Granted Patent B2

US 8,064,800 · App. 12/191,971 · Granted Nov 22, 2011

Abstract

Claims (42)

1. A composite torque transfer body and spline assembly, comprising:

a torque transfer component made of a first material and having a central body portion and a peripheral torque transfer portion attached to and extending about said central body portion;

a spline component made of a second material different from and having stiffness greater than that of said first material of said torque transfer component, said spline component having an elongated tubular spline portion and a collar portion attached to and extending about and radially outward from said spline portion; and

a plurality of elements on said central body portion of said torque transfer component and said collar portion of said spline component providing separate press-fitting and securing of said components to one another such that said components are mated and rotatable together about a common longitudinally-extending central axis, wherein said elements providing press-fitting of said components include:

a press ring having an arcuate configuration substantially concentric about said central axis and attached on said collar portion of said spline component at a location spaced radially outward from said spline portion; and

an opening defined by an edge having an arcuate configuration substantially concentric about said central axis and formed in said central body portion of said torque transfer component for receiving said press ring such that at least portions of said edge press-fit with portions of said press ring.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said second material of said spline component provides said assembly with stiffness ranging from approximately 5 in-oz/degree to 50 in-oz/degree.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said second material of said spline component comprises one selected from the group consisting of zinc, steel, aluminum, magnesium, glass-filled plastic, brass and bronze.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said first material of said torque transfer component comprises one selected from the group consisting of acetal, Nylon, Nylon with glass and ABS.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said edge of said opening has multiple first and second edge segments which alternate with one another about said central axis such that said multiple first edge segments are radially offset outwardly from said multiple second edge segments relative to said central axis so as to provide clearances between first portions of said press ring and said multiple first edge segments and press-fit contact areas between said multiple second edge segments and second portions of said press ring alternately with said clearances such that said clearances and press-fit contact areas are symmetrically and concentrically arranged about said central axis when said press ring is received through said opening.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said elements providing press-fitting of said components further include a plurality of ribs attached on said central body portion of said torque transfer component and extending radially relative to said central axis and between said peripheral torque transfer portion and opposite ends of said edge segments such that inner ends of said ribs together with said edge segments are press-fitted with said press ring when said press ring is received through said opening.

7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said press ring is discontinuous having a pair of spaced apart opposite ends and said elements providing press-fitting of said components further include a pair of ribs attached on said central body portion of said torque transfer component and spaced apart from one another, said ribs having inner ends extending beyond said edge so as to define stops located between, adjacent to and one or the other of which being in contact with a corresponding one of said opposite ends of said press ring, depending upon the direction of rotation of said spline component, so as to enhance transfer of torque from said spline component to said torque transfer component by preventing rotation of said press ring relative to said edge and about said central axis.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said press ring has tabs thereon spaced apart from one another and protruding from said press ring and configured so as to provide guides to enable inserting said press ring through said opening.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said elements providing press-fitting of said components further include a plurality of radial ribs attached on said central body portion of said torque transfer component and extending radially relative to said central axis and between said peripheral torque transfer portion and said edge and circumferentially spaced from one another about said central axis, said ribs providing strengthening of said central body portion of said torque transfer component and further defining outer seats for locating a retraction spring, said ribs terminating short of reaching said peripheral torque transfer portion so as to not make contact therewith and thereby not transfer any forces generated by said press-fitting of said components together to said peripheral torque transfer portion.

10. A composite torque transfer body and spline assembly, comprising:

a torque transfer component made of a plastic material and having a central body portion and a peripheral torque transfer portion attached to and extending about said central body portion;

a spline component made of a metal material different from and having stiffness greater than that of said plastic material of said torque transfer component, said spline component having an elongated tubular spline portion and a collar portion attached to and extending about and radially outward from said spline portion; and

a plurality of elements on said central body portion of said torque transfer component and said collar portion of said spline component providing press-fitting and fastening of said components to one another such that said components are mated and rotatable together about a common longitudinally-extending central axis, wherein said elements providing press-fitting of said components include:

a press ring having an arcuate configuration substantially concentric about said central axis and attached on said collar portion of said spline component at a location spaced radially outward from said spline portion, said press ring being discontinuous having a pair of spaced apart opposite ends; and

an opening defined by an edge having an arcuate configuration substantially concentric about said central axis and formed in said central body portion of said torque transfer component for receiving said press ring such that at least portions of said edge press-fit with portions of said press ring.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said elements providing fastening of said components include:

a plurality of threadless holes defined in said central body portion of said torque transfer component;

a plurality of threaded holes defined in said collar portion of said spline component; and

a plurality of screws insertable through said threadless holes and threadable into said threaded holes to screw-fasten said components with one another.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said elements providing press-fitting of said components further include a pair of ribs attached on said central body portion of said torque transfer component and spaced apart from one another, said ribs having inner ends extending beyond said edge so as to define stops located between, adjacent to and one or the other of which being in contact with a corresponding one of said opposite ends of said press ring so as to enhance torque transfer from said spline component to said torque transfer component by preventing rotation of said press ring relative to said edge and about said central axis and thereby substantially preventing said torque transfer through said screws.

13. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising:

a bushing of a material different from said materials of said components and adapted to mount centrally in said spline portion of said spline component and concentrically about said central axis for receiving and mounting said spline component of said mated components on a rotatable member.

14. A composite torque transfer and spline assembly, comprising:

a torque transfer component made of a molded plastic material and having a central body portion and a peripheral torque transfer portion integrally attached to and extending about said central body portion;

a spline component made of a cast metal material and having an elongated tubular spline portion and a collar portion integrally attached to and extending about and radially outward from said spline portion; and

a plurality of elements on said central body portion of said torque transfer component and said collar portion of said spline component providing a separate multiple segmented press-fitting and securing of said components to one another such that said components are mated and rotatable together about a common longitudinally-extending central axis, wherein said elements providing said multiple segmented press-fitting of said components include:

a press ring having an arcuate configuration substantially concentric about said central axis and attached on said collar portion of said spline component at a location spaced radially outward from said spline portion; and

an opening defined by an edge having an arcuate configuration substantially concentric about said central axis and formed in said central body portion of said torque transfer component and adapted to receive said press ring such that at least portions of said edge press-fit with portions of said press ring.

15. The assembly of claim 14

wherein said edge of said opening has multiple first and second edge segments which alternate with one another about said central axis such that said multiple first edge segments are radially offset outwardly from said multiple second edge segments relative to said central axis so as to provide clearances between first portions of said press ring and said multiple first edge segments and press-fit contact areas between said multiple second edge segments and second portions of said press ring alternately with said clearances such that said clearances and press-fit contact areas are symmetrically and concentrically arranged about said central axis when said press ring is received through said opening.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein said elements providing press-fitting of said components further include a plurality of ribs attached on said central body portion of said torque transfer component and extending radially relative to said central axis and between said peripheral torque transfer portion and opposite ends of said edge segments such that inner ends of said ribs together with said edge segments are press-fitted with said press ring when said press ring is received through said opening.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein said elements providing said fastening of said components to one another includes:

a plurality of threadless holes defined in said central body portion of said torque transfer component;

a plurality of threaded holes defined in said collar of said spline component; and

a plurality of screws insertable through said threadless holes and threadable into said threaded holes to screw fasten said components to one another.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said press ring is discontinuous having a pair of spaced apart opposite ends and said elements providing press-fitting of said components further include a pair of ribs attached on said central body portion of said torque transfer component and spaced apart from one another, said ribs having inner ends extending beyond said edge so as to define stops located between, adjacent to and one or the other of which being in contact with a corresponding one of said opposite ends of said press ring, depending upon the direction of rotation of said spline component, so as to enhance torque transfer from said spline component to said torque transfer component by preventing rotation of said press ring relative to said edge and about said central axis and thereby substantially preventing said torque transfer through said screws.

19. The assembly of claim 15 wherein said elements providing press-fitting of said components further include a plurality of ribs attached on said central body portion of said torque transfer component and extending radially relative to said central axis and between said peripheral torque transfer portion and said edge and circumferentially spaced from one another about said central axis, said ribs providing strengthening of said central body portion of said torque transfer component and further defining outer seats for locating a retraction spring, said ribs terminating short of reaching said peripheral torque transfer portion so as to not make contact therewith and thereby not transfer any forces generated by said press-fitting of said components to said peripheral torque transfer portion.

Assignments (8)