SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BEARINGS AND TOLERANCE RINGS WITH FUNCTIONAL LAYERS

• US 20110150377A1
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Pampus GmbH (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Pampus GmbH (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA)
• Inventors: Hartmann, Juergen
• Granted Patent: US 8,746,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 384/125
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/24 Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 27/063 Sliding contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/0835 due to the elasticity of the ring or sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7061 Resilient

Abstract

A bearing or tolerance ring has multiple functional layers including an annular metallic band and an elastomeric layer. The tolerance ring also includes a low friction layer that is bonded to the other layers.

Claims

1. An assembly, comprising:

an outer component having a bore;

an inner component mounted in the bore of the outer component, such that the inner component mates with the outer component and is movable relative thereto;

a ring located in the bore between the inner and outer components, the ring comprising;

an annular band formed from a metallic material;

an elastomeric layer on the annular band; and

a low friction layer on at least one of the annular band and the elastomeric layer.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the low friction layer is laminated to at least one side of the annular band.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the low friction layer is on the annular band opposite the elastomeric layer.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the low friction layer is on the elastomeric layer opposite the annular band.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive or primer layer between the annular band and the elastomeric layer, and between the low friction layer and said at least one of the annular band and the elastomeric layer.

6. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the annular band is formed from spring steel, and the low friction layer comprises PTFE.

7. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the low friction layer is bonded to one of the annular band and the elastomeric layer, and the elastomeric layer comprises one of nitrile rubber, olefinic elastomeric, polyether-/polyester-elastomeric, ethylene-propylene-elastomeric, ethylene-acrylic rubber and fluoro elastomeric materials.

8. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the ring is one of a bearing and tolerance ring.

9. A tolerance ring assembly, comprising:

an outer component having a bore;

an inner component mounted in the bore of the outer component and having an outer surface, such that the inner component mates with the outer component and is movable relative thereto;

a tolerance ring located in the bore between the inner and outer components, the tolerance ring having a plurality of waves with peaks and valleys that undulate between the outer and inner components and contact their bore and inner surface, respectively, the tolerance ring further comprising;

an annular band formed from a metallic material;

an elastomeric layer on the annular band; and

a low friction layer on at least one of the annular band and the elastomeric layer.

10. A tolerance ring assembly according to claim 9, wherein the low friction layer is laminated to at least one side of the annular band.

11. A tolerance ring assembly according to claim 9, wherein the low friction layer is on the annular band opposite the elastomeric layer.

12. A tolerance ring assembly according to claim 9, wherein the low friction layer is on the elastomeric layer opposite the annular band.

13. A tolerance ring assembly according to claim 9, further comprising an adhesive or primer layer between the annular band and the elastomeric layer, and between the low friction layer and said at least one of the annular band and the elastomeric layer.

14. A tolerance ring assembly according to claim 9, wherein the annular band is formed from spring steel, and the low friction layer comprises PTFE.

15. A tolerance ring assembly according to claim 9, wherein the low friction layer is bonded to one of the annular band and the elastomeric layer, and the elastomeric layer comprises one of nitrile rubber, olefinic elastomeric, polyether-/polyester-elastomeric, ethylene-propylene-elastomeric, ethylene-acrylic rubber and fluoro elastomeric materials.

16. A bearing assembly, comprising:

an outer component having a bore;

an inner component mounted in the bore of the outer component and having an outer surface, such that the inner component mates with the outer component and is movable relative thereto;

a bearing located in the bore between the inner and outer components, the bearing having a plurality of waves with peaks and valleys that undulate between the outer and inner components and contact their bore and inner surface, respectively, the bearing further comprising;

an annular band formed from a metallic material;

an elastomeric layer on the annular band;

a low friction layer on at least one of the annular band and the elastomeric layer; and

adhesive layers between the annular band and the elastomeric layer, and between the low friction layer and said at least one of the annular band and the elastomeric layer.

17. A bearing assembly according to claim 16, wherein the low friction layer is laminated to at least one side of the annular band.

18. A bearing assembly according to claim 16, wherein the low friction layer is on the annular band opposite the elastomeric layer.

19. A bearing assembly according to claim 16, wherein the low friction layer is on the elastomeric layer opposite the annular band.

20. A bearing assembly according to claim 16, wherein the annular band is formed from spring steel, and the low friction layer comprises PTFE.

21. A bearing assembly according to claim 16, wherein the elastomeric layer comprises one of nitrile rubber, olefinic elastomeric, polyether-/polyester-elastomeric, ethylene-propylene-elastomeric, ethylene-acrylic rubber and fluoro elastomeric materials.