Cylinder with replaceable attachment member
View Patent ↗A cylinder includes a cylinder body defining a cylinder bore. End caps close opposite ends of the cylinder body. A piston/rod assembly of the cylinder includes a piston portion and a rod portion. The piston portion is located in the cylinder bore and the rod portion extends outwardly of the cylinder body through at least one of the end caps and terminates at an end having a first interlocking member. The cylinder also includes an attachment member having opposite first and second ends. The first end of the attachment member has a second interlocking member for cooperating with the first interlocking member for attaching the attachment member to the end of the rod portion. The second end of the attachment member includes a mating feature for connecting the attachment member and thus, the rod portion to another part.
1. A cylinder comprising:
a cylinder body defining a cylinder bore;
end caps for closing opposite ends of the cylinder body;
a piston/rod assembly including a piston portion and a rod portion, the piston portion being located in the cylinder bore and the rod portion extending outwardly of the cylinder body through at least one of the end caps and terminating at an end having a first interlocking member; and
an attachment member having opposite first and second ends, the first end of the attachment member having a second interlocking member for cooperating with the first interlocking member for attaching the attachment member to the end of the rod portion, the second end of the attachment member including a mating feature for connecting the attachment member and thus, the rod portion to another part;
wherein one of the first and second interlocking members is a threaded male member and the other of the first and second interlocking members is a threaded female member that is adapted to threadedly receive the male member for connecting the attachment member to the rod portion, and
wherein the male member includes an annular groove and the female member includes a radially extending through hole, a set screw adapted to be received in the radially extending through hole and seating in the annular groove for helping to secure the attachment member to the rod portion.
2. The cylinder of claim 1 wherein the annular groove of the male member is located between threads and an annular shoulder of the male member.
3. The cylinder of claim 1 wherein the mating feature includes surfaces defining an annular groove that extends into a cylindrical outer surface of the attachment member and a knobbed portion at an end of the attachment member, the annular groove adapted to receive a locking ring for attaching the knobbed portion of the attachment member to another part.
4. The cylinder of claim 1 wherein at least one of the rod portion and the attachment member include wrench flats for receiving a wrench.
5. The cylinder of claim 1 wherein the first interlocking member is the threaded female member and the second interlocking member is the threaded male member sized for being threadedly connected to the female member for connecting the attachment member to the rod portion.
6. The cylinder of claim 1 wherein the rod portion and the attachment member are formed from different materials.
7. The cylinder of claim 1 wherein an insulating material is interposed between the rod portion and the attachment member, the insulating material acting to prevent a migration of heat between the rod portion and the attachment member.
8. The cylinder of claim 7 wherein the first and second interlocking members include surfaces defining grooves, a locking ring adapted to be received in the grooves for attaching the attachment member to the rod portion.
9. The cylinder of claim 7 wherein the rod portion and the attachment member are formed from different materials.
10. A cylinder comprising:
a cylinder body defining a cylinder bore;
end caps for closing opposite ends of the cylinder body;
a piston/rod assembly including a piston portion and a rod portion, the piston portion being located in the cylinder bore and the rod portion extending outwardly of the cylinder body through at least one of the end caps and terminating at an end having a first interlocking member; and
an attachment member having opposite first and second ends, the first end of the attachment member having a second interlocking member for cooperating with the first interlocking member for attaching the attachment member to the end of the rod portion, the second end of the attachment member including a mating feature for connecting the attachment member and thus, the rod portion to another part;
wherein at least one of the rod portion and the attachment member include wrench flats for receiving a wrench; and
wherein a radially extending through hole extends through one of the wrench flats, a set screw adapted to be received in the radially extending through hole for helping to secure the attachment member to the rod portion.
11. A cylinder comprising:
a cylinder body defining a cylinder bore;
end caps for closing opposite ends of the cylinder body;
a piston/rod assembly including a piston portion and a rod portion, the piston portion being located in the cylinder bore and the rod portion extending outwardly of the cylinder body through at least one of the end caps and terminating at an end having a first interlocking member; and
an attachment member having opposite first and second ends, the first end of the attachment member having a second interlocking member for cooperating with the first interlocking member for attaching the attachment member to the end of the rod portion, the second end of the attachment member including a mating feature for connecting the attachment member and thus, the rod portion to another part;
wherein a portion of the attachment member is configured to break prior to any breakage of the rod portion.
12. The cylinder of claim 11 wherein the portion of the attachment member designed to break prior to any breakage of the rod portion is the mating feature.