U.S. PATENT OFFICE

SUN VALLEY, CA - Fan Disc Corporation (Fan Disc), one of the nations oldest and largest manufacturers of Belleville and Disc Springs, has announced that it has received a patent form the United States Patent Office (#7,198,445) for a conical washer with crush zone - making it only the second patent issued for a Belleville washer in 40 years, both were issued to Fan Disc.

Noting that the Sun Valley CA based manufacturer was extremely proud of this accomplishment as it reflects on the quality of its innovation and technology, Fan Disc President Frederic P. Kramer said the new washer is unique in three ways:

• It provides a tight engagement of fastener to the bearing surface, one that eliminates looseness in the fastener upon thermal expansion of the metal of the elements and improves the prior art by allowing for a crush zone.
• It contains teeth on the underside of the washer that can bite or pierce an insulated wire and cut through the insulation to make a better electrical connection.
• It results in a more positive hold of fastener or nut with the washer to a bearing surface - never achieved before in this type washer - because the inner annual projection forms the crush zone and lies at an approximate 100 degree angle. This affords a sufficient thickness so that it does not crush or break down without applied force, yet has a designed thinness to permit deformation to occur.

1. An improvement in the Belleville-type washer having an annular body including an upper portion having a top surface and a circumferential all forming a centrally disposed opening for the washer, and serrations circumferentially mounted upon the top surface of the annular body. Also, an improvement comprising a crush zone formed in the upper portion of the annular body adjacent its circumferential wall. The crush zone in its formation having a limited depth extending from the top surface and which does not cause the circumferential wall to frictionally engage the shank of a fastener to which the washer is to be torqued.
2. Related to the improvement above, the washer is heat-treated.
3. In the improvement above, the crush zone comprises a first wall extending from the top surface into the annular body of the washer and a second wall extending from the first wall to the circumferential wall.
4. Contains teeth on the underside to provide for an electrical connection.

For Immediate Release

JPL selects Fan Disc Corp. to source springs for space application

A major supply contract

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Sun Valley CALIF. (April 6, 2003) -- Fan Disc Corp. is constantly adding new components to its product offerings. Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California required a spring for a satellite and contacted Fan Disc Corp. Fan Disc Corp engineers determined that the application required a small difference from a more earthly, common spring, and implemented a new design. "This particular application is fairly unique, and without Fan Disc putting in the Engineering effort to resolve the technical details of the spring, JPL would not have been able to deliver on its commitment. The satellite is now ready for orbit.", said President Fred Kramer.

Fan Disc Corporation

Founded in 1969, Fan Disc Corporation is a leading provider of belleville springs. Fan Disc Corporation's worldwide headquarters is in Sun Valley, California.

For Immediate Release

Fan Disc Corp. wins patent

First belleville spring patent issued in 30 years

U. S. Patent Office

Sun Valley CALIF. (March 16, 1999) -- Fan Disc Corp., one of the nations oldest and largest manufacturers of belleville and disc springs, has announced that it has recently received a patent from the United States Patent Office (#5,829,933) for a belleville spring washer - the first such U.S. patent issued for this washer in 30 years.

According to Frederic P. Kramer, President of the Sun Valley, CA based manufacturing company the reason that the first patent was issued in three decades was that the new Fan Disc washer is unique in that it is a "four-in-one" combination washer.

In designing the new washer, Kramer said Fan Disc sought to innovate a novel belleville spring washer which would eliminate looseness in the tightening arrangement of fastener and bearing surface. Another objective was to provide an efficacious bite between a fastener's head or a nut and its corresponding belleville spring washer.

The new washer called Contact Belleville Spring, Kramer noted, can be utilized in a variety of engineering and applied environments, including: power generators, turbines, petrochemical pumps and valves, sonar detection systems, pipe support systems, automatic actuators and in electrical industry applications as well as automotive and farm implements.

In its application for the U.S. Patent, Fan Disc claimed the new belleville spring washer would offer the following four improvements over existing washers in use:

1. An improvement in belleville-type washer having an annular body including an upper portion having a top surface and a circumferential wall forming a centrally disposed opening for the washer, and serrations circumferentially mounted upon the top surface of the annular body. Also, an improvement comprising a relief formed in the upper portion of the annular formation having a limited depth extending from the top surface and which does not cause the circumferential wall to frictionally engage the shank of a fastener to which the washer is to be torqued. Finally, the relief includes an angle in its formation.
2. Related to the improvement above, the washer is heat-treated.
3. In the improvement above, the relief comprises a first wall extending from the top surface into the annular body of the washer and a second wall extending from the first wall to the circumferential wall.
4. In the improvement reference in number three, the washer is heat treated.

Kramer emphasized that the new washer has a belleville spring characteristic to it and is to be utilized with fasteners and nuts upon a bearing surface and, in particular, to an assembly which results in a tighter fastening of a bolt or nut to the bearing surfaces.

Fan Disc Corporation

Founded in 1969, Fan Disc Corporation is a leading provider of belleville springs. Fan Disc Corporation's worldwide headquarters is in Sun Valley, California.