Method for installing a wrap spring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11754129-B2
Application number	US-202017436403-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2020
Priority date	Apr 3, 2019
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

A method for installing a wrap spring includes providing a first sleeve with a first longitudinal axis extending in an axial direction and a lateral surface, and the wrap spring designed to frictionally abut the lateral surface. The wrap spring includes a nominal diameter and a central axis. The method includes applying the wrap spring in a relaxed state to the lateral surface at an angle α between the central axis and the first longitudinal axis, elastically twisting the wrap spring to change the nominal diameter while the wrap spring contacts the lateral surface, reducing the angle α, threading the wrap spring onto the first sleeve, and relaxing the wrap spring to establish frictional contact with the lateral surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for installing a wrap spring, comprising
providing a first sleeve comprising:
a first longitudinal axis extending in an axial direction; and
a lateral surface;

providing a wrap spring designed to frictionally abut the lateral surface, the wrap spring comprising:
a nominal diameter; and
a central axis;

applying the wrap spring in a relaxed state to the lateral surface at an angle α between the central axis and the first longitudinal axis;
elastically twisting the wrap spring to change the nominal diameter while the wrap spring contacts the lateral surface;
reducing the angle α;
threading the wrap spring onto the first sleeve; and
relaxing the wrap spring to establish frictional contact with the lateral surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the threading the wrap spring onto the first sleeve comprises:
inserting the wrap spring into the first sleeve; or
slipping the wrap spring onto the first sleeve.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the elastically twisting the wrap spring and the threading the wrap spring take place at least temporarily at the same time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the reducing the angle α and the threading the wrap spring take place at least temporarily at the same time.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein, after the threading the wrap spring the wrap spring protrudes partially from the first sleeve in the axial direction.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the first sleeve comprises a first axial stop; and
the threading the wrap spring comprises the wrap spring axially striking the first axial stop.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the wrap spring comprises a plurality of coils; and
only some of the plurality of coils slide at the angle α on the lateral surface during the threading the wrap spring.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the only some of the plurality of coils is exactly six to eight coils.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a robot arm, wherein the applying the wrap spring, the elastically twisting the wrap spring and the threading the wrap spring is aided by the robot arm.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing a second sleeve arranged to frictionally contact the wrap spring in the relaxed state, the second sleeve comprising a second longitudinal axis;
applying the second sleeve to the wrap spring at an angle β between the second longitudinal axis and the central axis after the threading the wrap spring and before the relaxing the wrap spring; and
threading the second sleeve onto the wrap spring.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the threading the second sleeve comprises:
pushing the second sleeve onto the first sleeve; or
inserting the second sleeve into the first sleeve.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the second longitudinal axis wobbles during the threading the second sleeve.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the relaxing the wrap spring is after the threading the second sleeve.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a robot arm, wherein the applying the wrap spring, the elastically twisting the wrap spring, the threading the wrap spring, the applying the second sleeve and the threading the second sleeve is aided by the robot arm.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Volk Wolfgang

Classifications

• F16F1/06 Primary

  with turns lying in cylindrical surfaces · CPC title

• F16D41/206 Primary

  having axially adjacent coils, e.g. helical wrap-springs · CPC title

• F16F1/042

  characterised by the cross-section of the wire · CPC title

• F16F1/12

  Attachments or mountings {(F16F1/041, F16F13/02 take precedence; of combinations of vibration damper and mechanical spring for vehicle suspension units B60G15/02)} · CPC title

• F16F2226/04

  Assembly or fixing methods; methods to form or fashion parts · CPC title