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US 10,837,511 B2Granted
Nested canted coil springs, applications thereof, and related methods
AssigneeBal Seal Engineering, Inc.
InventorBrian Carter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spring assembly having at least two canted coil spring lengths nested together are disclosed. Two sections of coils of a canted coil spring length can each be positioned between two adjacent coils of another canted coil spring. Each section of the coils of the canted coil spring length includes at least one coil and up to several coils or a plurality of coils. The canted coil spring lengths are nested together to increase the deflection force of the overall spring assembly. The spring assembly having two or more nested spring lengths can be used in connector applications.
Claims26
A connector assembly comprising:
- a housing with a housing groove;
- a shaft with a shaft groove;
- the housing groove and the shaft groove define a common groove;
- and
- a spring assembly positioned in the common groove to latch or to lock the shaft to the housing, the spring assembly comprising:
- at least two canted coil springs including a first canted coil spring comprising a plurality of first canted coils, each with different front and back angles, with a first coil centerline so that the plurality of first canted coils are deflectable when a first force perpendicular in direction to the first coil centerline is applied and a second canted coil spring comprising a plurality of second canted coils, each with different front and back angles, with a second coil centerline and so that the plurality of second canted coils are deflectable when a second force perpendicular in direction to the second coil centerline is applied, the at least two canted coil springs defining a spring ring having a ring centerline;
- wherein the first coil centerline of the first canted coil spring is spaced from the second coil centerline of the second canted coil spring, and wherein the plurality of first canted coils of the first canted coil spring are located at least partially outside of the second canted coil spring, and the plurality of the second canted coils of the second canted coil spring are located at least partially outside of the first canted coil spring;
- wherein the first canted coil spring and the second canted coil spring deflect when forces perpendicular to the first coil centerline and the second coil centerline are applied, respectively;
- and
- wherein each of at least two sections of the plurality of first canted coils of the first canted coil spring is positioned between two adjacent second canted coils of the second canted coil spring, wherein each of the at least two sections of the plurality of first canted coils of the first canted coil spring comprises at least one first canted coil.
7 more elements
A spring assembly comprising:
- at least two canted coil springs including a first canted coil spring comprising a plurality of first canted coils, each with different front and back angles, with a first coil centerline so that the plurality of first canted coils are deflectable when a first force perpendicular in direction to the first coil centerline is applied and a second canted coil spring comprising a plurality of second canted coils, each with different front and back angles, with a second coil centerline and so that the plurality of second canted coils are deflectable when a second force perpendicular in direction to the second coil centerline is applied, the at least two canted coil springs defining a spring ring having a ring centerline;
- wherein the first coil centerline of the first canted coil spring is spaced from the second coil centerline of the second canted coil spring, and wherein the plurality of first canted coils of the first canted coil spring are located at least partially outside of the second canted coil spring, and the plurality of the second canted coils of the second canted coil spring are located at least partially outside of the first canted coil spring;
- wherein the first canted coil spring and the second canted coil spring deflect when forces perpendicular to the first coil center and the second coil centerline are applied, respectively;
- and
- wherein each of at least two sections of the plurality of first canted coils of the first canted coil spring is positioned between two adjacent second canted coils of the second canted coil spring, wherein each of the at least two sections of the plurality of first canted coils of the first canted coil spring comprises at least one first canted coil.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.