초록 ▼

A tolerance ring which provides a low consistent installation force profile as a rotatable member, such as a disc drive actuator, is installed onto a stationary member, such as a shaft extending along an axis. The tolerance ring has a substantially cylindrical base portion from which a plurality of

A tolerance ring which provides a low consistent installation force profile as a rotatable member, such as a disc drive actuator, is installed onto a stationary member, such as a shaft extending along an axis. The tolerance ring has a substantially cylindrical base portion from which a plurality of spaced apart raised portions radially extend. Each raised portion has a contact surface with a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape in a direction parallel to the axis and a pair of transition portions between the contact surface and the base portion. Each transition portion further has a continually radiused cross-sectional shape in a direction parallel to the axis so that, for each raised portion, a selected one of the elliptical cross-sectional shapes and the pair of radiused cross-sectional shapes is convex with respect to the axis and the remaining one of the elliptical cross-sectional shapes and the pair of radiused cross-sectional shapes is concave with respect to the axis.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A tolerance ring circumferentially extending about an axis for the insertion of a rotatable actuator assembly, having a central aperture defining an actuator axis, upon a stationary shaft through the central aperture of the actuator, in a disc drive, the tolerance ring

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A tolerance ring circumferentially extending about an axis for the insertion of a rotatable actuator assembly, having a central aperture defining an actuator axis, upon a stationary shaft through the central aperture of the actuator, in a disc drive, the tolerance ring comprising:a substantially cylindrical base portion extending an axial length along the axis and a radial distance from the axis; anda plurality of spaced apart raised portions radially extending from the base portion each consisting of an arcuate contact surface with a substantially elliptical cross-section in a direction parallel to the axial length and a pair of arcuate transition portions between the contact surface and the base portion each having a continually radiused cross-section in a direction parallel to the axial length so that, for each raised portion, a selected one of the elliptical cross-sections and the pair of radiused cross-sections is convex with respect to the axis and remaining one of the elliptical cross-sections and the pair of radiused cross-sections is concave with respect to the axis wherein the tolerance ring provides a substantially constant and consistent insertion profile along an axial length of the actuator axis.