Patents Assigned to Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
  • Patent number: 10094426
    Abstract: A tolerance ring is adapted to be deployed between inner and outer components. The tolerance ring includes a generally cylindrical body. The sidewall can include an undeformed portion. The sidewall can further include a plurality of wave structures. The wave structures can protrude radially from the undeformed portion. Some or all wave structures can protrude inwardly or can protrude outwardly. Furthermore, the tolerance ring when placed in an assembly having an inner component and an outer component can have a first torque break-point T1 in a first rotational direction. A torque break point for an assembly comprising an inner component, an outer component, and a tolerance ring is the torque at which slippage occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew R. Slayne, Llewelyn Pickering
  • Patent number: 10087995
    Abstract: A tolerance ring comprising a body including a plurality of sidewall segments, each sidewall segment having a thickness and a height, wherein the body has an aspect ratio, as measured by a ratio of the height of the sidewall segment to the thickness of the sidewall segment, of no less than 2:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Robert Slayne
  • Patent number: 9885388
    Abstract: A linear motion assembly including a component having a longitudinal axis and adapted to translate along the longitudinal axis, and a bearing comprising a spiral body including a substrate and a low friction material, wherein the bearing extends around the component and provides a low friction interface for translation of the component, and wherein the bearing is adapted to prevent longitudinal translation of the component in a locked condition and permit longitudinal translation of the component in an unlocked condition. In an embodiment, the bearing is adapted to transition between the locked and unlocked conditions upon circumferential translation of an axial end of the spiral body, longitudinal translation of an axial end of the spiral body, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventor: James K. Burgess
  • Patent number: 9869330
    Abstract: A tolerance ring can include a generally cylindrical body having a first partial-cylindrical sidewall and a second partial-cylindrical sidewall opposite the first partial-cylindrical sidewall. Each partial-cylindrical sidewall defines a first end and a second end. Further, a first gap can be established between the first end of the first partial-cylindrical sidewall and the first end of the second partial-cylindrical sidewall after installation around a post. The first gap can extend along the entire length of the tolerance ring such that a split is formed in the tolerance ring. The tolerance ring can also include a second gap between the second end of the first partial-cylindrical sidewall and the second end of the second partial-cylindrical sidewall. The second gap can extend along the entire length of the tolerance ring such that a split is formed in the tolerance ring. The tolerance ring can provide an installed concentricity, C, ?50 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventors: Yosuke Kinoshita, Yoshinori Kamiya
  • Patent number: 9505091
    Abstract: A method of assembling a tolerance ring between opposing surfaces of an inner and outer component arranged to mate with one another to provide an interference fit therebetween includes mounting the tolerance ring on one of the inner and outer components whereby the projections are received in a recessed portion on that component, partially mating the inner and outer components, and completing mating by causing relative movement between the tolerance ring and the recessed portion to move the projections from the recessed portion and to be compressed between the mated inner and outer components. The tolerance ring includes an annular band of resilient material for engaging an opposing surface of one of the inner and outer components. The annular band has a plurality of deformable projections extending radially therefrom to engage the opposing surface of the other one of the inner and outer components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Robert Slayne
  • Patent number: 9224409
    Abstract: A tolerance ring can include a generally cylindrical body having a sidewall. The sidewall can include a first unformed section and a gap in the first unformed section. The gap can extend along an entire length of the body to establish a split in the body. The sidewall can also include a second unformed section opposite the first unformed section, a first wave bank flanking the first unformed section with the gap, and a second wave bank flanking the first unformed section with the gap. The wave banks can be equally spaced around a circumference of the body of the tolerance ring and the body of the tolerance ring can be symmetrical about a center axis that extends from a center of the tolerance ring and bisects the gap in the first unformed section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Simon Alan Hughes, Andrew Robert Slayne
  • Patent number: 9222521
    Abstract: A torque limiting tolerance ring that is configured to be installed between an inner component and an outer component is disclosed. The torque limiting tolerance ring can include a generally cylindrical body that can have a sidewall. The sidewall can include an unformed section and a plurality of projections can extend from the unformed section of the sidewall. The projections can be configured to engage the inner component or the outer component. During use, the torque limiting tolerance ring can move from an engaged configuration, in which the inner component is statically coupled to the outer component, to a disengaged configuration, in which the inner component is disengaged from the outer component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Andrew Robert Slayne, James Pennsiriwongse, Paul Haines, Llewelyn Pickering, Stuart Kelly, Simon Alan Hughes
  • Patent number: 9206853
    Abstract: A tolerance ring has a band (16) with outwardly extending corrugated protrusions forming waves (2) which engage a surface (8) of the bore (4) in a housing (5). At one end of the tolerance ring is an outwardly flared guide surface (15a) extending axially from the band (16). The guide surface (15a) acts as an enlarged entrance to the band (16) from a shaft (3) to be mounted in the bore (4) by insertion into the tolerance ring. The use of the guide surface (15a) assists assembly and reduces or eliminates particle production. It is also possible for the corrugated portions to extend inwardly, for the guide surface to be inwardly flared, and for the tolerance ring to be mounted on the shaft prior to insertion in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Niki S. Woodhead, Andrew R. Slayne
  • Patent number: 9206854
    Abstract: A tolerance ring has a band with outwardly extending corrugated protrusions forming waves that engage an outer surface of a shaft. At one end of the tolerance ring is an inwardly flared guide surface extending axially and radially from the band. The guide surface acts as a tapered entrance to a bore of a housing to assist during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Niki S. Woodhead, Andrew Robert Slayne
  • Patent number: 9074637
    Abstract: A tolerance ring with a generally cylindrical body having a sidewall, wherein the sidewall includes an undeformed portion and a plurality of wave structures protruding from the undeformed portion. The wave structures each having a feature disconnected from the adjacent sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew R. Slayne, Llewelyn Pickering
  • Patent number: 9062700
    Abstract: A tolerance ring is disclosed and can include a generally cylindrical body having a side wall that defines a top, and a bottom. The side wall includes a plurality of wave structures that extend from the sidewall in a first direction and a first plurality of component engagement structures that extend from the sidewall in a second direction opposite the first direction. Each of the first plurality of component engagement structures can be configured to at least partially extend into and engage a first component to which the tolerance ring is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventor: James Pennsiriwongse
  • Patent number: 9028165
    Abstract: A tolerance ring can include a generally cylindrical body that can include a side wall. The sidewall can define a top and a bottom. Further, the sidewall can include a plurality of wave structures that can extend from the sidewall, a plurality of unformed sections, and a gap that can extend along the entire length of the body. Each unformed section can be located between a pair of adjacent wave structures. Further, the gap can establish a split in the body. The tolerance ring can also include at least one hole intersecting at least one of the wave structures to establish a perforated wave structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Andrew Robert Slayne, Simon Alan Hughes, Neil James
  • Patent number: 9022683
    Abstract: A tolerance ring can include a generally cylindrical body having a sidewall. The sidewall can include a plurality of wave structures extending from the sidewall at regular intervals around the body, a first unformed section between a first pair of adjacent wave structures, and a second unformed section between a second pair of adjacent wave structures. The gap can extend along an entire length, L, of the body to establish a split in the body. The second unformed section can include a slot therein. The slot can have a length, LS, and LS?80% L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Andrew Robert Slayne, Simon Alan Hughes
  • Patent number: 9013834
    Abstract: A tolerance ring for a hard disc drive assembly is disclosed and can include a plurality of discrete tolerance ring panels. Each tolerance ring panel can include an arcuate sidewall that can include an unformed portion and at least one projection extending from the arcuate sidewall. The projection can be surrounded by the unformed portion of the arcuate sidewall and the tolerance ring can be configured to be deployed in an interference fit between an inner component and an outer component to provide torque coupling between an inner component and an outer component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Nik S. Woodhead, Thomas B. Francis
  • Patent number: 9004802
    Abstract: A tolerance ring has a band with outwardly extending corrugated protrusions forming waves that engage an outer surface of a shaft. At one end of the tolerance ring is an inwardly flared guide surface extending axially and radially from the band. The guide surface acts as a tapered entrance to a bore of a housing to assist during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Niki S. Woodhead, Andrew R. Slayne
  • Patent number: 8911154
    Abstract: A tolerance ring can include a generally cylindrical body that can include a sidewall that defines a top and a bottom. The sidewall can include an upper unformed band and a lower unformed band opposite the upper unformed band. A plurality of shoulderless wave structures can protrude radially from the sidewall between the upper unformed band and the lower unformed band. Each shoulderless wave structure can be connected only to the upper unformed band and the lower unformed band. The sidewall of the tolerance ring can also include a plurality of unformed sections and a gap that extends along the entire axial length of the body. Each unformed section can be located between a pair of adjacent shoulderless wave structures. Moreover, the gap can establish a split in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Adam Sandey, Llewelyn Pickering
  • Publication number: 20140205374
    Abstract: A torque limiting tolerance ring is disclosed and can include a generally cylindrical body having a sidewall. The sidewall can include an unformed section. A plurality of projections can extend from the unformed section of the sidewall and the plurality of projections can be arranged in a first circumferential row and a second circumferential row. The torque limiting tolerance ring can include a frangible portion that can extend circumferentially around the tolerance ring between the first and second rows of projections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Stephen Jefferies
  • Publication number: 20140185164
    Abstract: A tolerance ring for a hard disc drive assembly is disclosed and can include a plurality of discrete tolerance ring panels. Each tolerance ring panel can include an arcuate sidewall that can include an unformed portion and at least one projection extending from the arcuate sidewall. The projection can be surrounded by the unformed portion of the arcuate sidewall and the tolerance ring can be configured to be deployed in an interference fit between an inner component and an outer component to provide torque coupling between an inner component and an outer component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Nik S. Woodhead, Thomas B. Francis
  • Publication number: 20140166423
    Abstract: A torque limiting tolerance ring that is configured to be installed between an inner component and an outer component is disclosed. The torque limiting tolerance ring can include a generally cylindrical body that can have a sidewall. The sidewall can include an unformed section and a plurality of projections can extend from the unformed section of the sidewall. The projections can be configured to engage the inner component or the outer component. During use, the torque limiting tolerance ring can move from an engaged configuration, in which the inner component is statically coupled to the outer component, to a disengaged configuration, in which the inner component is disengaged from the outer component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Andrew Robert Slayne, James Pennsiriwongse, Paul Haines, Llewelyn Pickering, Stuart Kelly, Simon Alan Hughes
  • Patent number: 8684624
    Abstract: A tolerance ring includes a curved strip having first and second ends. Additionally, the tolerance ring includes a plurality of projections formed on the curved strip, and a physical connection between the first and second ends such that the curved strip forms a closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Robert Slayne