Resilient device for splined connection

• US 6,811,005 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems UK Ltd. (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems UK Ltd. (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Williams, Anthony John, Blewitt, Andrew John
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, XUAN LAN T
• Application Number:
  US10/418,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20040011604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 188/73-- 7, 188/71.5, 188/18.A, 188/250.D, 188/250.E, 192/30.V, 192/70.2, 192/70.17
• US Class Current: 188/73.38
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 13/648 for clutches with multiple lamellae
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 13/683 for clutches with multiple lamellae
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2001/103 the torque is transmitted via splined connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2065/1396 Ancillary resilient elements, e.g. anti-rattle or retraction springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2300/22 Vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/06 specially adapted to allow axial displacement
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/12 Discs; Drums for disc brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/38 Slack adjusters
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/40 mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 67/00 Combinations of couplings and brakes; Combinations of clutches and brakes combinations of couplings and clutches F16D47/02; conjoint control of brake systems and driveline clutches in vehicles B60W10/02, B60W10/18
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/18 Leaf springs planar springs in general F16F1/027; "Belleville"-type springs with generally radial arms F16F1/324
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/12 using elastic members or friction-damping members, e.g. between a rotating shaft and a gyratory mass mounted thereon F16F15/14 , F16F15/16 take precedence

Abstract

A resilient device for minimizing noise in a splined connection includes a mounting portion and two flanges bent from the mounting portion to attach to a structure. The flanges are substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other by the mounting portion to form a substantially U-shaped profile. An arm is bent in a second direction from the mounting to lie adjacent to the mounting portion. The arm has a wavy portion having a pitch that allows it to engage with splines in the splined connection to prevent rattling in the connection without having to reduce the clearance between the splines.

Claims

1. A resilient device for reducing play between mating splines in a splined connection, comprising:

a mounting portion having opposing first and second sides and opposing first and second ends;

first and second flanges extending from the first and second sides of the mounting portion in a first direction, the flanges being substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other by the mounting portion, wherein the first and second flanges and mounting portion together create a substantially U-shaped profile; and

an arm extending from the first end of the mounting portion in a second direction and having a wavy part adjacent to the mounting portion, wherein the wavy part has at least one crest portion and at least one trough portion to engage at least one spline in the splined connection.

2. A resilient device as defined in claim 1, wherein the wavy part has two or more crest portions.

3. A resilient device as defined in claim 1, wherein the wavy part has two or more trough portions.

4. A resilient device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a return extending from the second end of the mounting portion.

5. A resilient device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second flanges each have an outwardly facing flange surface and wherein the outwardly facing flange surfaces are spaced apart by a distance less than a width of the arm.

6. A resilient device according to claim 1, wherein the arm is bent through substantially 180 degrees with respect to the mounting portion.

7. A brake disc assembly, comprising:

a brake disc having a plurality of disc splines and at least one recess disposed among the plurality of disc splines; and

at least one resilient device comprising

a mounting portion,

first and second flanges extending from the mounting portion in a first direction, the flanges being substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other by the mounting portion, wherein the first and second flanges and mounting portion together create a substantially U-shaped profile, and

an arm extending from the mounting portion in a second direction and having a wavy part adjacent to the mounting portion, wherein the wavy part has at least one crest portion and at least one trough portion to engage at least one of the plurality of disc splines, wherein the first flange extends on a side of a first braking surface of the brake disc and the second flange extends on a side of a second braking surface of the brake disc, opposite of the first braking surface of the brake disc, to attach the resilient device to the brake disc.

8. A brake disc assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein the mounting portion of said at least one resilient device is fitted in said at least one recess.

9. A brake disc assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the resilient device grips the brake disc to hold the resilient device to the brake disc.

13. A brake disc assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein said at least one resilient device comprises a plurality of resilient devices positioned around the brake disc substantially equidistant to each other.

10. A brake disc assembly, comprising:

a brake disc having a plurality of disc splines and at least one recess disposed among the plurality of disc splines, the brake disc having a first side and a second side, and wherein the brake disc assembly includes

a first annulus of friction material attached to the first side; and

a second annulus of friction material attached to the second side,

wherein the first and second annulus each have at least one recess corresponding to said at least one recess of the brake disc; and

at least one resilient device comprising

a mounting portion,

first and second flanges extending from the mounting portion in a first direction, the flanges being substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other by the mounting portion, wherein the first and second flanges and mounting portion together create a substantially U-shaped profile, and

an arm extending from the mounting portion in a second direction and having a wavy part adjacent to the mounting portion, wherein the wavy part has at least one crest portion and at least one trough portion to engage at least one of the plurality of disc splines.

11. A brake disc assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein the first and second flanges of the resilient device are disposed in the respective recesses of the first annulus, the second annulus, and the brake disc.

12. A brake disc assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein

the first annulus has a first outwardly facing frictional surface and the second annulus has a second outwardly facing frictional surface,

the first flange has a first outwardly facing flange surface and the second flange has a second outwardly facing flange surface, and

wherein the first and second outwardly facing frictional surfaces are spaced apart by a distance greater than a distance between the first and second outwardly facing flange surfaces.

14. A brake system, comprising:

a shaft having a plurality of shaft splines;

a brake disc having a plurality of disc splines that engage with the plurality of shaft splines and having at least one recess disposed among the plurality of disc splines; and

at least one resilient device disposed between at least one of the plurality of shaft splines and at least one of the plurality of disc splines, the resilient device comprising

a mounting portion,

first and second flanges extending from the mounting portion in a first direction, the flanges being substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other by the mounting portion, wherein the first and second flanges and mounting portion together create a substantially U-shaped profile, and

an arm extending from the mounting portion in a second direction and having a wavy part adjacent to the mounting portion, wherein the wavy part has at least two crest portions and at least two trough portions that engage at least one of the plurality of shaft splines, wherein the crest portions and trough portions- define an arm pitch and the plurality of shaft splines define a spline pitch, and wherein the arm pitch and the shaft spline pitch are substantially equal to each other.

15. The brake system as defined in claim 14, wherein the resilient device allows relative movement between the disc and shaft in a radial direction.

16. A brake system as defined in claim 14, wherein the mounting portion of said at least one resilient device is fitted in said at least one recess.

17. A brake system as defined in claim 14, wherein the first flange extends on a first side of the brake disc and the second flange extends on a second side of the brake disc to attach the resilient device to the brake disc.

18. A brake system as defined in claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the resilient device grips the brake disc to hold the resilient device to the brake disc.

19. A brake system as defined in claim 14, wherein the brake disc has a first side and a second side, and wherein the brake disc assembly further comprises:

a first annulus of friction material attached to the first side; and

a second annulus of friction material attached to the second side,

wherein the first and second annulus each have at least one recess corresponding to said at least one recess of the brake disc.

20. A brake system as defined in claim 19, wherein the first and second flanges of the resilient device are disposed in the respective recesses of the first annulus, the second annulus, and the brake disc.

21. A brake system as defined in claim 19, wherein

the first annulus has a first outwardly facing frictional surface and the second annulus has a second outwardly facing frictional surface,

the first flange has a first outwardly facing flange surface and the second flange has a second outwardly facing flange surface, and

wherein the first and second outwardly facing frictional surfaces are spaced apart by a distance greater than a distance between the first and second outwardly facing flange surfaces.

22. A brake system as defined in claim 14, wherein said at least one resilient device comprises a plurality of resilient devices positioned around the brake disc substantially equidistant to each other.