Apparatus including a pin connector for securing a first member and a second member to one another, and associated methods
AssigneeBal Seal Engineering, Inc.
InventorPete Balsells
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the present apparatus are configured to secure a first member and a second member to one another. The first and second members include a bore extending through at least one of the first and second members and at least partially through the other of the first and second members. The apparatus comprises a pin connector including an enlarged ball portion positioned along a shank. The first member includes an annular groove extending around the bore. A canted coil spring seats within the groove. The apparatus is configured such that the spring exerts a squeezing force on the ball portion when the pin connector is disposed within the bore and the head of the pin connector contacts the second member.
Claims20
Apparatus for securing a first member and a second member to one another, the first and second members including a bore extending through at least one of the first and second members and at least partially through the other of the first and second members, the apparatus comprising:
- a pin connector including
- a head portion having a first diameter;
- an elongate shank extending from the head portion, the shank having at least a first portion with a second diameter that is less than the first diameter;
- and
- an enlarged ball portion positioned along the shank, the ball portion being shaped substantially as a double-truncated sphere and having a third diameter that is less than the first diameter but greater than the second diameter;
- an annular groove in the second member, the annular groove extending around the bore;
- and
- a canted coil spring disposed within the groove;
- wherein the apparatus is configured such that the spring exerts a squeezing force on the ball portion when the pin connector is disposed within the bore.
A method for securing a first member to a second member, said method comprising:
- inserting a pin comprising a shaft, a pin head, and a ball section disposed distally of the pin head and along the shaft into a bore of a first member and a bore of a second member, said second member comprising a groove located in said bore and a canted coil spring positioned therein;
- deflecting the canted coil spring from a first deflection, to a second deflection, and to a third deflection as the ball section comes in contact with the spring and moves to a final rest position;
- wherein said third deflection is less than said second deflection.
An apparatus for securing a first member and a second member to one another, wherein the first member has a bore and the second member has a bore;
- an annular groove comprising two side walls and a bottom wall disposed therebetween is located in the bore of the second member, which is located further away from a head portion on a pin connector than the first member;
- and wherein an enlarged portion is located on a shank of the pin connector away from the head potion and away from the bottom wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.