Snap-in center seal bushing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9409267-B2
Application number	US-81795110-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2010
Priority date	Jun 17, 2010
Publication date	Aug 9, 2016
Grant date	Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

A bushing adapted to secure an O-ring seal in position relative to an area of a passage permitting reciprocation of a push rod forms a generally circular bushing body with opposed end faces. The end faces are separated by a gap so as to provide the bushing with an approximately C-shaped structure. The bushing includes a plurality of locking elements resistant to axial loads imposed on the bushing by the push rod disposed at least substantially within a corresponding plurality of recesses distributed around a circumferential exterior of the bushing. Solid ribs are interspersed with the locking fingers to resist radial loads imposed on the bushing by the push rod during operation. The O-ring seal is secured in position within the passage area of the passage by an end surface of the bushing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bushing adapted to secure an O-ring seal in position relative to a passage, the bushing forming a generally circular bushing body with opposed end faces separated by a gap so as to provide the bushing with an approximately C-shaped structure, the bushing comprising:
a plurality of locking elements resistant to axial loads imposed on the bushing disposed at least substantially within a corresponding plurality of recesses in a circumferential exterior of the bushing that are distributed around the circumferential exterior of the bushing, and
a plurality of solid ribs interspersed with the locking elements to resist radial loads imposed on the bushing, the solid ribs defining a radially outer surface of said circumferential exterior of the bushing,
wherein each of the locking elements also defines said radially outer surface of said circumferential exterior of the bushing, as well as a radially interior surface oriented toward one of a plurality of radially outwardly facing walls, a step, defining a locking tooth on the radially outer surface of said circumferential exterior of the bushing, a locking element end surface extending between the radially interior surface and the step, and an inclined radially exterior surface extending away from the step and additionally forming part of the circumferential exterior of the bushing,
wherein each of the recesses is formed by one of the plurality of radially outwardly facing walls and side surfaces of adjacent ribs of said plurality of solid ribs that extend substantially radially from the one of the radially outwardly facing walls,
wherein each said radially interior surface is located within one of the recesses and at least partly between the side surfaces of adjacent ribs of said plurality of solid ribs,
wherein each locking tooth projects radially with respect to the bushing beyond outer surfaces of a pair of the solid ribs adjacent to the locking tooth, and
wherein each of the solid ribs defines an axial length, and each locking tooth is disposed within said axial length.

2. The bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the bushing includes six of said locking elements.

3. A seal assembly comprising:
an O-ring seal, and
the bushing according to claim 1 to secure the O-ring seal in position within said adapter.

4. The seal assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the O-ring seal is secured in position within said adapter by a bushing end surface.

5. The bushing according to claim 1 , wherein each locking tooth protrudes so as to snap into a groove or recess in an adapter defining the passage and secure the bushing axially relative to the adapter.

6. The bushing according to claim 5 , including a smooth central wall defining an inner diameter that changes during installation of the bushing in the adapter.

7. The bushing according to claim 6 , wherein the inner diameter increases upon complete installation of the bushing in the adapter.

8. The bushing according to claim 6 , wherein each of the inclined radially exterior surfaces cooperates with the adapter to displace the locking elements during installation of the bushing in the adapter.

9. The bushing according to claim 6 , wherein the inner diameter of the smooth central wall changes about 8% during installation.

10. The bushing according to claim 6 , wherein the inner diameter decreases prior to complete installation of the bushing in the adapter and increases upon complete installation of the bushing in the adapter.

11. The bushing according to claim 10 , wherein the inner diameter of the smooth central wall changes about 8% during installation.

Assignees

• Plantan Ronald S
• Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake

Inventors

• Plantan Ronald S

Classifications

• F16D2125/00

  Components of actuators · CPC title

• Y10T29/49947

  by applying separate fastener · CPC title

• B23P19/084 Primary

  for placing resilient or flexible rings, e.g. O-rings, circlips · CPC title

• F16J15/3268

  Mounting of sealing rings · CPC title