Compression limiter retention for a chain guide
AssigneeSchaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
InventorsGustavo Gomes, Lucian Botez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compression limiter retainer arrangement for a plastic chain guide is provided that minimizes the packaging requirements. The plastic chain guide contains an oblong aperture and a round aperture for mounting to an internal combustion engine. At least one radially inward protruding finger is present at each of the longitudinal ends of the oblong aperture to retain a first compression limiter. Additionally, at least one radially inward protruding finger can be placed proximate to the round aperture to retain an optional second compression limiter. The angular position of the radially inward protruding fingers is defined and limited for optimum chain guide packaging and performance.
Claims19
A compression limiter retainer arrangement for a chain guide comprising:
- a housing with a first oblong aperture for receiving a first compression limiter and a second round aperture, the housing including:
- a first radially inward protruding finger proximate to a first longitudinal end of the first oblong aperture, the finger having a first top side for slidably receiving the first compression limiter, and a second bottom side for retaining the first compression limiter;
- a second radially inward protruding finger proximate to a second longitudinal end of the first oblong aperture, the finger having a third top side for slidably receiving the first compression limiter, and a fourth bottom side for retaining the first compression limiter;
- a first line from a first central axis of the first oblong aperture to a second central axis of the second round aperture;
- a second line from the center of a radially inward-most portion of the first radially inward protruding finger to the first central axis of the first oblong aperture;
- and
- a third line from the center of a radially inward-most portion of the second radially inward protruding finger to the first central axis of the first oblong aperture;
- wherein, the first line is orthogonal to the first central axis and the second central axis, and the second and third lines are orthogonal to the first central axis and form an angle with the first line, the angle ranging from −60 to 60 degrees.
A chain guide assembly comprising:
- a first compression limiter with an elongated portion with a first elongated portion diameter and a radial outward protrusion portion with a second radial outward protrusion diameter;
- a housing including:
- a first oblong aperture with a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, and a third minor diameter for receiving the first compression limiter;
- a second round aperture with a fourth diameter;
- a first radially inward protruding finger proximate to the first longitudinal end of the oblong aperture, the finger having a first top side for slidably receiving the first compression limiter, and a second bottom side for retaining the first compression limiter;
- a second radially inward protruding finger proximate to the second longitudinal end of the oblong aperture, the finger having a third top side for slidably receiving the first compression limiter, and a fourth bottom side for retaining the first compression limiter;
- a first line from a first central axis of the first oblong aperture to a second central axis of the second round aperture;
- a second line from the center of a radially inward-most portion of the first protruding finger to the first central axis of the first oblong aperture;
- a third line from the center of a radially inward-most portion of the second radially inward protruding finger to the first central axis of the first oblong aperture;
- and,
- a first circle with a fifth retention diameter tangent to the center of the radially inward-most portion of the first radially inward protruding finger and the center of the radially inward-most portion of the second inward protruding finger;
- wherein, the first line is orthogonal to the first central axis and the second central axis, and the second and third lines are orthogonal to the first central axis and form an angle with the first line, the angle ranging from −60 to 60 degrees.
The chain guide assembly of claim 19, wherein the first radially inward protruding finger and the second radially inward protruding finger overlap the second top side of the radially outward protrusion portion of the first compression limiter in the second retained first compression limiter position and the third retained first compression limiter position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.