Variable canted coil spring cross section
AssigneeBal Seal Engineering, Inc.
InventorGordon Leon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A canted coil spring includes a plurality of canted coils generally canted relative to a centerline extending through the coils. At least one coil when viewed in the direction of the centerline appears to have a non-elliptical shape and a non-circular shape when the at least one coil is in the unbiased state. The plurality of coils is generally canted at a first coil angle relative to the center line. The at least one coil includes at least one section canted at a second coil angle relative to the centerline. The second coil angle is different from the first coil angle when the at least one coil is in an unbiased state.
Claims16
A canted coil spring comprising:
- a plurality of canted coils generally canted relative to a center line extending through the coils at a first coil angle;
- wherein the plurality of canted coils when viewed in the direction of the centerline has a non-elliptical shape and a non-circular shape when the plurality of coils are in an unbiased state;
- and
- wherein the plurality of coils each has a first contact coil section to increase conductive flow paths, said first contact coil section comprising a generally planar and arcuate shape bent to a second coil angle relative to the center line.
A canted coil spring assembly comprising:
- a groove having at least one flat surface;
- a canted coil spring comprising:
- a plurality of canted coils generally canted relative to a center line extending through the coils at a first coil angle;
- wherein at least one coil when viewed in the direction of the centerline has a non-elliptical shape and a non-circular shape when the at least one coil is in the unbiased state;
- and
- wherein the at least one coil contacts at least one conductive flat surface with a contact coil section comprising a second coil angle relative to the center line, which has a generally planar and arcuate shape to increase conductive flow paths between the at least one coil and the conductive flat surface compared to a similar canted coil spring without the contact coil section having the second coil angle.
A method of manufacturing a canted coil spring assembly with enlarged conductive surface contact areas, the method comprising:
- fabricating a wire in a canted helical configuration thereby forming a plurality of coils canted at a first coil angle relative to a center line extending through the coils;
- bending at least one section of at least one coil to a second coil angle relative to the centerline such that it has a generally planar and arcuate shape to increase a surface contact area from a first area to a second area, which is larger than the first area;
- providing at least one coil in an the unbiased state which, when viewed in the direction of the centerline, has a non-elliptical shape and a non-circular shape;
- wherein the first coil angle is different from the second coil angle when the at least one coil is in an unbiased state;
- projecting a conductive pin through a center of the canted coil spring so that the plurality of coils directly contact the conductive pin;
- and
- placing the plurality of coils in direct contact with a groove of a conductive housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.