APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ENGAGING COMPONENTS THROUGH THERMAL CONTRACTION

摘要

A bushing has an externally threaded portion with a thread pitch P¹. A collet body has an internally threaded portion with a thread pitch P², which is smaller than P¹ by a pitch differential, DeltaP. To assembly the bushing and collet body, the collet body is heated relative to the bushing to reduce the DeltaP. The threaded portions of the bushing and collet body are then threadingly engaged with each other. The temperatures of the bushing and collet body are then equalized, which tends to increase the DeltaP, which causes the threaded portions to bind with each other and resist relative loosening rotation. The threaded portions may additionally/alternatively be reverse tapered and/or include variable thread pitches that cause the threaded portions to further bind with each other.