Spring assembly with captured core
AssigneeBarnes Group Inc.
InventorBrian R. Tomczak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spring assembly comprising: an axially extending coil formed from a spring wire and having first and second ends and a length there between with an interior having a generally circular cross-section. The coil includes first end portion with a first diameter and extending inwardly from the first end, a second end portion with a second diameter and extending inwardly from the second end and a center portion with a third diameter between the end portions of the coil. An elongated core is placed within the interior of the coil at the center portion and two spaced lugs formed from the spring wire and extending chordally across the circular cross-section capture the core in the center portion.
Claims42
A spring assembly comprising:
- an axially extending coil formed from a spring wire and having first and second ends and a length there between with an interior having a generally circular cross-section, said coil including first end portion “a ” with a first diameter and extending inwardly from said first end, a second end portion with a second diameter and extending inwardly from said second end and a center portion with a third diameter between said end portions;
- an elongated core within said interior of said coil at said center portion;
- and, two spaced lugs on opposite ends of said center portion, said lugs being formed from said spring wire to join said center portion with said end portions and extended chordally across said circular cross-section to capture said core in said center portion.
A method of making a cored coil spring assembly, said method comprising:
- (a) coiling spring wire into a first diameter to define an end portion with a central passage with a circular cross-section;
- (b) drawing a length of said wire chordally across said passage to define a first lug;
- (c) then coiling said wire into a second diameter center portion with a cavity matching said passage;
- (d) inserting an elongated ferromagnetic core into said cavity as it is being formed or after it has been formed;
- (e) then drawing a second length of wire chordally across said passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.