US4027865A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reinforced disk springs
Assignee: BBC Brown Boveri AG Switzerland
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Filing: 1975-07-22
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Granted: 1977-06-07
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Expires: 1995-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A disk spring also known as a Belleville spring is used for applications where stiffness of the spring is an essential requirement and where the usual disk springs made of metal cannot be used or are impractical to use. The disk spring of the invention consists of a body having the shape of a conical shell of elastically deformable material, such as plastic resin, and reinforcing elements within the shell to establish directed resistance to specific deformations occurring in the disk spring when axially loaded. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the reinforcing elements have the shape of bodies of rotation designed and positioned within the shell in configurations chosen to satisfy specific requirements of particular practical applications. The stiffness, the spring constant and the load carrying capacity which can be achieved are considerably higher than are obtainable with customary glass fiber reinforced plastic disk springs. The disk springs of the invention may be made of electrically insulating materials, and if so, they are excellantly suited for applications requiring such characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 John H. Greenwood
- 👤 Emmerich Robitschek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:18
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F1/00; F16F1/02; F16F1/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A reinforced disk spring comprising: a conical shell of elastically deformable material having an upper plane or convex surface, a lower concave surface, an outer bounding surface, and an inner bore; and a plurality of reinforcing elements embedded within said conical shell and disposed such that each of said elements is a three dimensional body of revolution and coaxial with the spring axis, said elements also being disposed throughout said shell in a radially extending array, whereby the reinforcing elements present directed resistance to specific deformations occurring when the spring is axially loaded.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
A reinforced disk spring comprising: a conical shell of elastically deformable material having an upper plane or convex surface, a lower concave surface, an outer bounding surface, and an inner bore; and a plurality of reinforcing elements embedded within said conical shell and disposed such that each of said elements is a three dimensional body of revolution and coaxial with the spring axis, said elements also being disposed throughout said shell in a radially extending array, whereby the reinforcing elements present directed resistance to specific deformations occurring when the spring is axially loaded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 1 in which at least some of the reinforcing elements comprising at least one part of said spring have a shape at least approximating the shape of a body of rotation, the generatrix of which forms an angle with the axis of rotation of between 0° and 90°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 1 in which the reinforcing elements are constructed so that the stresses occurring therein when the disk spring is fully depressed are within the elastic limit of the material of the reinforcing elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 1 in which the cross-sectional dimensions of the reinforcing elements vary in accordance with the resistance to be generated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 1 in which at least some of the reinforcing elements comprises a foil-type material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 1 in which at least some of the reinforcing elements comprise fibres in the form of individual fibres, twisted cords, woven structures or mats.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 6 in which the fibres run in the direction of the generatrix.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 2 in which the reinforcing elements comprise plane parts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 2 in which the reinforcing elements comprise conically shaped parts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 9 in which the direction of taper of the conically shaped parts is opposite to that of the direction of taper of the conical shell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 9 in which the direction of taper of the conically shaped parts is the same as the direction of taper of the conical shell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 11 in which the generatrices of the conical parts are parallel to the generatrices of the conical shell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 1 in which the reinforcing elements are separate from each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 1 in which the reinforcing elements are in the form of continuous spirals or concentrically arranged ring-shaped loops.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 13 in which the reinforcing elements are in the form of continuous spirals or concentrically arranged ring-shaped loops.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 1 in which each reinforcing element is held fixed in the material of the conical shell so that when the disk spring is loaded the conical shell and the reinforcing element deform together without relative movement therebetween.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 16 in which at least some of the surfaces of at least some of the reinforcing elements in contact with the material on the conical shell are surface-treated in order to increase adhesion between the contact surfaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 1 in which at least some of the reinforcing elements incorporate hollow spaces into which the material of the conical shell penetrates in order preserve the continuity of the conical shell.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 1 in which the cross-section of the conical shell is at least approximately rectangular, trapezoidal or of another cross-section to obtain a desired force/spring deflection characteristic.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 1 in which the conical shell comprise electrically insulating materials.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A disk spring as claimed in claim 6 in which the conical shell comprise electrically insulating materials.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
A disk spring as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shape, dimensions, and material of said conical shell are such that a non-reinforced shell of the same characteristics as said reinforced disk spring will withstand a smaller load for a predetermined deformation or will deform a greater amount for a predetermined load.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A disk spring as set forth in claim 1, wherein the distances between adjacent reinforcing elements over the radial width vary in accordance with the resistance to be generated.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A disk spring as set forth in claim 1, wherein the distances between adjacent reinforcing elements over the thickness of said conical shell vary in accordance with the resistance to be generated.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
A disk spring as set forth in claim 6, wherein the fibers run in the direction of the circumferential direction.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A disk spring as set forth in claim 2, wherein the reinforcing elements comprise cylindrical parts.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A disk spring as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing elements are joined to each other.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A disk spring as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing elements comprise electrically insulating materials.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A disk spring as set forth in claim 6, wherein thereinforcing elements comprise electrically insulating materials.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-06 | 1980-12-06 | 1981-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-06 | 1984-12-06 | 1985-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-06 | 1988-12-06 | 1989-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |