Polymer spring

摘要

A polymer spring has a hollow tubular polymer body, wherein the first end portion of the body, the second end portion of the body, and the mid-portion of the body together substantially maintain an annular cylindrical column structure throughout the length of the body from the first end portion of the body to the second end portion of the body, such that the mid-portion of the body has a substantial portion that is in direct alignment with the first end portion of the body and the second end portion of the body when the spring is compressed to eliminate or reduce the chances of the spring failing caused by the spring folding or buckling and to reduce material fatigue in the polymer spring associated with folding or buckling.

主权项

1. A spring, comprising
a hollow tubular polymer body, the body having a first end portion, a second end portion, a mid-portion connecting the first end portion to the second end portion, a center axis extending between the first end portion of the body and the second end portion of the body, an inner surface extending around and facing the center axis between the first end portion of the body and the second end portion of the body, and an outer surface extending around the center axis between the first end portion of the body and the second end portion of the body, the body having a length from the first end portion to the second end portion, the inner surface of the body between the first end portion of the body and the second end portion of the body being bowed inwardly towards the center axis when the spring is in a non-compressed state, the outer surface of the body between the first end portion of the body and the second end portion of the body being bowed outwardly away from the center axis when the spring is in a non-compressed state, the inner surface of the body between the first end portion of the body and the second end portion of the body moving from being bowed inwardly towards the center axis to being further bowed inwardly towards the center axis as compression on the spring increases, and the outer surface of the body between the first end portion of the body and the second end portion of the body moving from being bowed outwardly away from the center axis towards being bowed inwardly towards the center axis as compression on the spring increases; the inner surface of the body between the first end portion of the body and the second end portion of the body forming a substantially cylindrical wall facing and extending around the center axis, with each portion of the wall being radially spaced substantially the same distance from the center axis when the spring is at a predetermined maximum compression designed for a predetermined use of the spring.