Patent ID: 6341767
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: F01L,F16F

Abstract:
A soft clamping system for transferring to a spring wire a transverse force exerted across a local wire path of the spring wire, the soft clamping system comprising:a. a clamp body, including two rigid components capable of placement on opposing sides of a length of the spring wire to be clamped; b. force transfer means couplable to said clamp body, wherein said force transfer means is capable of transmitting the transverse force between an external load and said clamp body; c. preload means couplable to said clamp body, wherein said preload means is designed to force said two rigid components toward each other; and d. soft bushing means, placeable between said two rigid components and said length of spring wire, wherein said soft bushing means is compressed by said preload means such that stress, in at least part of said soft bushing means, includes a component of hydrostatic pressure, said component being compressive and having an average magnitude exceeding a maximum magnitude of shear stress produced anywhere in said at least part of said soft bushing means during use of the soft clamping system.