Flexible, detented axle
US6016900A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2404/185
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention features a new type of spring-loaded axle. The spring-loaded axle of this invention has a single element. The single component of this invention has a specially-designed spring that acts both as a detent and an axle, all in one. The spring includes an elongated, flexible, coiled, spring portion that has a compressible, coiled midsection that is flanked by a generally non-compressible, coiled section on either side of the compressible, coiled midsection. At the distal end of each of the non-compressible, coiled sections is located a flexible, generally non-compressible, curvilinear, coiled end section. Each of the conically-shaped, coiled end sections acts like a detent; further, because of their conical shape, they can automatically adjust to the bores of the supporting frame. The elongated, coiled spring portion acts like an axle. The compressible, coiled midsection allows the conically-shaped, coiled end sections to axially adjust to the end bores in the support frame by providing an axial spring-biasing to them. The device is inserted into a hollow bore of a roller, thus allowing the roller to rotatively move about the device, as well as the support frame. …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.