FAN DISC CORPORATION WINS PATENT

 JPL selects Fan Disc Corp. to source springs for space applicationJPL selects Fan Disc Corp. to source springs for space application
​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:
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  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.
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  • FAN DISC CORP WINS PATENT U.S. Patent office grants first patent in U.S. on Belleville washer in 30 years to Fan Disc Corp! (March 1999)
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