Tolerance ring with edge bump difference
View Patent ↗A novel tolerance ring includes a hollow cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis that passes axially through its center. A circumferential gap divides the hollow cylindrical body so that the hollow cylindrical body includes first and second longitudinal edges that define the circumferential gap. A plurality of bumps protrude radially from the hollow cylindrical body, and consists of a plurality of gap-adjacent bumps and a plurality of non-gap-adjacent bumps. At least one of the plurality of bumps is circumferentially between the gap and each of the non-gap-adjacent bumps. None of the plurality of bumps is circumferentially between the gap and each of the gap-adjacent bumps. The tolerance ring includes a means for increasing an otherwise lower average radial compressive stiffness of the gap-adjacent bumps to become substantially equal to an average radial stiffness of the non-gap-adjacent bumps.
1. A tolerance ring comprising:
a hollow cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis that passes axially through its center;
a circumferential gap that divides the hollow cylindrical body so that the hollow cylindrical body includes first and second longitudinal edges that define the circumferential gap;
a plurality of bumps that protrude radially from the hollow cylindrical body; and
a plurality of openings extending through the tolerance ring;
wherein there is no bump that protrudes radially from the hollow cylindrical body that is not included in the plurality of bumps, and the plurality of bumps consists of a plurality of gap-adjacent bumps and a plurality of non-gap-adjacent bumps, there being at least one of the plurality of bumps circumferentially between the gap and each of the non-gap-adjacent bumps, there being none of the plurality of bumps circumferentially between the gap and each of the gap-adjacent bumps; and
wherein each of the plurality of openings extends through a corresponding one of the non-gap-adjacent bumps.
2. The tolerance ring of claim 1 wherein at least two of the gap-adjacent bumps do not include any hole therethrough.
3. The tolerance ring of claim 1 wherein at least one gap-adjacent bump includes a hole therethrough, but said hole is smaller than any of the plurality of openings.
4. The tolerance ring of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of bumps has a radial compressive stiffness that opposes compressive deformation of that bump normal to the longitudinal axis, and wherein an average value of the radial stiffnesses of all of the gap adjacent bumps is greater than an average value of the radial stiffnesses of all of the non-gap-adjacent bumps.