Self-retaining alignment system for providing precise alignment and retention of components

• Main Authors: JENNIFER P. LAWALL, TOURE D. LEE, STEVEN E. MORRIS
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 17.06.2015
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBINED OPERATIONS; DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS ORMACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS,CLIPS, WEDGES, JOINTS OR JOINTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MACHINE TOOLS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; OTHER WORKING OF METAL; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS; WEAPONS

An elastically averaging self-retaining alignment system includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a first alignment member and an elastically deformable alignment element fixedly disposed with respect to the first alignment member, the alignment element having a hollow tube. The second component includes a second alignment member and an alignment feature fixedly disposed with respect to the second alignment member, the alignment feature having an aperture with a plurality of inwardly extending tabs. The elastically deformable alignment element is configured and disposed to interferingly, deformably and matingly engage the alignment feature. Portions of the elastically deformable alignment element when inserted into the alignment feature elastically deform to an elastically averaged final configuration that aligns and retains the first component relative to the second component in at least two of four planar orthogonal directions.