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US 11,898,608 B2Granted
Tolerance ring, method, and assembly for component retention control
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
InventorsFlorian Itta, Charles Gage, Stephen Saunders
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tolerance ring including a sidewall and at least one projection from the sidewall that projects radially and axially to prevent axial displacement of the tolerance ring with respect to a component interior or exterior to the tolerance ring.
Claims15
A tolerance ring configured to be mounted between an inner shaft component and an outer housing component, comprising:
- an annular sidewall comprising at least one bore extending therethrough, wherein each bore is disposed axially inward from a first axial edge of the sidewall;
- and
- at least one projection extending radially and axially from the sidewall configured to abut an axial end surface of the inner shaft component or the outer housing component to prevent axial displacement of the tolerance ring, with respect to the inner component or the outer component, each projection comprising a pair of circumferentially-spaced radial flaps located on opposing axially-extending edges of a respective one of the bores, wherein both radial flaps are bent inwardly and outwardly in the same radial direction from the sidewall, and wherein each flap extends radially inward from perspective edge of he bore along a first side of the flap and is continuously disconnected from the bore along the remaining sides of the flap such that an end portion of each flap axially fills a portion of the bore;
- and
- a plurality of circumferentially-spaced axially-extending wave structures protruding radially from the sidewall adjacent a second axial edge thereof configured to engage an outer surface of the inner shfat component or an inner surface of the outer housing component, wherein an unformed section of the sidewall is located between each pair of adjacent wave structures, and wherein the radial flaps and the wave structures extend in the same radial direction from the sidewall.
2 more elements
An assembly, comprising:
- an outer housing component;
- an inner shaft component;
- and
- a tolerance ring mounted between the inner shaft component and the outer housing component, the tolerance ring comprising:
- an annular sidewall comprising at least one bore extending therethrough, wherein each bore is disposed axially inward from a first axial edge of the sidewall;
- and
- at least one projection extending radially and axially from the sidewall configured to abut an axial end surface of the inner shaft component or the outer housing component to prevent axial displacement of the tolerance ring, with respect to the inner component or the outer component, each projection comprising a pair of circumferentially-spaced radial flaps located on opposing axially-extending edges of a respective one of the bores, wherein both radial flaps are bent inwardly and outwardly in the same radial direction from the sidewall, and wherein each flap extends radially inward from perspective edge of he bore along a first side of the flap and is continuously disconnected from the bore along the remaining sides of the flap such that an end portion of each flap axially fills a portion of the bore;
- and
- a plurality of circumferentially-spaced axially-extending wave structures protruding radially from the sidewall adjacent a second axial edge thereof configured to engage an outer surface of the inner shfat component or an inner surface of the outer housing component, wherein an unformed section of the sidewall is located between each pair of adjacent wave structures, and wherein the radial flaps and the wave structures extend in the same radial direction from the sidewall.
6 more elements
A method, comprising:
- providing an inner shaft component and an outer housing component;
- positioning a tolerance ring between the inner shaft component and the outer housing component, the tolerance ring comprising:
- an annular sidewall comprising at least one bore extending therethrough, wherein each bore is disposed axially inward from a first axial edge of the sidewall;
- and
- at least one projection extending radially and axially from the sidewall configured to abut an axial end surface of the inner shaft component or the outer housing component to prevent axial displacement of the tolerance ring, with respect to the inner component or the outer component, each projection comprising a pair of circumferentially-spaced radial flaps located on opposing axially-extending edges of a respective one of the bores, wherein both radial flaps are bent inwardly and outwardly in the same radial direction from the sidewall, and wherein each flap extends radially inward from perspective edge of he bore along a first side of the flap and is continuously disconnected from the bore along the remaining sides of the flap such that an end portion of each flap axially fills a portion of the bore;
- and
- a plurality of circumferentially-spaced axially-extending wave structures protruding radially from the sidewall adjacent a second axial edge thereof configured to engage an outer surface of the inner shfat component or an inner surface of the outer housing component, wherein an unformed section of the sidewall is located between each pair of adjacent wave structures, and wherein the radial flaps and the wave structures extend in the same radial direction from the sidewall;
- and
- contacting the projection to one of the inner shaft component or the outer housing component to retain the tolerance ring to the inner component or the outer component.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.