Tolerance ring having variable height and/or assymmetrically located bumps
View Patent ↗A tolerance ring configured to reduce torque ripple for a pivot bearing in an actuator arm assembly. The tolerance ring comprises a cylinder having a predetermined length, and a first and a second row of contacting portions arranged around the surface of the cylinder, the contacting portions of the second row are circumferentially displaced with respect to the first row by a distance greater than zero but less than the distance of the contacting portion and the spacing between adjacent contacting portions in the first row.
1. A tolerance ring, comprising:
a cylinder having a predetermined length; and
a plurality of contacting portions staggered over at least two rows around the cylinder, at least one row of contacting portions projecting a radial distance from the cylinder that is greater than the radial distance projection of another row of contacting portions.
2. The tolerance ring of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder has a gap along the predetermined length of the cylinder, the gap having a first and a second edge.
3. A tolerance ring, comprising:
a cylinder having a predetermined length; and
a plurality of contacting portions staggered over at least two rows around the cylinder, wherein the contacting portions of one row are larger than the contacting portions of another.
4. The tolerance ring of claim 3 , wherein each contacting portion projects a substantially constant radial distance from the cylinder.
5. The tolerance ring of claim 3 , wherein the cylinder has a gap along the predetermined length of the cylinder, the gap having a first and a second edge.
6. A tolerance ring configured to reduce torque ripple for a pivot bearing, comprising:
a cylinder having a predetermined length along an axis of rotation; and
a first and a second row of contacting portions, each contacting portion in the first and second row having a length and width, arranged around a surface of the cylinder, with the length of each contacting portion aligned with the axis of rotation of the cylinder, the contacting portions of the second row circumferentially displaced with respect to the first row by a distance greater than zero but less than or equal to half the pitch between adjacent contacting portions in the first row.
7. The tolerance ring of claim 6 , further comprising a third row of contacting portions, each contacting portion in the third row having a length and width, arranged around a surface of the cylinder with the length of each contacting portion aligned with the axis of rotation of the cylinder, the second row positioned between the first and third rows along the predetermined length, and the contacting portions of the third row circumferentially displaced with respect to the second row by a distance greater than zero but less than or equal to half the pitch between adjacent contacting portions in the second row.
8. The tolerance ring of claim 7 , wherein the contacting portions in the second row project a radial distance from the cylinder greater than radial distance projections of contacting portions in the first and third rows.
9. A tolerance ring configured to minimize torque ripple for a pivot bearing, comprising:
a cylinder having a predetermined length along an axis of rotation;
a first row of contacting portions, each contacting portion having a length and width, arranged around a surface of the cylinder with the length of each contact portion aligned with the axis of rotation of the cylinder, at a first location along the predetermined length of the cylinder; and
a second row of contacting portions, each contacting portion having a length and width, arranged around the surface of the cylinder, with the length of each contact portion aligned with the axis of rotation of the cylinder at a second location along the predetermined length, below the first location, and displaced circumferentially with respect to the first row by a distance greater than zero but less than or equal to half the pitch between adjacent contacting portions in the first row.
10. The tolerance ring of claim 9 , further comprising a third row of contacting portions, each contacting portion having a length and width, arranged around the surface of the cylinder, with the length of each contacting portion aligned with the axis of rotation of the cylinder, at a third location along the predetermined length, the second row positioned between the first and third rows along the predetermined length, and the contacting portions of the third row circumferentially displaced with respect to the second row by a distance greater than zero but less than or equal to half the pitch between adjacent contacting portions in the second row.
11. The tolerance ring of claim 10 , wherein the contacting portions in the second row project a radial distance from the cylinder greater than the radial distance of contacting portions in the first and third rows.
12. The tolerance ring of claim 10 , wherein the contacting portions of the second row are wider than the contacting portions in the first and third rows.
13. The tolerance ring of claim 10 , wherein the contacting portions of the second row have a geometry different than the contacting portions in the first and third rows.
14. The tolerance ring of claim 9 , wherein each contacting portion projects a fixed radial distance from the cylinder.
15. The tolerance ring of claim 9 , wherein the cylinder has a gap along the predetermined length of the cylinder, the gap having a first and a second edge.
16. A tolerance ring, comprising:
a cylinder having a predetermined length; and
a first and a second row of contacting portions arranged around the surface of the cylinder, the contacting portions of the first row projecting a first radial distance from the cylinder and the contacting portions of the second row projecting a second radial distance from the cylinder, the second radial distance being greater than the first radial distance.
17. The tolerance ring of claim 16 , wherein the contacting portions of the second row are circumferentially displaced with respect to the first row by a distance greater than zero but less than or equal to half the pitch between adjacent contacting portions in the first row.
18. The tolerance ring of claims 16 or 17 , further comprising a third row of contacting portions arranged around the surface of the cylinder, the second row being positioned between the first and third rows along the predetermined length, the contacting portions of the third row projecting a third radial distance from the cylinder and circumferentially displaced with respect to the second row by a distance greater than zero but less than or equal to half the pitch between adjacent contacting portions in the second row.
19. The tolerance ring of claim 16 , wherein the contacting portions of the second row are wider than the contacting portions in the first and third rows.
20. The tolerance ring of claim 16 , wherein the cylinder has a gap along the predetermined length of the cylinder, the gap having a first and a second edge.