# US 10,371,213 B2 · System, method and apparatus for tolerance ring control of slip interface sliding forces > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,213 B2 - Document ID: US10371213B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/563,849 - Filed: 2014-12-08 - Published: 2015-04-30 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-25 - Assignees: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited - Applicants: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited - Inventors: Andrew R. Slayne; Parag Natu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371213B2 ## CPC - F16D 1/0835: {due to the elasticity of the ring or sleeve} - F16C 27/02: Sliding-contact bearings - F16C 29/002: {Elastic or yielding linear bearings or bearing supports} - F16D 3/06: specially adapted to allow axial displacement - F16D 7/021: {with radially applied torque-limiting friction surfaces (F16D7/022 takes precedence)} - Y10T 156/1041: Subsequent to lamination - Y10T 403/7058: Split or slotted bushing - Y10T 403/7061: Resilient - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A tolerance ring comprising a metallic band for spring features and a complementary low friction material for frictional considerations is disclosed. The tolerance ring is designed to operate within a precisely controlled torque or axial force band to provide a defined amount of resistance and sliding force control between components that move relative to each other. Isolated portions of the tolerance ring form regions of contact with adjacent ones of the components. Other surfaces of the tolerance ring comprise portions with spring features that have geometry suitable for their spring rate, rather than conforming to mating surfaces of the adjacent components. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of forming a tolerance ring comprising: providing a strip of resilient material comprising spring steel having a radial thickness of 0.1 to 0.7 mm; laminating a low friction layer comprising a fluoropolymer to the strip of resilient material to form a layered structure; and forming projections in the layered structure, wherein the projection are axially-elongated ridges with rounded peaks, wherein the tolerance ring comprises a rim disposed at an axial end, and wherein the tolerance ring is adapted to provide at least one of: a radial stiffness that is greater than 20,000 N/mm, a axial sliding force in a range of 10 to 600 N, or a slip torque in a range of 1 to 25 Nm, wherein the coefficient of friction provided by the low friction layer is in a range of about 0.04 to 0.25, wherein the projections are adapted to be compressed between inner and outer components such that the tolerance ring operates in a flattened portion of a compression/retention force characteristic whereby the projections initially exhibit elastic behavior and are plastically deformed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: bending the layered structure into a curved shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein bending the layered structure is performed so as to define a ring including an axial gap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming the projections is performed by stamping. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the low friction layer comprises a flexible material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the projections is performed such that each projection is spaced apart from a neighboring projection by a flat section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the rim is contiguous with the flat sections. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of laminating the low friction layer is performed with an adhesive disposed between the low friction layer and the strip of resilient material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein corrosion resistant coating is applied to a surface of the resilient material, wherein the corrosion resistant coating comprises an epoxy layer. ### Claim 10 A method of forming a tolerance ring comprising: providing a layered structure including laminating a strip of resilient material comprising spring steel having a radial thickness of 0.1 to 0.7 mm and a low friction layer comprising a fluoropolymer; forming projections in the layered structure; and bending the layered structure into a curved shape, wherein the projections are axially-elongated ridges with rounded peaks, wherein the tolerance ring comprises a rim disposed at an axial end, and wherein the tolerance ring is adapted to provide at least one of: a radial stiffness that is greater than 20,000 N/mm, a axial sliding force in a range of 10 to 600 N, or a slip torque in a range of 1 to 25 Nm, wherein the coefficient of friction provided by the low friction layer is in a range of about 0.04 to 0.25, wherein the projections are adapted to be compressed between inner and outer components such that the tolerance ring operates in a flattened portion of a compression/retention force characteristic whereby the projections initially exhibit elastic behavior and are plastically deformed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of forming the projections is performed by stamping. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein bending the layered structure is performed so as to define a ring including an axial gap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of forming the projections is performed such that each projection comprises tapered shoulders. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of providing a layered structure is performed by: providing a strip of resilient material; and laminating a low friction layer to the strip of resilient material to form a layered structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the step of laminating the low friction layer is performed with an adhesive disposed between the low friction layer and the strip of resilient material. ### Claim 16 A method of forming a tolerance ring comprising: providing a strip of resilient material comprising spring steel having a radial thickness of 0.1 to 0.7 mm; laminating a low friction layer comprising a fluoropolymer to the strip of resilient material to form a layered structure; forming projections in the layered structure, wherein the projections are axially-elongated ridges with rounded peaks; and bending the layered structure into a curved shape such that the low friction layer is disposed radially inside of the strip of resilient material, wherein the tolerance ring comprises a rim disposed at an axial end, and wherein the tolerance ring is adapted to provide at least one of: a radial stiffness that is greater than 20,000 N/mm, a axial sliding force in a range of 10 to 600 N, or a slip torque in a range of 1 to 25 Nm, wherein the coefficient of friction provided by the low friction layer is in a range of about 0.04 to 0.25, wherein the projections are adapted to be compressed between inner and outer components such that the tolerance ring operates in a flattened portion of a compression/retention force characteristic whereby the projections initially exhibit elastic behavior and are plastically deformed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the step of laminating the low friction layer is performed with an adhesive disposed between the low friction layer and the strip of resilient material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein laminating the corrosion resistant coating is performed prior to forming the projections.