Multi-stage engagement assemblies and related methods
AssigneeBal Seal Engineering, Inc.
InventorsDerek Changsrivong, Hugh Cook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A progressive release or multi-point engagement device according to aspect of the present disclosure includes a first component and a second component connected to the first component with a canted coil spring. The first component is movable relative to the second component and latch by moving the canted coil spring to a second common groove. Alternatively, a second spring is used to move the second component and relative to a third component. When a second engagement position is desired, a relatively higher a force may be necessary to move the relevant component.
Claims20
A device with multi-stage engagement comprising:
- a shaft;
- a housing having a bore receiving the shaft;
- a first groove and a second groove in the bore of the housing or on the shaft;
- and
- a canted coil spring positionable in the first groove when a first axial force is applied on the shaft or on the housing and in the second groove when a second axial force is applied on the shaft or on the housing, the second axial force being higher than the first axial force.
A device with multi-stage engagement comprising:
- a shaft;
- a housing having a bore having the shaft received therein;
- a first groove and a second groove in the bore of the housing or on the shaft and a single groove on the other one of the housing or the shaft;
- a canted coil spring positionable in the first groove and the single groove when a first axial force is applied on the shaft or on the housing and in the second groove and the single groove when a second axial force is applied on the shaft or on the housing, the second axial force being higher than the first axial force.
A device with multi-stage engagement comprising:
- a first groove and a second groove in a bore of a housing each having a bottom wall surface separated from one another by an interior dividing wall, which has a smaller wall inside diameter than a wall inside diameter of the first bottom wall, of the second bottom wall, or both the first and the second bottom walls;
- a shaft located in the bore of the housing, said shaft comprising a shaft groove;
- a spring located in the shaft groove and the first groove;
- and
- wherein the first groove and the second groove both have side wall surfaces that are tapered relative to a centerline of the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.