Compression limiter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016356291-A1
Application number	US-201514729292-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 3, 2015
Priority date	Jun 3, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A compression limiter for limiting compressive force applied by a fastener when fastening a component to a body. The compression limiter includes a sleeve and a diaphragm. The sleeve is formed in a cylindrical shape with openings at both ends. The diaphragm is coupled to an inner surface of the sleeve. The diaphragm is deformable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration defines a slit on the diaphragm with a width less than a diameter of the fastener. The second configuration expands the slit according to the diameter of the fastener so that the fastener is retained within the sleeve because of an elastic force applied by the diaphragm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A compression limiter for limiting compressive force applied by a fastener when fastening a component to a body, the compression limiter comprising:
a sleeve formed in a cylindrical shape with openings at both ends; and a diaphragm coupled to an inner surface of the sleeve, wherein the diaphragm is deformable between a first configuration which defines a slit on the diaphragm with a width less than a diameter of the fastener and a second configuration which expands the slit according to the diameter of the fastener so that the fastener is retained within the sleeve because of an elastic force applied by the diaphragm.

2 . The compression limiter according to claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is located at a distance away from an end of the sleeve.

3 . The compression limiter according to claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is elastically bent with expanding the slit.

4 . The compression limiter according to claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is molded inside of the sleeve.

5 . The compression limiter according to claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is made from elastomeric or rubber material.

6 . The compression limiter according to claim 1 , wherein the slit is formed in a rectangular shape in the first configuration.

7 . The compression limiter according to claim 1 , wherein the slit is formed in a rhombs shape in the first configuration.

8 . The compression limiter according to claim 1 , wherein the slit is formed in an elliptical shape in the first configuration.

9 . The compression limiter according to claim 1 , wherein the slit is formed in a star shape in the first configuration.

10 . The compression limiter according to claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm includes a pair of flaps defining the slit therebetween in the first configuration.

11 . The compression limiter according to claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a bolt, a stud, or a pin.

Assignees

• Denso Int America Inc
• Denso Corp

Inventors

• Williams Mark
• Didonato Blaise

Classifications

• F16B1/00 Primary

  Devices for securing together, or preventing relative movement between, constructional elements or machine parts · CPC title

• F16B43/00

  Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts (circlips F16B21/18; {for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24}) · CPC title

• F16B2001/0092

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F16B5/025 Primary

  specially designed to compensate for misalignement or to eliminate unwanted play · CPC title

• F16B19/02

  Bolts or sleeves for positioning of machine parts, e.g. notched taper pins, fitting pins, sleeves, eccentric positioning rings · CPC title