Spring keepers and spring assemblies incorporating the same
A spring keeper for maintaining a high energy spring includes an outer barrel, an inner barrel slideable within the outer barrel, a first centerer fitted inside the inner barrel, the first centerer including a first base and a first projection projecting axially from the first base for being received within a first end portion of a spring, and a second centerer fitted inside the outer barrel, the second centerer including a second base and a second projection projecting axially from the second base for being received within a second end portion of the spring.
1 . A spring keeper for maintaining a high energy spring comprising:
an outer barrel;
an inner barrel slideable within the outer barrel;
a first centerer fitted inside the inner barrel, said first centerer comprising a first base and a first projection projecting axially from the first base for being received within a first end portion of a spring;
a second centerer fitted inside the outer barrel, said second centerer comprising a second base and a second projection projecting axially from the second base for being received within a second end portion of the spring;
a layer of a wear resistant material covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the inner barrel that is received within the outer barrel; and
another layer of wear resistant material covering an inner surface of the inner barrel, wherein said layer and another layer of wear resistant material extend beyond the inner barrel and are connected to each other at a location beyond the inner barrel.
2 . The spring keeper of claim 1 , further comprising a first shim for adjusting a preload of the spring, said first shim fitted in the inner barrel and sandwiched between the first centerer and the inner barrel.
3 . The spring keeper of claim 2 , further comprising a second shim for adjusting the preload of the spring, said second shim fitted in the outer barrel and sandwiched between the second centerer and the outer barrel.
4 . The spring keeper of claim 1 , further comprising a second shim for adjusting a preload of the spring, said second shim fitted in the outer barrel and sandwiched between the second centerer and the outer barrel.
5 . The spring keeper of claim 1 , wherein the wear resistant material comprises at least one of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UMHW), Delrin and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
6 . The spring keeper of claim 1 , wherein each of said inner barrel and outer barrel is made from a material comprising at least one of steel, aluminum and titanium.
7 . The spring keeper of claim 1 , further comprising a clevis extending externally from one of the inner and outer barrels.
8 . The spring keeper of claim 7 , further comprising another clevis extending externally from the other of the inner and outer barrels.
9 . A spring assembly comprising:
a high energy spring; and
a spring keeper, the spring keeper comprising,
an outer barrel,
an inner barrel slideable within the outer barrel,
a first centerer fitted inside the inner barrel, said first centerer comprising a first base and a first projection projecting axially from the first base and received within a first end portion of the spring,
a second centerer fitted inside the outer barrel, said second centerer comprising a second base and a second projection projecting axially from the second base and received within a second end portion of the spring,
a layer of a wear resistant material covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the inner barrel that is received within the outer barrel, and
another layer of wear resistant material covering an inner surface of the inner barrel, wherein said layer and another layer of wear resistant material extend beyond the inner barrel and are connected to each other at a location beyond the inner barrel.
10 . The spring assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a first shim for adjusting a preload of the spring, said first shim fitted in the inner barrel and sandwiched between the first centerer and the inner barrel.
11 . The spring assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a second shim for adjusting the preload of the spring, said second shim fitted in the outer barrel and sandwiched between the second centerer and the outer barrel.
12 . The spring assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a second shim for adjusting a preload of the spring, said second shim fitted in the outer barrel and sandwiched between the second centerer and the outer barrel.
13 . The spring assembly of claim 9 , wherein the wear resistant material comprises at least one of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UMHW), Delrin and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
14 . The spring assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of said inner barrel and outer barrel is made from a material comprising at least one of steel, aluminum and titanium.
15 . The spring assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a clevis extending externally along a longitudinal axis of the spring from one of the inner and outer barrels.
16 . The spring assembly of claim 15 , further comprising another clevis extending externally along the longitudinal axis of the spring from the other of the inner and outer barrels.