Spring loaded guide ring

Abstract: Guide ring apparatus (10) includes a shaft (16) configured for insertion into a bore (14) and an annular bearing (30) disposed on the shaft for (16) engaging the interior surface of the bore (14) along with an annular spring (32) having a preselected force-deflection characteristics in operative relationship with the bearing (30) for causing the annular bearing (30) as well as the shaft (16) to float within the bore (14). This particular bearing (30) and spring (32) arrange­ ment accommodates for variations in the bore (14) and shaft (16) due to manufacturing tolerances, wear and other eccentri­ cities of the shaft (16) and bore (14).

Description: The invention relates to a guide ring apparatus comprising means for defining a bore; a shaft configured for inserting into said bore; ring means for dynamically suspending said shaft in said bore, said ring means comprising a bearing member disposed between said shaft and said bore and an annular canted coil spring disposed in an operative relationship with that bearing member for providing a uniform radial bias on the shaft; and means for preventing spring overload by sideloading of said shaft. A guide ring apparatus of this kind is known from EP-A-214 321. In GB-A-1 566 577 there is disclosed a seal and guide ring apparatus comprising a cylinder and a piston slideable back and forth within the cylinder and at least one piston ring of selflubricating material extending circumferentially about the piston and providing a sliding seal between the piston and the cylinder. The piston ring is split as to have free ends which fit together, said free ends are notched one to each side of the ring such that they overlap to form between them an interface extending cicumferentially of the ring. The ring is held against the surface on which it slides by means of an endless elastomeric resilient ring extending circumferentially of the ring and covering a radial extremity of said interface. Guide rings, also called wear rings, have been extensively used for many years in reciprocating and rotary applications, such as actuators and cylinders, for guiding shafts and pistons in order to reduce or prevent metal-to-metal contact between dynamic surfaces, thereby avoiding galling between the shaft and bore. It is well known that pistons or shafts which are not properly guided cause uneven stress loading on seals and subsequent uneven wear of such seals. Sideloading of pistons, or shafts, improperly guided, causes contact between the shaft and bore. As a result, heavy wear occurs, which manifests itself in the seizing and/or galling of the shaft and bore. Heretofore, guide rings have been formed from linear strips of material which are bent into an annulus and fitted on the shaft. Typically, the annular strip does not completely encircle the shaft in order to allow a gap therein for the purpose of preventing pressure buildup and allowing fluids, or gas, to pass through the guide or wear ring. In some instances, guide or wear rings have been molded into an annulus and inserted into a groove on the shaft to axially fix its position therealong. In this configuration, a clearance exists between the outside diameter, the guide ring and the bore, or shaft, and the variation of such clearance determines the amount of play, or looseness, that may occur between the piston or shaft and the bore. As is well known, if the clearance is excessive, which inevitably occurs after long periods of use, heavy sideloading results on the seal which will induce considerable amount of wear, shorten the life, and decrease the reliability of the entire system. The bearing member is spring-energized, which partially or fully supports the weight of the shaft, either in a static or dynamic application. In this arrangement, the spring loading allows for variations in eccentricities and other irregularities that may occur during the fabrication, use and wear, as hereinabove noted. In addition, means for preventing spring overload by sideloading of the shaft may also be provided. The annular canted coil spring disclosed within EP-A-214 321 is disposed within an radial groove provided on the outer side of the shaft. The bearing member is at least partially disposed within that groove between said canted coil spring and said inner side of said bore receiving said shaft. The bearing member may cause a compression of the annular canted coil in such manner that a spring overload occurs. It is therefore object of the present invention to provide effective means for preventing spring overload by sideloading of the shaft. This object is achieved in that said means for preventing a spring overload comprises a circular wire ring disposed within an annulus defined by windings of the annular canted coil spring. In this manner, overload is prevented by limiting the compression of the spring to the diameter of the circular wire therein. In a further development of the invention, the annular canted coil spring has a generally flat radial force deflection characteristics in the deflection range defined by the difference in radius of the shaft and the bore. Because of the flat radial portions deflection characteristics of the spring in the operating range, a constant uniform force is exerted on the bearing member and the shaft despite irregularities caused by manufacture or wear. The advantages and features of the present invention will appear from the following description, considerated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing ring means for dynamically suspending a shaft in a space apart relationship with seal means disposed on the shaft; Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the present invention showing a shaft dynamically suspended within a bore by ring means of the present invention; Figure 3 is a force-spring deflection curve of a spring suitable for use in the present invention; and Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing means for limiting compression of the spring of the present invention. Turning now to Figure 1, there is shown shaft guide apparatus 10, in accordance with the present invention, generally including a housing 12 or the like, which provides means for defining a bore 14 and a shaft 16 configured for insertion into the bore 14. An annular seal 20 may be disposed approximate one end 22 of the shaft 16 for enabling sealed, sliding axial movement of the shaft 16 within the bore 14. The seal may be of any suitable type well known in the art for preventing fluid from flowing therepast despite a pressure differential across the end 22 of the shaft 16. Reciprocal action of the shaft and seal 20 within the bore is necessary in many applications such as the measured titration of fluids and the pumping of fluids. Apparatus, not shown, for moving the shaft in the manner described often subjects the shaft to sideloading, that is, loading not parallel to a centerline 26 which can cause contact of the shaft 16 with the bore 14 which in turn may cause deformation of the surfaces, such as wear and galling. A bearing member 30 and spring 32 (see Figure 2), disposed in an operative relationship therewith, as will be hereinafter described in greater detail, provide ring means 34 for dynamically suspending the shaft 16 in the bore 14. When disposed in an operative relationship with the bearing member 30, the spring 32 provides means for providing a uniform radial bias on the shaft 16. As more particularly shown in Figure 2, the ring 34 is in a spaced-apart relationship with the seal 20 and supports the shaft 16 within the bore 14 to prevent contact therebetween due to sideloading as indicated by the arrow 40. (Figure 2) Since the ring 34 is not designed to function as a seal, a gap 42 and the bearing member 30 is provided to enable fluids to flow therepast. An important feature of the present invention is the use of an annular canted coil spring 32 having a generally flat radial force-deflection characteristic in the deflection range, r (see Figure 2) defined by the difference in the radius of the shaft 16 and the radius of the bore 14. Such springs are described in US-A-4,655,462 issued on April 7, 1987, which is hereby expressly incorporated in its entirety into the present application. Springs 32 suitable for the present invention generally have a load-deflection curve 46 shown in Figure 3, which has a generally flat portion 48 or low-rising linear portion 50 between a minimum load point 52 and a maximum load point 54 or 54a. Hence, in the operating range of the spring between 52 and 54 or 54a, the force exerted by the spring remains relatively constant despite the spring deflection. Thus, wearing of the bore or the bearing member 30 does not affect the force exerted on the bearing member 30 by the spring 32 in order to insure proper uniform force exerted around the periphery of the shaft 16 to enable its dynamic suspension, or floating within the bore. Thus, the canted coil spring 32 provides uniform loading around the shaft 16 periphery in order to take up for eccentricities and variations that may occur during operation of the guide apparatus. That is, by using a guide ring 34, which is spring 32 loaded, the load is always against the dynamic portion of the bore or shaft and consequently, the guide ring 34 is always in intimate contact with the bore 14 and shaft surfaces. Because of the flexibility inherent with the spring deflection as shown in Figure 3, it permits the guide ring 34 to float, thus reducing friction and wear in providing substantially better guidance to the seal which results in better performance. While the spring may be selected to provide just enough force to maintain the ring 34 in contact with the dynamic surfaces of the bore 14 or rod 16, it is preferable, that the spring 32 supports the weight of the shaft in order to provide true floating action of the ring 34 and shaft 16 within the bore, resulting in better guidance and overall performance. It should be noted that floating action occurs whenever there is continual peripheral contact between the bearing member 30 and the bore 14 surface so that at all times supporting forces are radially directed on the shaft 16 along its entire periphery. The specific spring load characteristics necessary to support the shaft as well as the size and width of the bearing member may be empirically determined without undue experimentation, with specific requirements being dictated, of course, by the size of the shaft 16, materials of construction and expected sideloading of the shaft during operation. As previously discussed, the present invention accommodates for sideloading on the shaft 16. In the event of excessive shaft loading, which may cause the spring 32 to be deflected at points 54 or 54a, (see Figure 3) means may be prevented for preventing spring overloading by such sideloading of the shaft 16. Turning now to Figure 4, there is shown the main feature of the present invention in which a spring 82 is disposed in a groove 84 along with a bearing member 86, with the groove 84 being formed in a shaft 88 and biased into a housing 92. In this instance the single groove 84 supports both the spring 82 and bearing member and a circular wire ring 94 disposed within an annulus 96 protects the spring from over deflection and thereby provides means for preventing spring overload as hereinabove described.

Claims: A guide ring apparatus comprising means (12, 92) for defining a bore (14); a shaft (16, 88) configured for inserting into said bore (14); ring means (34) for dynamically suspending said shaft (16, 88) in said bore (14), said ring means (34) comprising a bearing member (30, 86) disposed between said shaft (16, 88) and said bore (14), and an annular canted coil spring (32, 82) disposed in an operative relationship with said bearing member (30) for providing a uniform radial bias on the shaft (16, 88); and means for preventing spring overload by sideloading of said shaft (16, 88), characterized in that said means for preventing a spring overload comprises a circular wire ring (94) disposed within an annulus (96) defined by windings of the annular canted coil spring (82). The guide ring apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said annular canted coil spring (32) has a generally flat radial force deflection characteristics in the deflection range (r) defined by the difference in radius of said shaft (16) and said bore (14).

Inventors: BALSELLS PETER J, BALSELLS, PETER J.
Applicants: BALSELLS PETER J, BALSELLS, PETER J.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F16J9
IPC codes: F16J9