Spring loaded guide ring
AssigneesPeter J. Balsells, Joan C. Balsells
InventorPeter J. Balsells
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Guide ring apparatus includes a shaft configured for insertion into a bore and annular bearing means disposed on the shaft for engaging the interior surface of the bore along with an annular spring having a preselected force-deflection characteristics in operative relationship with the bearing for causing the annular bearing means as well as the shaft to float within the bore. This particular bearing and spring arrangement accommodates for variations in the bore and shaft due to manufacturing tolerances, wear and other eccentricities of the shaft and bore.
Claims11
Guide ring apparatus comprising:
- means for defining a bore;
- a shaft configured for insertion into said bore;
- ring means for dynamically suspending said shaft in said bore, said ring means comprising a bearing member disposed between said shaft and bore and spring means disposed in an operative relationship with said bearing member for providing a uniform radial bias on the shaft, said spring means having a generally flat radial force-characteristic in a deflection range defined by the difference in radius of the shaft and the bore;
- and
- means for preventing spring overload by sideloading of said shaft.
Shaft guide apparatus comprises:
- means for defining a bore;
- a shaft configured for insertion into said bore;
- seal means, disposed proximate one end of said shaft, for enabling sealed, sliding axial movement of the shaft within the bore;
- and
- ring means, disposed along the shaft in a spaced apart relationship with said seal means, for centering said shaft within the bore, said ring means comprising an annular bearing member with spring means in an operative relationship therewith for providing a uniform radial bias on the shaft.
Guide ring apparatus comprising:
- a shaft configured for insertion into a bore;
- annular bearing means disposed on said shaft for engaging an interior surface of said bore;
- annular spring means disposed between said annular bearing means and said shaft for causing the annular bearing means to float between the shaft and the bore interim surface;
- said spring means comprising an annular canted coil spring having a generally flat radial force-deflection characteristic in the deflection range defined by a difference in radius of the shaft and the bore;
- and
- means for preventing permanent spring deformation due to sideloading of said shaft within the bore;
- said means for preventing spring overload comprising means defining a first shaft radial groove in said shaft configured for receiving said bearing member and means defining a second shaft radial groove in said shaft, configured for receiving said spring means, said first shaft radial groove having a greater width than said second shaft radial groove and having a bottom diameter greater than a bottom diameter of the second shaft radial groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.