Washer faced spring assembly

• US 5,709,516 A
• Filed: 03/22/1996
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Peterson, Ivan H., Hampshire, Dale E., Hoelle, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Application Number:
  US08/621,051
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 411/535, 411/536, 411/544, 411/531, 411/546, 267/161, 267/162, 267/164, 248/601, 248/608
• US Class Current: 411/544
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/243 Flange connections; Bolting arrangements F01D25/265 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/324 characterised by having tongues or arms directed in a generally radial direction, i.e. diaphragm-type springs

Abstract

A washer faced spring assembly is disclosed for a motion absorbing and motion damping application which includes a first washer having a circular or polygonal hole therethrough centered about a central axis, a second washer disposed opposite to the first washer also having a circular or polygonal hole therethrough centered about a central axis disposed generally coincident with the hole of the first washer, and a spring connected between the first washer and the second washer, the spring including a plurality of fingers providing planar or full surface contact between the first and second washers. The washer faced spring assembly may also include a base portion utilized in conjunction with the plurality of fingers, where the base portion has one of several alternative shapes, such as circular or polygonal.

Claims

1. A washer faced spring assembly, comprising:

(a) a first washer having a first hole formed therein;

(b) a second washer having a second hole formed therein, said second washer disposed opposite to said first washer so that said second hole is generally coincident with said first hole; and

(c) spring means disposed between said first washer and said second washer, said spring means including a generally circular base portion, having a central axis and a third hole formed therein which is disposed generally coincident with said first and second holes and a plurality of spring fingers, each of said fingers having a first portion in substantially planar contact wick said first washer, a second portion in substantially planar contact with said second washer and a third portion connecting said first and second portions, wherein said first portion of each one of said plurality of spring fingers is attached to the periphery of said base portion, and said base portion provides substantially planar contact with said first washer and said third portion of each one of said plurality of spring fingers is a curved transition between said first and second portions and said plurality of fingers extend radially out from said central axis and are bent back toward said central axis.

2. The washer faced spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the surfaces of said first and second washers opposite said spring means are treated with a wear resistant coating.

3. The washer faced spring assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second washers are of a material different from said spring means.