TOLERANCE RING ASSEMBLY

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.

Claims

1. A method of using a tolerance ring comprising: providing a tolerance ring comprising a first axial end and a second axial end, a body having a hollow cylindrical shape, a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from the body, and a guide having a guide surface contiguous with the body at a minimum guide diameter and extending to a maximum guide diameter coincident with the first axial end of the tolerance ring, wherein a portion of the body is disposed between the guide and the plurality of protrusions; inserting the tolerance ring into a bore of a housing; and inserting a shaft into the body of the tolerance ring so as to create an interference fit between the tolerance ring and the shaft.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the shaft into the body of the tolerance ring further comprises: inserting the shaft through the guide until a portion of the shaft contacts the body.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein: prior to inserting the shaft into the body of the tolerance ring there is an initial misalignment between the shaft and an axis of the tolerance ring, and the guide surface axially aligns the shaft with the body.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the tolerance ring into the bore is performed such that the tolerance ring does not protrude from the housing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the guide extends from an entire circumference of the body.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions includes all protrusions extending from the body, and wherein all protrusions of the plurality of protrusions lie along a same circumferential row.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an angle of inclination of the guide surface relative to the axis is constant along a length of the guide surface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the tolerance ring into the bore is performed prior to inserting the shaft into the guide of the tolerance ring.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the body of the tolerance ring is disposed between the guide and the plurality of protrusions.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the bore of the housing comprises a mouth having a chamfer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein, viewed in cross section, the bore has a straight sidewall.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inserting the tolerance ring into the bore is performed such that the plurality of protrusions does not abrade against any surface.

13. A method of using a tolerance ring comprising: providing a tolerance ring comprising: a body; a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from the body; and a guide contiguous with, and extending axially from, the body, wherein the guide comprises a guide surface inclined relative to a central axis of the tolerance ring and having a maximum guide diameter coincident with an axial end of the tolerance ring, and wherein the guide extends from an entire circumference of the body; inserting the tolerance ring into a bore of a housing; inserting a shaft into the body of the tolerance ring, comprising: inserting the shaft into the guide of the tolerance ring after inserting the tolerance ring into the bore, wherein a portion of the shaft is disposed within a volume defined by the guide, and wherein the portion of the shaft is entirely spaced apart from the guide; and continuing insertion of the shaft into the body of the tolerance ring such that the shaft forms an interference fit with the body of the tolerance ring.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein: prior to inserting the shaft into the body of the tolerance ring there is an initial misalignment between the shaft and an axis of the tolerance ring, and the guide surface axially aligns the shaft with the body.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein inserting the tolerance ring into the bore is performed such that a portion of all of the protrusions contacts the surface of the housing at a substantially same time.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein inserting the tolerance ring into the bore is performed such that the tolerance ring does not protrude from the housing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein inserting the tolerance ring into the bore is performed such that the axial end of the tolerance ring lies flush with an outside of the housing.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the shaft is a bearing.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the volume defined by the guide has a frustoconical shape.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein a portion of the body of the tolerance ring is disposed between the guide and the plurality of protrusions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows in cross section a bearing and a known tolerance ring, which are about to be inserted into a bore in a pivotable actuator arm of a hard disk drive;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows in cross section another known tolerance ring with outward protrusions located in a bore in an actuator arm, and a bearing ready to be inserted into the tolerance ring;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows in cross section another known tolerance ring with inward protrusions located in a bore in an actuator arm, and a bearing ready to be inserted into the tolerance ring;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows in cross section a tolerance ring of he present invention located in a bore in an actuator arm, and a bearing ready to be inserted into the tolerance ring;

[0045] FIG. 5 shows in cross section, another known tolerance ring which is fitted to the end of a shaft and is about to be inserted into a bore in a housing; and

[0046] FIG. 6 shows in cross section a tolerance ring of the present invention, which is fitted to a shaft and is about to be inserted in a bore into a housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] Before describing embodiments of the invention, it will be useful to understand conventional arrangements. Thus, FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate use of a known tolerance ring to mount a shaft in a bore.

[0048] Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, a known tolerance ring with outwardly facing protrusions 2 in the form of waves and is fitted around a bearing 3 or bearing assembly 3 (hereinafter referred to as the bearing 3). The bearing 3 and tolerance ring 1 comprise a sub-assembly, which is axially inserted into the bore 4 of a body which may be an actuator arm 5 of a hard disk drive, indicated in FIG. 1 by the arrow 6. Unformed, annular portions 7 of the tolerance ring 1, which have no radial protrusions, axially flank the outwardly facing protrusions 2. Tolerance rings with outwardly facing protrusions are generally known in the art as S.V rings (Shaft Variable), as the diameter of the tolerance ring to be fitted to the bearing may be varied by differing amounts of overlap of the ends of the strip that forms the tolerance ring. The outwardly facing protrusions 2 of the ring 1 resiliently engage the surface 8 of the bore 4.

[0049] As the sub-assembly is inserted into the bore 4, the outwardly facing protrusions 2 of the tolerance ring 1 are compressed. Unformed portions 7 of the tolerance ring 1 that axially flank the outwardly facing protrusions 2 prevent changes in the pitch of the outwardly facing protrusions 2, allowing only resilient deformation of each outwardly facing protrusions. A radial force is created between the surface 8 of the bore 4 and the bearing 3. An interference fit is thus provided by the tolerance ring 1.

[0050] During assembly, the outwardly facing protrusions 2 of the tolerance ring 1 slide relative to the surface 8 of the bore 4. Abrasion of the waves against the surface 8 can cause small fragments of the housing 5 to be removed from the surface 8 of the bore 4 (and possibly tolerance ring 1). This problem is compounded if the material of the actuator arm 5 is softer than the material of the outwardly facing protrusions 2 of the ring 1. The fragments are known in the art as particles, which can adversely affect the operation of the apparatus in which the tolerance ring 1 is fitted. In the example, particles are extremely undesirable as cleanliness is important for proper functioning of the hard disk drive.

[0051] An alternative known assembly method comprises inserting the tolerance ring 1 into the bore 4 so that the tolerance ring 1 sits concentrically in the bore 4. The bearing 3 is inserted into the bore 4 and slides into the tolerance ring 1, as shown by the arrow 9 in FIG. 2. The bearing 3 may foul on the edge 10 of the ring as the bearing 3 is axially inserted into the ring 1, causing fragments of the ring 1 and/or bearing 3 to be removed. The fragments are known in the art as particles.

[0052] Particles may also be produced when using a tolerance ring with inwardly extending protrusions, for example as shown FIG. 3. A tolerance ring 11, with inwardly facing protrusions 30, sits concentrically in the bore 4 of the actuator arm 5, with the sides of the ring engaging the sides 8 of the bore 4. This type of ring is known in the art as an H.V. tolerance ring (Housing Variable). A bearing 3 is axially inserted into the ring 11, as indicated in FIG. 3 by the arrow 12. The bearing 3 moves relative to the inwardly facing protrusions 30. As the bearing 3 is made of harder material than the actuator arm 5, particle production is more limited.

[0053] The arrangement using a tolerance ring with inwardly extending waves may not be suitable for all types of apparatus, for example where it is desirable to have a load on the bearing spread over a wider area than can be provided by the tops of the waves. It is undesirable that a requirement to minimise particle production during assembly imposes a working arrangement that is sub-optimal for the apparatus.

[0054] In a computer hard disk drive the arrangement using a tolerance ring with inwardly extending waves (H.V) is undesirable, as load must be spread over as wide an area of the bearing as possible to avoid torque ripple. Furthermore, axial alignment, required in a hard disk drive, is usually better with tolerance rings having outwardly extending waves (S.V), shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, manufacturers may use the H.V ring and assembly method described in Example 3, as it minimizes particle production during assembly. Particles will adversely affect the functioning of the hard disk drive.

[0055] As had previously been mentioned, a tolerance ring according to the present invention modifies known tolerance rings by providing a guide portion which is inclined relative to the axis of the tolerance ring. The first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 4. Some of the features of the tolerance ring of this embodiment are the same in the tolerance rings described previously, and the same reference numerals will be used to indicate corresponding parts.

[0056] A tolerance ring 13 being the first embodiment of the present invention allows a tolerance ring with outwardly facing protrusions 2 to be used in the apparatus but minimizes or eliminates the particle production that results from the arrangements shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The tolerance ring 13 includes a guide portion indicated generally in FIG. 4 by 14. The guide portion 14 resembles a funnel, which flares towards the entrance of the bore 4. The guide portion comprises a flared guide surface, indicated in cross section by 15 in FIG. 4, extending axially from the band 16 of the ring 13, forming an endmost annular portion, towards the entrance of the bore 4. The guide portion terminates at free end 32 defining an axial end of the tolerance ring. This free end 32 defines an opening that (i) is larger than that defined by the unformed annular portions of the band, and (ii) has a diameter at said free end that is not greater than the diameter of the protrusions. As shown, the guide portion is provided at only one end of the band.

[0057] The guide surface 15 provides an enlarged entrance to the band 16 of the ring 13 for receiving the bearing, eliminating foul on the edge of the ring as described in Example 2. Guide surface 15 is sufficiently smooth so as to guide the bearing 3 into the ring 13, even if there is some axial misalignment of the bearing 3 and the ring 13. As the outwardly facing protrusions 2 of the ring 13 do not abrade against any surface during assembly and the end of the bearing 3 does not abrade against the ring 13, particle production is avoided. As shown, the tolerance ring 13 in the form of an annular band of resilient material has an innermost surface defined by the unformed annular portions 7, and has an outermost surface defined by the outwardly facing protrusions 2 having a diameter. All of the outwardly facing protrusions 2 extend radially outward, each extending between a pair of unformed annular portions. The guide portion is contiguous with and extends axially and radially outward from an endmost unformed annular portion (the topmost unformed annular portion shown in FIG. 4), and flares outwardly from the innermost surface. As shown, the guide portion has a free end defining an opening that has a diameter not greater than the diameter of the unformed annular portions. The arrangement using an S.V. type ring is preferable for the hard disk drive.

[0058] It is also known to use a tolerance ring with inwardly facing protrusions. The ring may be fitted to the end of a shaft and inserted into a bore in the housing, as shown in FIG. 5. The tolerance ring 17, with inwardly facing protrusions 2, is fitted to a shaft 18 and the shaft 18 and ring 17 inserted axially into the bore 4 of a housing 19. The diameter of the ring 17 is similar to the diameter of the bore 4 and so the ring 17 fouls on the edge 20 of the bore 4, producing particles from the ring 17 and/or the housing 19.

[0059] This known tolerance ring can be modified by the provision of an inclined guide portion, in a manner similar to the first embodiment, but with the angle of inclination being inward rather than outward. Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 6, and again reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts. Tolerance ring 21 of the second embodiment is fitted to a shaft 18, and axially inserted into the bore 4 of a housing 19. The ring 21 includes inward protrusions in the form of waves to the grip shaft 18.

[0060] The ring includes a tapered guide portion indicated generally in FIG. 6 by 22, extending axially from the band 23 of the ring, away from the shaft 18. The guide portion comprises a guide surface, indicated in cross section in FIG. 6 by 24a, sloping towards the axis of the ring to narrow the opening of the band 23. The guide surface 24a axially leads into the bore 4 during assembly. The guide surface allows correction of axial misalignment of the bearing and the bore. The guide portion prevents the ring fouling on the edge of the bore 20, reducing or even eliminating particle production.

[0061] In the embodiments described above, the bore 4 has straight side walls. It is possible for the ends of the bore to be chamfered, although the presence of the guide portion makes such chamfering of little benefit.

[0062] The tolerance ring of the invention may be used on a hard disk drive, although there are numerous other applications of the present invention, for example any apparatus that uses a tolerance ring. In the example, the hard disk drive has an actuator arm pivotable around a bearing or bearing assembly. Typically, the actuator arm has an electronic transducer at one end for reading and writing data stored on a media disk. The arm pivots around a stationary shaft, which is mounted perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the media disk and arm.

[0063] Conventionally, the pivot mechanism comprises a centre shaft and one or a plurality of rolling element bearings surrounding the shaft. Each rolling element bearing includes an inner race attached to the shaft, an outer race located concentrically around the inner race, and a plurality of rolling elements located in the annular space between the inner and outer races. Such an assembly is commonly known as a bearing cartridge assembly. An outer cylinder or sleeve may surround the outer race or races of the bearing or bearings. Although such a hard disk drive is a typical arrangement, it will be appreciated by those in the art that there are other possible arrangements to which the invention can be applied.