Process of fitting a collapsible clip to a sleeve of a piezoelectric actuator

摘要

A tubular clip for securing a sleeve to the body of a piezoelectric actuator in an actuator assembly. In use, the wall of the clip has a plurality of corrugations. The pitch of the corrugations is variable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the clip. The clip is configurable into an unfitted configuration and into a fitted configuration and in the fitted configuration the minimum transverse internal separation of the clip walls is less than in the unfitted configuration.

主权项

1. A method of fitting a circumferentially continuous tubular clip for securing a sleeve to the body of a piezo-electric actuator in an actuator assembly, the clip comprising one or more walls that, in use, have a plurality of corrugations, the corrugations having a pitch that is variable in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the clip, wherein the clip is configurable into an unfitted configuration and into a fitted configuration, wherein, in the fitted configuration, the minimum transverse internal separation within the one or more walls is less than the minimum transverse internal separation within the one or more walls in the unfitted configuration, to secure a sleeve to the body of a piezo-electric actuator in an actuator assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
applying a force to the clip when said clip is in the fitted configuration, the force elastically axially lengthening the clip from the fitted configuration to an axially unfitted configuration, fitting the clip over the sleeve surrounding the piezo-electric actuator, and removing the force from the clip so that the clip reverts elastically toward the fitted configuration.