Tolerance ring assembly
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
InventorsNiki S. Woodhead, Andrew R. Slayne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tolerance ring having a first axial end, a second axial end, and a central axis, the tolerance ring including an annular band; a plurality of protrusions, all of the plurality of protrusions extending from the annular band; and a guide portion extending from the annular band towards the first axial end of the tolerance ring, where the guide portion includes a guide surface that is curved in an axial section.
Claims20
A tolerance ring having a first axial end, a second axial end, and a central axis, the tolerance ring comprising:
- an annular band;
- a plurality of protrusions, all of the plurality of protrusions extending from the annular band;
- and
- a guide portion extending from the annular band towards the first axial end of the tolerance ring, wherein the guide portion comprises a guide surface that is curved in an axial section.
An apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a bore therein;
- a shaft in the bore;
- and
- a tolerance ring positioned between the interior surface of the housing and the external surface of the shaft, the tolerance ring comprising:
- an annular band;
- a plurality of protrusions, all of the plurality of protrusions extending from the annular band;
- and
- a guide portion extending from the annular band towards the first axial end of the tolerance ring, wherein the guide portion comprises a guide surface that is curved in an axial section of the guide portion is visible when viewed from the first axial end along the central axis of the tolerance ring.
A method of assembling an apparatus, comprising:
- inserting a tolerance ring into a bore in a housing, the tolerance ring comprising:
- an annular band;
- a plurality of protrusions, all of the plurality of protrusions extending from the annular band;
- and
- a guide portion extending from the annular band towards the first axial end of the tolerance ring, wherein the guide portion comprises a guide surface that is curved in an axial section of the guide portion is visible when viewed from the first axial end along the central axis of the tolerance ring;
- and
- inserting an end of a shaft into the guide portion of the tolerance ring;
- and moving the shaft along the axis of the band into the band, so that the band engages the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.