System, method and apparatus for tolerance ring with functional layers

• US 8,882,354 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• 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: Jaeger, Hans-Juergen, Burgeff, Dominique
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAZ, THOMAS C
• Application Number:
  US12/971,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20110150375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 384/535, 384/536, 384/276, 384/569, 384/581, 384/582, 384/37, 384/214, 384/222, 403/288, 403/365, 298/980.7, 298/981.2
• US Class Current: 384/276
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 22/26 for making peculiarly, e.g. irregularly, shaped articles
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 35/001 Shaping combined with punching, e.g. stamping and perforating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/04 comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/08; next to a water-setting substance layer B32B13/06; next to a glass layer B32B17/061; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/042
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2220/42 by working of thin walled material such as sheet or tube in general B21D
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/24 Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns in general B62D
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 27/063 Sliding contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/125 Details of bearing layers, i.e. the lining
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/20 Sliding surface consisting mainly of plastics F16C33/22 - F16C33/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/28 with embedded reinforcements shaped as frames or meshed materials
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 43/02 Assembling sliding-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/0835 due to the elasticity of the ring or sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling

Abstract

A tolerance ring with functional layers has an annular band and an elastomeric layer. The assembly also may have a low friction layer, which may be bonded, calendared or laminated thereto. The low friction material may completely encapsulate the annular band.

Claims

1. A tolerance ring comprising:

an annular band formed from a metallic material wherein the metallic material consist of a sheet comprising a plurality of circular perforations, the circular perforations evenly distributed across the sheet and the sheet shaped to include a sheet profile, the sheet profile including waves, cones, or ball shapes, wherein the annular band is located completely within a low friction layer such that no portion of the annular band is exposed from and external to the low friction layer;

an elastomeric layer on the annular band; and

the low friction layer on at least one of the annular band and the elastomeric layer, wherein the low friction material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyketone, a polyaramid, a thermoplastic polyimide, a polyetherimide, a polyphenylene sulfide, a polyethersulfone, a polysulfone, a polyphenylene sulfone, a polyamideimide, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, a fluoropolymer, a polyamide, a polybenzimidazole, and any combination thereof.

2. A tolerance ring according to claim 1, wherein the annular band is formed from spring steel and the low friction layer is laminated to at least one side of the annular band.

3. A tolerance ring according to claim 1, wherein the low friction layer is on the annular band opposite the elastomeric layer.

4. A tolerance ring according to claim 1, wherein the low friction layer comprises PTFE and 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.

5. A tolerance ring 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, comprising:

an outer component;

an inner component located in the outer component and movable relative thereto;

a tolerance ring mounted between the inner and outer components, the tolerance ring comprising;

an annular band formed from a metallic material and having radial inner and outer surfaces, wherein the metallic material consist of a sheet comprising a plurality of circular perforations, the circular perforations evenly distributed across the sheet and the sheet shaped to include a sheet profile, the sheet profile including waves, cones, or ball shapes, wherein the annular band is located completely within a low friction material such that no portion of the annular band is exposed from and external to the low friction material; and

the low friction material encapsulating the annular band, such that both the radial inner and outer surfaces are substantially located within the low friction material, wherein the low friction material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyketone, a polyaramid, a thermoplastic polyimide, a polyetherimide, a polyphenylene sulfide, a polyethersulfone, a polysulfone, a polyphenylene sulfone, a polyamideimide, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, a fluoropolymer, a polyamide, a polybenzimidazole, and any combination thereof.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the annular band is exposed from and extends externally relative to the low friction material.

8. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the annular band is spring steel and is perforated or stamped.

9. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the annular band is encapsulated within the low friction material by calendaring or laminating.

10. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the low friction material forms a smooth cylindrical profile, and the annular band undulates in a non-cylindrical profile within the smooth cylindrical profile.

11. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the low friction material and the annular band each have non-cylindrical profiles and are complementary in shape to each other.

12. An assembly according to claim 6, further comprising a backing layer joined to the tolerance ring, the backing layer is formed from one of steel, Al, Cu and Ti, and is radially external to the low friction layer, and the low friction layer is laminated on the backing layer.

13. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the low friction layer has a thickness of approximately 0.1 to 0.05 mm on each of the radial inner and outer surfaces of the annular band, and the low friction layer is bonded or welded to the annular band.