Torque assembly and method of manufacture

Abstract

A torque assembly includes a spindle, a cap mounted on the spindle for rotation about the spindle, and a work-hardened, plastic sleeve inserted between the cap and the spindle for constant rotation of the sleeve and cap with respect to the spindle. The torque assembly may be installed onto a hinged object and fixed object with movement along a single axis. The torque assembly may be formed by: (a) providing a spindle having a base and a rod extending from the base; (b) providing a cap member with an annular section defining an inner diameter; (c) providing an annular plastic sleeve having an inner diameter and an outer diameter; and (d) work-hardening the sleeve for a predetermined time period by compressing the sleeve between the cap and the spindle.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method for forming a torque hinge assembly comprising the steps of:
 providing a spindle including a generally cylindrical rod shaped portion defining a spindle outer diameter;   providing a cap member with an annular section defining a cap inner diameter;   providing an annular plastic sleeve having a sleeve inner diameter and a sleeve outer diameter, the sleeve outer diameter being greater than the cap inner diameter, and the spindle outer diameter being greater than the sleeve inner diameter; and   work-hardening the sleeve to plastically deform the sleeve by press-fitting the sleeve into the annular cap section and inserting the spindle rod through the inner diameter of the sleeve to compress the sleeve between the spindle rod and the annular cap section for a predetermined time period;   connecting the annular cap to one of a fixed object and a hinged object; and   connecting the spindle base to the other of the fixed object and the hinged object such that the hinged object can move relative to the fixed object by rotating the spindle rod within the fixed cap and sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  including controlling the tolerance of the spindle outer diameter to +/−0.0015″. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the spindle includes a base, and the rod shaped portion extends from the base, and including controlling the tolerance of the rod shaped portion of the spindle in section of the rod shaped portion intended to contact the sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined time period is at least 24 hours. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is formed to include a first end and a second end and the annular section of the cap is formed to include an open end and a partially closed end, wherein the sleeve is inserted such that the first end of the sleeve is flush with the open end of the annular section of the cap. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the spindle includes a base, and the spindle rod is inserted through the sleeve inner diameter to leave a gap between the cap and the spindle base. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  including attaching a torsion spring between the spindle base and the cap, wherein rotation of the spindle with respect to the cap uncoils the torsion spring. 
     
     
         8 . A method for forming a torque assembly comprising:
 providing a spindle having a base and a generally cylindrical rod extending from the base;   providing a cap having an annular section with an first end and a second end, the second end including an inwardly extending flange partially closing the second end;   forming an annular plastic sleeve having an inner diameter, an outer diameter, a first end and a second end, the sleeve defining a length between the first and second ends, the inner diameter of the sleeve being less than the outer diameter of the spindle rod;   inserting the sleeve into the annular section of the cap; and   work-hardening the sleeve plastically deform the sleeve and remove creep from the plastic sleeve by inserting the spindle rod through the inner diameter of the sleeve to compress the sleeve between the spindle rod and the cap.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the sleeve is formed as a single, unitary plastic piece. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the sleeve length is generally the same as the distance between the first end and the second end of the annular section of the cap. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the sleeve is inserted into the annular section of the cap such that the first end of the sleeve is flush with the first end of the annular section of the cap. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  including controlling the tolerance of the spindle outer diameter to +/−0.0015″. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  including controlling the tolerance of the rod shaped portion of the spindle in section of the rod shaped portion intended to contact the sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the sleeve is inserted such that the second end of the sleeve contacts the inwardly extending flange on the cap and the first end of the sleeve is flush with the first end of the annular section of the cap such that substantially the entire sleeve is under a compressive force.