tolerance ring includes a generally cylindrical body. The sidewall can include an undeformed portion. The sidewall can further include a plurality of wave structures. The wave structures can protrude radially from the undeformed portion. Some or all wave structures can protrude inwardly or can protrude outwardly. Furthermore, the tolerance ring when placed in an assembly having an inner component and an outer component can have a first torque break-point T1 in a first rotational direction. A torque break point for an assembly comprising an inner component, an outer component, and a tolerance ring is the torque at which slippage occurs.
Claims20
A tolerance ring adapted to be deployed between inner and outer components, comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body having a central axis and a sidewall that defines a first axial end and a second axial end,
- wherein the sidewall includes:
- an undeformed portion;
- and
- a plurality of wave structures protruding radially from the undeformed portion,
- wherein the tolerance ring is adapted to have a first torque break-point T1 in a first rotational direction and a second torque break point T2 in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, wherein a ratio of T1/T2>1, wherein at least one wave structure has an asymmetric cross-section as viewed in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, wherein a radial line bisecting the asymmetric cross-section divides the asymmetric cross-section into a first arc and a second arc, wherein the first arc has an absolute value of a first tangential slope s1 at a mid-point MP1 and the second arc has an absolute value of a second tangential slope s2 at a mid-point MP2, and |s1|≠|s2|.
An assembly, comprising:
- an outer component including a bore;
- an inner component disposed within the bore;
- and
- a tolerance ring mounted between the inner component and the outer component, the tolerance ring comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body having a central axis and a sidewall that defines a first axial end and a second axial end,
- wherein the sidewall includes:
- an undeformed portion;
- and
- a plurality of wave structures protruding radially from the undeformed portion,
- wherein the tolerance ring is adapted to have a first torque break-point T1 in a first rotational direction and a second torque break point T2 in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, wherein a ratio of T1/T2>1, wherein at least one wave structure has an asymmetric cross-section as viewed in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, wherein a radial line bisecting the asymmetric cross-section divides the asymmetric cross-section into a first arc and a second arc, wherein the first arc has an absolute value of a first tangential slope s1 at a mid-point MP1 and the second arc has an absolute value of a second tangential slope s2 at a mid-point MP2, and |s1|≠|s2|.
A method of dividing torque transmission, the method comprising providing an assembly, the assembly comprising
- an outer component including a bore,
- an inner component disposed within the bore, and
- a tolerance ring mounted between the inner component and the outer component, the tolerance ring comprising
- a generally cylindrical body having a central axis and a sidewall that defines a first axial end and a second axial end, wherein the sidewall includes an undeformed portion;
- and a plurality of wave structures protruding radially from the undeformed portion;
- and
- applying torque about the central axis to the inner or the outer component in a first rotational direction, wherein the torque break point in the first rotational direction T1 is different from a torque break point T2 in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, wherein at least one wave structure has an asymmetric cross-section as viewed in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, wherein a radial line bisecting the asymmetric cross-section divides the asymmetric cross-section into a first arc and a second arc, wherein the first arc has an absolute value of a first tangential slope s1 at a mid-point MP1 and the second arc has an absolute value of a second tangential slope s2 at a mid-point MP2, and |s1|≠|s2|, and wherein a ratio of |s2|/|s1| is greater than 1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.