Tolerance ring with slotted sidewall
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
InventorsBenjamin NIAS, Andrew Robert SLAYNE, Simon Alan HUGHES
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tolerance ring is disclosed and can include a generally cylindrical body having a sidewall. The sidewall can include a plurality of wave structures extending from the sidewall at regular intervals around the body, a first unformed section between a first pair of adjacent wave structures, and a second unformed section between a second pair of adjacent wave structures. The gap can extend along an entire length, L, of the body to establish a split in the body. The second unformed section can include a slot therein. The slot can have a length, LS, and LS≧80% L.
Claims23
A tolerance ring, comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body having a sidewall, wherein the sidewall includes:
- a plurality of wave structures extending from the sidewall at regular intervals around the body;
- a first unformed section between a first pair of adjacent wave structures, the first unformed section including a gap, wherein the gap extends along an entire length, L, of the body to establish a split in the body;
- and
- a second unformed section between a second pair of adjacent wave structures, the second unformed section including a slot therein, wherein the slot has a length, LS, and LS≧80% L.
(canceled)
-19. (canceled)
An assembly, comprising:
- an outer component including a bore within the outer component;
- an inner component disposed within the bore;
- and
- a tolerance ring mounted on the inner component, the tolerance ring comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body having a sidewall, wherein the sidewall includes:
- a plurality of wave structures extending from the sidewall at regular intervals around the body;
- a first unformed section between a first pair of adjacent wave structures, the first unformed section including a gap, wherein the gap extends along an entire length, L, of the body to establish a split in the body;
- and
- a second unformed section between a second pair of adjacent wave structures, the second unformed section including a slot therein, wherein the slot has a length, LS, and LS≧80% L.
-25. (canceled)
A hard disk drive, comprising:
- an actuator arm formed with a bore;
- a pivot assembly installed within the bore of the actuator the arm, the pivot assembly including a post and a tolerance ring around the post, wherein the tolerance ring includes:
- a generally cylindrical body having a sidewall, wherein the sidewall includes:
- a plurality of wave structures extending from the sidewall at regular intervals around the body;
- a first unformed section between a first pair of adjacent wave structures, the first unformed section including a gap, wherein the gap extends along an entire length, L, of the body to establish a split in the body;
- and
- a second unformed section between a second pair of adjacent wave structures, the second unformed section including a slot therein, wherein the slot has a length, LS, and LS≧80% L.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.