System, method and apparatus for tolerance ring control of slip interface sliding forces
First Claim
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1. A method of forming a tolerance ring comprising:
- providing a strip of resilient material comprising spring steel having a radial thickness of 0.1 to 0.7 mm;
laminating a low friction layer comprising a fluoropolymer to the strip of resilient material to form a layered structure; and
forming projections in the layered structure, wherein the projection are axially-elongated ridges with rounded peaks, wherein the tolerance ring comprises a rim disposed at an axial end, and wherein the tolerance ring is adapted to provide at least one of;
a radial stiffness that is greater than 20,000 N/mm, a axial sliding force in a range of 10 to 600 N, or a slip torque in a range of 1 to 25 Nm, wherein the coefficient of friction provided by the low friction layer is in a range of about 0.04 to 0.25, wherein the projections are adapted to be compressed between inner and outer components such that the tolerance ring operates in a flattened portion of a compression/retention force characteristic whereby the projections initially exhibit elastic behavior and are plastically deformed.
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Abstract
A tolerance ring comprising a metallic band for spring features and a complementary low friction material for frictional considerations is disclosed. The tolerance ring is designed to operate within a precisely controlled torque or axial force band to provide a defined amount of resistance and sliding force control between components that move relative to each other. Isolated portions of the tolerance ring form regions of contact with adjacent ones of the components. Other surfaces of the tolerance ring comprise portions with spring features that have geometry suitable for their spring rate, rather than conforming to mating surfaces of the adjacent components.
127 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of forming a tolerance ring comprising:
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providing a strip of resilient material comprising spring steel having a radial thickness of 0.1 to 0.7 mm; laminating a low friction layer comprising a fluoropolymer to the strip of resilient material to form a layered structure; and forming projections in the layered structure, wherein the projection are axially-elongated ridges with rounded peaks, wherein the tolerance ring comprises a rim disposed at an axial end, and wherein the tolerance ring is adapted to provide at least one of;
a radial stiffness that is greater than 20,000 N/mm, a axial sliding force in a range of 10 to 600 N, or a slip torque in a range of 1 to 25 Nm, wherein the coefficient of friction provided by the low friction layer is in a range of about 0.04 to 0.25, wherein the projections are adapted to be compressed between inner and outer components such that the tolerance ring operates in a flattened portion of a compression/retention force characteristic whereby the projections initially exhibit elastic behavior and are plastically deformed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of forming a tolerance ring comprising:
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providing a layered structure including laminating a strip of resilient material comprising spring steel having a radial thickness of 0.1 to 0.7 mm and a low friction layer comprising a fluoropolymer; forming projections in the layered structure; and bending the layered structure into a curved shape, wherein the projections are axially-elongated ridges with rounded peaks, wherein the tolerance ring comprises a rim disposed at an axial end, and wherein the tolerance ring is adapted to provide at least one of;
a radial stiffness that is greater than 20,000 N/mm, a axial sliding force in a range of 10 to 600 N, or a slip torque in a range of 1 to 25 Nm, wherein the coefficient of friction provided by the low friction layer is in a range of about 0.04 to 0.25, wherein the projections are adapted to be compressed between inner and outer components such that the tolerance ring operates in a flattened portion of a compression/retention force characteristic whereby the projections initially exhibit elastic behavior and are plastically deformed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of forming a tolerance ring comprising:
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providing a strip of resilient material comprising spring steel having a radial thickness of 0.1 to 0.7 mm; laminating a low friction layer comprising a fluoropolymer to the strip of resilient material to form a layered structure; forming projections in the layered structure, wherein the projections are axially-elongated ridges with rounded peaks; and bending the layered structure into a curved shape such that the low friction layer is disposed radially inside of the strip of resilient material, wherein the tolerance ring comprises a rim disposed at an axial end, and wherein the tolerance ring is adapted to provide at least one of;
a radial stiffness that is greater than 20,000 N/mm, a axial sliding force in a range of 10 to 600 N, or a slip torque in a range of 1 to 25 Nm, wherein the coefficient of friction provided by the low friction layer is in a range of about 0.04 to 0.25, wherein the projections are adapted to be compressed between inner and outer components such that the tolerance ring operates in a flattened portion of a compression/retention force characteristic whereby the projections initially exhibit elastic behavior and are plastically deformed. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification